'Path of the Cursed'

[Sl'askia]

Yeeesssss I have two fics on the go at once! *hears Melvin screaming* AAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAA!!!
Actually...I haven't planned this one...like I hadn't planned 'Arctic Tears'. Was thinking up scenerios for a future RPG character when I came up with this. *shrugs* oh well.

Chapter 1

As night fell over the continent of Mudos, a dark figure stirred in a tree about a mile away from one of the Magtog Cartel’s many factories. A Drakkic head and neck poked out of the foliage of the tree it had slept in during the day, looking toward the factory.
The coloration was a bit unusual for a Drakkic; dark blue instead of the normal greens and browns, with light and dark blue counter shading, and violet eyes. It also sported a silver ring on its middle face tentacle and a black crescent moon tattoo on the left side of it’s neck.
It withdraw its head and neck…and yawned and stretched, rubbing the sleep out of its eyes. When it was finished stretching it jumped down from the tree, landing with cat-like grace and revealing a body that hardly resembled a Drakkic’s at all:
The arms were shorter and less muscular, the hands smaller and more delicate. The torso was like a human female, thin and lean. She also had hind leg, also mainly human-like but the feet were like a dragon’s. She did have a Drakkic’s tail, which was 5 feet long.
On her right upper arm was another tattoo; a black, three-pronged throwing star. She wore a red-brown tank top and loan cloth, with a brown cloth belt, a black hooded cape with a brass clasp and black gloves.
Her real name she had forgotten due to having been called by her nickname, Dementa, for so long. Why 'Dementa' for a nickname? The reason is because she is cursed, a curse that was cast on her over 3 centuries ago for playing a prank on the wrong mudokon; a mudokon who had knowledge of spells and curses long since forgotten. Before she was cursed, Dementa was just an adolescent Drakkic, with the same coloration but without the tattoos; those she had obtained sometime after the curse was cast on her.
The curse didn't just alter her body shape...no it had much worse effects. When ever she came in physical contact with someone, skin to skin, that someone would suddenly be rent with searing pain. The pain would never last longer then five seconds, provided the physical contact stopped, which was usually immediate.
As a result of her physical appearance and the pain she caused others if they came in direct contact with her skin, she became an outcast from Drakkic society...and just about any other society as well. There were a few that still talked to her, helping to keep her from going into too deep of a depression. However...when the Cartel discovered the Drakkic society and destroyed them, she lost all those that were still her friends.
In a deep state of depression she stabbed herself in the chest to end her misery. But alas...that act revealed to her the curses other effect, virtual immortality. Whenever she was dealt a lethal blow she would go into a coma like state...while the magic of the curse healed her body. How long it took depended on how badly damaged her body was. A simple bullet or stab wound would take only a couple hours, while being burned to death or decapitated took couple of weeks. During that time the pain effect, which she had dubbed 'harm touch', was still active, preventing scavengers and the like from further damaging her body. This meant...the curse kept her looking as young as the day she got the curse...and she could never die.
Having no choice but to accept her fate, she wandered Mudos, generally avoiding everyone when she could. Eventually she got into thievery, which her natural coloration suited, and a little bit of hacking. She also joined the Slig Revolution against the Cartel, putting her skills to use to help bring down the ones who had taken away the last remnants of her happiness.
And that is why she is here now...a mile away from one of the Cartel's factories. She was planning on breaking in and finding out if the Cartel had any new plans in trying to stop the Revolution of their 'former' workers, plus steal a few supplies while she was at it.
This particular factory was mainly pharmaceutical, though it was known that the resident Vykkers did do experiments, testing their products on hapless victims. She cringed slightly at the mental image of a fuzzle screaming in agony as a Vykker injected some untested chemical into it.
She looked up at the now night sky. It was time to get to work.
Better get the show on the road. she thought as she flipped her hood over her head and trotted off toward the factory.

[Teal]

Rek: Better not be the one we have our, uh... arrangement... with, else there'll be hell to pay...

by "Arrangement" he means protection racket, but I didn't say that.

Rek: *glowers*

Nice start, though, Rach... *is getting "Captain Scarlet" vibes again and goes all nostalgic*

[Sl'askia]

tisk Rek...when I say she is helping the Slig Revolution I mean she is helping you...no this would be a factory you guys don't have 'arrangements' with. *grins*

[•[cyrus]•]

I thought the Fan Corner was for pics. and ODDWORLD only...

[Teal]

Fan corner is for fan related thing, such as pictured and fics, so long as they relate to Oddowrld - If you'd looked closer than the first line you would have seen that this is indeed one of Dragadon's Oddfics; it might not have an "accepted" Oddcreature (in that I mean one from one of the games) as the main character, but it is set on Oddworld. As much as you might like to think this is a bit of power play, Dragadon is not abusing her mod-powers by posting this here.

Final Fantasy, on the other hand, bears absolutely no relation to Oddworld and thus goes either in Off Topic, or a Final Fantasy forum.

[Sl'askia]

*again curses Writers block* where are my atomic bombs when I need them?

Spider: I think they were shipped ter Afganistan...bomber style

oh dear...anyway...here's the next chap of this one...

Chapter 2

Dementa stealthily made her way to the factory, using the darkness of the night and the shadows created by the moon to avoid the patrols. Eventually she reached the factory and ran around to the side, toward one of the side entrances. Once there she knelt by the door, took out her lock picks, and started picking the lock, keeping an eye and ear out for the patrols.
She didn't need a flashlight to do this, for she had excellent night vision, superior to a Glukkon's. Her sense of smell is also keen, on par with a sligs, mainly do to the common ancestor her kind and the sligs had. Of her senses her hearing was the worst, only slightly better to a sligs, through her kind do hear the much lower frequencies many of the sentient races can't.
It was the low bass voice of a Big Brother nearby that reached her ears, prompting her to either hurry up and finish picking the lock or hide. Fortunately at that moment she heard the 'click' of the door being unlocked. With a silent sigh of relief she quickly packed her lock picks and went in, closing the door behind her just as the Big Bro came around the corner.

Now that she was in she quickly dug into her bag and slipped on a pair of stealth sandals on her feet. These were mainly to keep her toe claws from making noise as she walked on the factory's metal and cement floor. She then moved on, using the shadows and sneaking past camera's when the time was right. Eventually she found what she was looking for: the entrance to a large ventilation shaft. Dementa frowned when she noticed that for some reason they put up a camera to watch the vent.
While carefully staying out of the camera's view, she snuck along until she was under it. Looking up at it she could see the wire's that were connected to it from the wall. Two in particular she was looking for: the one that supplied the camera with power, and the one that transmitted the video to the security desk. She knew from previous experience that this model of camera here was notorious for having loose power or video wires, so she reached up and tugged on one of them (which she could easily reach due to her 7 foot tall frame). It was solid, so tried the other one. It was loose. With a grin she got a firm grip on it and gave it a strong tug...and it came completely out.
With a smile she then padded over to the grate on the vent and removed two of the clasps that held it in place, making it just loose enough for her to be able to squeeze past. She made sure none of her clothing were caught before replacing the clasps and heading off down the vent, making her way to one of the computer rooms…

[ November 21, 2001: Message edited by: Dragadon ]

[Sl'askia]

Hey! *taps screen* any comments? Or is everyone busy playing MO? *grin*

Chapter 3

After about a half hour of vent travel, Dementa stopped at the entrance to a computer room. She could hear a slig in there, so she sat tight and waited patiently for him to leave.. After a few minutes he did leave and Dementa opened the vent grate and slipped out, carefully ensuring there wasn’t any cameras and other sligs in the room.
Seeing the cost was clear, she hopped into one of the computer chairs and started hacking….

Some time later Dementa was still looking through the files and getting frustrated.
You mean they don’t have any new plans!? Dementa thought with a slight snarl, They are always thinking up something!
“What der we have here?” a brass voice suddenly boomed, making her jump. Dementa jumped out of the chair and whirled around to see who was speaking: It was an Armored Big Bro.
"Stay away." She said, warningly as she took a couple of steps back, her back arched in threatening posture, "I don't want to hurt you."
The Big Bro laughed, his brass voice echoing around the room.
"How can a pretty lass like yerself hurt me?" he asked, unconcerned, "Not only am I bigger then yer and covered in armor...but yer jus' a weak little lass...pretty but weak." He added, tauntingly.
Dementa's eyes narrowed as she took another step back as the Big Bro advanced. If there was anything other then the curse, her life and the Cartel that she hated...it was sexists. She took yet another step back, not out of fear or intimation, but to put more space between her and the brute so she had a little more time to figure out how to get herself out of this mess, without resorting to using her 'harm touch'. She felt her tail brush up against something hard and cold and she took a quick glance back to see that she had back herself into a corner.
Damn! Stupid Stupid! she thought, mentally kicking herself. With more then 300 years of life behind her she knew better then that. But it was too late now the Big Bro had obviously noticed her dilemma and advanced a bit quicker, intending to keep her cornered and trapped.
She looked frantically, she knew she couldn't win in a straight on fight, and the Big Bro's armor covered most of his body, leaving very little exposed skin that she could touch, making her harm touch virtually useless in this case. She would just vault over this creep...but the ceiling was only 10 feet from the floor, not exactly favoring her 7 foot tall frame to successfully leap over a 9 foot tall Big Bro.
Her mind reeled, knowing there had to be a way out of this mess; the vent shaft was too far away...and even if it was close enough the brute would be on her before she got in it completely. The computer desk she was sitting at just moments before blocked the left side and the Big Bro was partly blocking the right side.
Then an idea came to her and she crotched down, the muscles in her legs tense. She could see the Big Bro's eyes narrow under his mask, trying to figure out what she was about to do. She smiled and suddenly started moving toward the right side. The Big Bro moved to stop her, as she thought he would, so she suddenly changed directions and went left, using the greater speed and agility her kind had over him. She leaped onto the desk and ran across it, too fast for the Big Bro to follow, then turned again heading toward the door.
"See ya Fatty!" She taunted as she ran out the door, the Big Bro bellowing in fury. She would have taken the vent...but the Big Bro had been too close. So instead she ran down the hall and ducked into the shadows and rested a moment, pondering her next move.
Suddenly the lights turned red and a siren sounded, its wail causing her to wince.
Damn...the creep set off the alarm...I should have expected that. she thought with a sneer; that was the second mistake in less then 10 minutes, This is not turning out to be my day....
She knew that if she wanted to get out now without getting caught she would have to move even more carefully. Whether or not she was shot or not didn't matter to her...for to her death was only a temporary thing; a 'side-effect' of the curse. She wanted to avoid getting caught at all costs, for she knew those blasted Vykkers would find a way to torture her without her harm touch affecting them.
I need to find another vent shaft... she thought as she cautiously slipped out of the shadows and ran down the hall, the siren and flashing red lights still going….

[One, Two, Middlesboogie]

I do like your fics, Rachel. This one's just as good as any of your others. Keep it up!

[ November 27, 2001: Message edited by: One, Two, Middlesboogie ]

[Sl'askia]

Ta TF. Here's the next chap...*braces herself for a trouting from a certain sligette from Teal's side*

Chapter 4

Dementa was forced to hide more then once as she searched for a vent she could get into without getting caught. Sligs and Big Bros were everywhere, looking for her and making her movement difficult.
She peered around a dark corner, checking to see if it was clear. She could here the near constant sounds of Big Bro and slig pants echoing in the halls, making it hard for her to pin point where they were. She looked around and bolted for the next shadow, making there just as a small squad of sligs rounded a far corner and passed by…not noticing her.
These are getting too close. She thought as she fought to keep her breathing silent and steady, I hope I find a vent that is clear soon…
She looked and listened again, spotted her next shadow to bolt to, and bolted toward it.
“Hey yer there! Freeze!” a slig voice suddenly said.
Oh no! Dementa didn’t bother stopping, she just kept running. A Big Bro suddenly stepped into her path, but she gathered herself and jumped over him, rolling on the ground when she landed before getting up and taking off again. She rounded a corner only to come face to face with more sligs. She quickly turned around and headed in the opposite direction, turning into another corridor just as the sligs opened fire.
Luck finally shined on her, there was a vent grate just ahead with no one guarding it. Dementa quickly made for it and fumbled with the clasps to get them off before the sligs caught up. Finally the clasps came off and she removed the grate just enough to slip in.
“There she is!” she heard the sligs say, “Stop her!”
Dementa quickly finished squeezing through, her cape delaying her for a moment when it got caught. She then turned and bolted as the bullets started flying. Just before she rounded the corner, a bullet struck her in the left leg, making her cry out and stumble. She forced herself to keep going, despite the pain, and toward freedom…

After about an hour of limping through the vents, found an opening that lead to the outside. She removed the grate and jumped out, grimacing in pain from her leg wound. She could see the forest just over a mile away and started toward it, determined to get there so she could recuperate.
Dementa, however, hadn’t noticed the Big Bro that was hiding around the corner; that is until he grabbed her by the cape and swung her into the side of the building. Her head connected with the wall with a sickening crack and she slumped to the ground unconscious….

When she woke up, Dementa found herself in a cell, shackled by one hand to the wall. By reflex she went for her bag, but found that it wasn’t there…in fact…all her clothing was gone. She went to use her claws instead only to find that the shackle was electronically operated, with no way to get to the wires. She whined as she searched desperately for a way out, only to find none.
“Ah yer awake….” A brass voice said. Dementa looked toward the cell door to see a Big Bro.
“Where am I?” she said, trying to sound fierce but it came out as fearful instead.
“Oh a section of Vykkers labs.” The Big Bro answered, “The Vykks are very interested in yer. Been examinatin’ yer while yer were out cold, tryin’ ter figure out why yer can hurt peeps by jus’ them touchin’ yer.”
“I suppose they haven’t figured it out yet.” Dementa sneered, feeling a bit agitated for being violated like this. “How dare they do this to me…”
The Big Bro laughed. “No not yet, but I am sure they will. Oh and yer upset ‘bout them violatin’ yer?” The soldier chuckled, a chuckle Dementa didn’t like the sound of at all. “Well, since yer awake now, between examinations the Vykks said that me and the other high ranking guards can der what we want with yer…provided we don’ damage yer ter much.”
There was a glint in the soldier’s eye, one that made her tremble.
“You can’t!” she howled, “Not without causing yourself pain!”
“Oh don’ worry…” the Big Bro said with an evil grin, “The Vykks have figured out a way around that…”
With that the Big Bro left, leaving Dementa trembling.
A fate worse then death…and death is out of my reach anyway… Dementa thought as she curled up the best she could into a ball and broke down into tears, Oh Odd what have I done to deserve this?

[Teal]

Aura: *silently polishes PoJ*

[Sl'askia]

oh boy...*puts on a helmet*

Warning...this chap might be a bit much for some...(Ok...so I am paranoid...better to be safe then sorry ya know...).
Oh and Teal...I had to guess at the ages...I hope I wasn't too far off...

Chapter 5

Dementa shivered and curled up into a ball the best she could on the cold metal floor, in an effort to stay warm. They were true to their word; they found a way around her 'harm touch' and took her whenever they wanted. It wasn't that hard really...for the thinnest material served as an effective shield against her 'harm touch'.
At first she fought them, biting and clawing at them with her free limbs. But they would beat her for that and eventually she gave up...what's left of her spirit broken and gone. She couldn't even bring herself to cry anymore....
She had no idea how long she had been there; the only way she could tell time was when they brought her food. But then...a couple of the guards seemed to come to her at regular intervals...
In a way she was grateful for when the Vykkers came around to do more tests on her. It was surprising...the Vykks seem to treat her better then the guards...but then the Vykks were more interested in whatever future products they could get from their examinations of her then immediate 'pleasure'.
Dementa lay still in her cell, vaguely aware of what was going on around her. She opened her eyes and briefly looked about. There wasn't much going about, which meant it was either after hours or lunchtime...she couldn't tell anymore. She sighed despondently, knowing it will be only a matter of time before some of the guards came.
Sure enough she soon heard the sound of multiple slig pants coming down the hall. How many? Four? Five? It was hard to tell...and quite frankly she no longer cared.
As they came closer she noticed there was something different about this group; their voices were hushed and their pants didn't make as much noise as she was used to. For the first time in a long time she got curious and sat up. Soon a small gang of five sligs came into view and one thing immediately struck her as odd: none of them where wearing masks. Three of the sligs looked about two or three years old, one looked around ten and the remaining one somewhere in-between. The oldest looking one was wearing a lab coat, like some of the assistant sligs she had seen before. What surprised her even more was that they just walked right by her cell, not even looking at her, and went into one of the storage rooms that were nearby and she heard the sounds of rummaging.
Somewhat relieved that they had no interest in her, she laid back down again, going back into her depressed stupor. Suddenly there was a loud crash and some swearing.
"Odd damn it be careful yer clumsy olf!" she heard a rather loud voice boom.
"Oh thank yer Foggy fer tellin' the whole compound we are here stealin' supplies!" another voice snapped in response, hot temperedly.
"Keep it down both of yer." a third said, softly yet sternly, "Jeez yer two are loud enough ter wake up those two guards we knocked out earlier...."
Stealing supplies? Dementa thought, They must be from the Rebellion. But that was as far as she let herself think about it...her spirit was so badly broken that she no longer cared if an opportunity to escape was literally right in front of her face.
"Fine...Ner could yer watch the hall? In case those guards wake up sooner then we like." the second voice said.
"What der I look like? A guard? I'm a mechanic fer odd's sake!" a forth, she guessed was Ner, said, "Frankly I don' know why yer dragged me out here Tok."
"Yer needed ter get out of that work shop of yer's...Odd yer hardly come out of there as is!" the second voice, Tok she believed said with a snort.
"Whatever..." Ner grumbled as she saw him step out into the hallway and leaned up against the wall next to the door as the others resumed rummaging.
She didn't know (or care for that matter) what drew the young slig's attention to her, but suddenly she saw him in front of her cell staring at her.
"Take a picture...it last's longer..." she mumbled half-heartily as she covered her face with her free arm.
"What are yer?" she heard the slig ask.
"Haven't known for a long time...nor does it matter anymore..." she replied with a slight whine.
"Don' yer want ter escape?"
"Escape..." she managed a weak laugh, "What does it matter if I escape or not? No matter where I go or do I always end up in misery..."
"Yer could join the Rebellion..."
"The Rebellion...ha...I was part of the Rebellion...and look at where it's got me?" she raised her shackled arm, "I am nothing but a plaything for Vykkers and lusty guards..."
Ner went quiet and just blinked at her...she guessed she had shocked him with that statement....

[Teal]

Xar: *mutters about how he should be down Medcentre not charging round the countryside stealing things...*

*borrows PoJ off Aura and baps him with it* Oh, hush you. Sounds oki to me...

Aura: *mutters* Reckon the ones that stayed with the Cartel were a bit stupid, anyway. Least she's got one little blessing - she isn't in the Arena... With *hides* Him... *whimper*

Oh, not you as well... *throws hands up in despair* I give up! Anyone want to adopt a slig...? Or more than one, that'd be good...!

[Sl'askia]

Mal: *raises a paw* I'll 'adopt' Aura! *cheesy grin*

*baps him one* she was being sarcastic mesa thinks...

Mal: awwwww *sulks*

Anywho heres the next chap...

Chapter 6

Dementa looked at Ner, who was still silent and just staring, waiting for a response. He seemed to be deep in thought, so rather then disturb him she put her head back down and closed her eyes. She heard him move away after a moment and she sighed, deciding to try to get some sleep.
She didn't know whether she fell asleep or not...but the sound of the cell door opening brought her back to full awareness. She tensed and kept her eyes crushed closed as she heard someone approached her, fully expecting it to be a guard.
"Relax...I'm jus' goin' ter get this off of yer..." a familiar voice said.
"Wha?" she looked up to see Ner working on her shackle. After a moment he was able to get it off her and Dementa sat up rubbing her wrist.
"Why?" She asked, "I said it didn't matter...."
"No matter what yer think of yerself yer don' deserve ter be treated like this." Ner said simply, "An' I remembered 'bout an old Alpha of mine...he was born and raised in a lab like this and he went through many hard times. Hell he was even betrayed and killed by someone he loved, but a Goddess brought him back. He ultimately had left our village, unable ter handle the emotional pain he went through durin' his time with us. But recently he came back and had found a new life...a new purpose. I believe yer can ter...if yer really want ter..."
"What your old Alpha went through cannot compare to what I have gone through..." Dementa countered.
"Well, perhaps once we get back to Khufa we can still help yer." Ner said as he offered a hand to help her up.
Dementa looked at the hand and almost reached out to accept it...but remembered just in time about the curse. With a sigh she shakily rose to her feet, waving Ner off when he moved to steady her.
"Trust me..." she said, "You don't want to touch me..."
"I'll take yer word on that..." Ner said with a nod, "Let me see if I can find anything yer can use ter cover yerself."
Dementa nodded and wordlessly mouthed a 'thank you' as Ner left he cell and went into the storage room with the others. Dementa stepped out of the cell for the first time in Odd knows how long under her own power. She paced a bit, getting used to walking again, the clicking of her toe claws on the metal floor echoing down the hall. She could hear Ner and the other sligs in the storage room:
"I think we found everything we need fer this trip..." She heard Tok say.
"Yep this should hold me fer a while." the loud one said, Foggy if she remembered correctly, "Ner what the frack are yer doin'?"
"Yea...I thought I told yer ter watch the hall?"
"I freed a prisoner at was being held not far from this room, I am lookin' ter see if there is anythin' she could wear in here." She heard Ner explain.
"What a Crossbreed or something?" Tok asked.
"Well...she said she wasn't one...does look kind of like Spider though..."
Spider? Who is that? Dementa thought briefly, before a noise down the hall caught her attention.
"Man whoever beaned me is goin' ter get it..." she heard a voice said. Her eyes widened as she realized who it was...one of the guards.
"Yer said it...makin' us lose valuable 'fun' time." a second grumbled.
She wasn't sure why...but she suddenly felt really angry. Her back arched, head lowered, all the muscles in her body tensed with pure rage.
"Hey a found some clothes yer could..." she barely heard Ner say as he approached her, "What's wrong?" There was a moment of silence...then apparently he realized. "Oh frack the guards are awake!"
"Not for long..." Dementa growled, barely able contain herself.
"Hey...what are yer doin' free!?" one of the guards said when he spotted her.
"Maybe she decided ter come ter us this time?" the other guard joked and both laughed.
"We're that good eh?" the first added, tauntingly.
That was enough for her...she snapped. With a raged filled howl she charged at them like an enraged scrab. Before the guards could react she had them both by their throats, her harm touch taking effect instantly and they writhed in agony.
"The pain you are feeling now cannot compare to the misery you and your colleagues have caused me!" She growled, ferally, her whole body shaking with uncontrollable fury, "Hell it cannot compare to the misery I been living in nearly my whole life!"
Her rage giving her strength she normally didn't have, she lifted the two guards and pinned them against the wall, holding them at eye level with her. She was completely unaware of the five sligs, including Ner, watching her from just outside the storage room with mouths agape.
"It was people like YOU that destroyed my kind...and took away the few true friends I had in my miserable life!" Dementa continued, her voice shaking and tears welling up in her eyes.
Both guards suddenly went limp, for their bodies could no longer handle the intense pain while they stayed conscious. It took her a moment to realize that before she dropped them. She then sank to her knees and broke out into tears, covering her face with her hands. She only just barely heard Ner approach her.
"Don't touch me..." She warned as she looked up at him, her face stained with tears.
"I won't..." Ner said as he handed her the clothes he found. "Here."
She shifted through the clothes and was a bit surprised when she realized they were her old clothes. Dementa managed a faint laugh as she put them on, they were a little loose fitting now...since she had lost some weight do to her captivity. In the meantime Ner had gone back to the others to help gather up the supplies they were nicking. She surprised them when she poked her head in and said:
"We best get out of here, before they realize that howl of mine wasn't from one of their...experiments."
They mutely nodded in agreement and shouldered the packs they had prepared.
"Yer goin' ter be alright?" Ner asked concerned, "Yer were pretty despondent there fer a moment."
"I...don't know." Dementa said with a sigh. "I don't know if I'll ever be 'alright'...anyway...lets go." Dementa grabbed a pack no one had picked up yet and waited for them to move out. They nodded and moved out in single file, Dementa falling in behind them.

*sings* I'm on a roll, I'm on a roll *knocks on wood so she doesn't jinx herself, then resumes singing*

Dementa: jeez...and I thought I had issues...

[Teal]

I'm guessing the guards are worker-class...

Aura: *clears throat* With reference to your first point, maybe we can come to an arrangement... *slinks off*

Geh! Now look what you did! Although I did offer... oh well.

[Lantra]

nice writing as always.

[Sl'askia]

finally got another chap...*curses writers block*

Chapter 7

"Damn, I think we're lost..." Tok cursed quietly as he looked around confused. Dementa and the others had been forced to hide on several occasions when the patrols came by as they made their way out.
"We must have gotten turned 'round somewhere..." Ner mused as he tried to figure out where they were. Foggy just muttered something about there seeming to be more patrols about then when they came in.
They all were hiding in a dark, unused corridor, trying to figure out how to get out now.
"We need ter get out of here..." Ner whispered as they watched another patrol pass by.
"I know..." Tok whispered back hotly, struggling to keep his temper in check, "We need ter figure out where we are first. We can't wander through here aimlessly...it would jus' get us caught."
Dementa carefully looked out into the adjacent corridor, trying to spot anything familiar. She did; the grate she used to get to the computer room before she got caught and the camera she had once disabled.
"I know where we are." she whispered to them, "Which side of the building is your transport?"
"Uh..." Tok thought a moment, "East side. We have a couple of muds waiting with a portal."
Dementa thought a moment, carefully retracing the path she initially took when she first got here.
"I know a way out...and its on the right side as well." she finally said with a smile, "follow my lead."
After seeing them nod in acknowledgement, Dementa looked back out at the corridor, made sure it was clear and bolted for the next hiding spot, the others following close by.

Some time later they were in sight of a door to the outside, however, there were two sligs right in front of it, gassing.
"Damn..." Tok whispered, "How are we goin' ter get by those two without gettin' seen?"
"I don't know..." Dementa whispered, snarling slightly in frustration.
We are so close... she thought, her tail twitching slightly. She looked around to see if there were any other guards around, thinking maybe she could take those two out.
"Wait here." she whispered to the rest of the group a she gathered herself to charge, "I'm going to try to take them out." She picked up a broken bolt she noticed laying on the floor by her foot and threw it at the door behind the guards. It made a loud clink when it hit and predictably they both turned around to look at what made the noise. Dementa then ran out and introduced the two sligs heads to each other, knocking them out. She opened the door and looked out cautiously to see if anyone else was on the other side.
"Looks clear...lets make a run for it." she said loud enough for the others to hear.
"Right...lets get out of here and back home." Tok said in agreement as he ran out of cover and out the door, the others following and Dementa right after them. Just as the door closed behind them...the alarm went off....

They ran as fast as they could toward the meeting spot, the two muds just in sight. Dementa glanced behind them to see that they were being pursued...and shot at.
"Those muds of yours better get that portal open right quick!" she yelled to the others, "before we get lots of new air holes!"
"Hey yer lazy bums!" Foggy yelled at the muds as they ran. His voice was very loud for a slig...Dementa guessed that was the reason behind his name, "Yer better git that portal open now!"
Dementa saw the two muds literally jump and chanting. The portal opened just as Foggy reached it and he jumped in. As Dementa waited for the others to go before her, she glanced back at their pursuers. Suddenly she felt searing pain in back of her shoulder and side; she was hit. She cried out and staggered forward, holding her shoulder. Seeing she was the only one left and the portal was closing, she gathered her remaining strength and jumped through, but not before getting shot once more in the back....

She literally fell flat on her face when she came through on the other side. But she didn't get a chance to be embarrassed about it...she looked up blurrily at a bunch of faces and only managed to hear Oh no she's hurt... before blacking out....

*evil laugh* I love cliffhangers...don't you?

[Sl'askia]

Chapter 8

"Go on...I dare ya." one of the other adolescent Drakkics said to her, "Go in there and swipe something from that old muds place."
"And if I don't?" she asked, boldly.
"Heh...then we will tell the elders that you are the one that burned down that healer's hut." Another said nastily.
"You can't do that!" she growled, arching her back.
"Sure we can...who would they believe more? The sons and daughters of the royal guards? Or a blue freak like you?"
She growled fiercely...but gave in. It was bad enough that she was made fun of because of her odd coloration...she didn't need to be accused of arson on top of that...
"Alright..." she said, defeated, as she started creeping toward the hut.
The place reeked of incense and candle smoke as she poked her head in, making her eyes water and she nearly squeezed. It was a rather eerie looking hut…it only had one room and everything in it was either black or red. Lit candles and incense sticks where on every table and in the center of the room was a large black circular rug with a red pentagram. In the center of the rug was a pedestal and on the pedestal was a black book. She walked in further, looking for something she could take that would satisfy her tormentors, but the only thing she saw was the book. Walking up to the pedestal to get a closer look at it, she recoiled in shock and disgust; the books cover was made out of skin!
After a moment she managed to gather her senses.
Better get this over with… she thought as she reached for and grabbed the book.
It got cold…really cold, the moment she lifted the book off the pedestal. Frightened, she made for the door, only to be stopped by some invisible wall. Whining, she looked about for the cause of the temperature drop.
“Looks like I have a wannabe thief here…” A dry, cruel, feminine voice said.
She looked up to see a black-cloaked figure that she could have sworn wasn’t there before standing next to the pedestal. All she could see was the head and hands, both of which were mudokon, though the skin was black. What was really freaky was this mud’s eyes…they were nothing but translucent black orbs with an eerie white glow to them.
“And thieves get punished…” the mud said as she raised a paw. The book flew out of her grip and into the mud’s outstretched hand.
“Please don’t hurt me…” she whined, adopted a submissive posture, “I had no choice…”
The mud laughed.
“There is always a choice!” the mud said with an evil grin as she started flipping through the pages of the book, “Now what to do to you…”
She wanted to run…oh Odd did she want to run…but she couldn’t move a muscle. She could only watch helplessly as this mudokon finally found what she was looking for and started chanting.
She felt a tingling sensation at first through out her body, then it started to hurt…really bad and she screamed….

Dementa bolted upright screaming. She clenched her head, forcing that memory back into the deep recesses of her mind, the memory of the day she was cursed. She shook her head and looked around to see where she was.
She was in a wooden hut, on a simple bed of furs and grasses. She saw her clothes in a neat pile off to one side and she looked down to see that her whole torso was bandaged up.
“Where am I?” she muttered.
“Khufa.” A female voice said, suddenly, making her jump.
“Who?” Dementa looked in the direction of the voice at its owner. What was standing next to her was something she had never seen before….

[One, Two, Middlesboogie]

Ooo, this is good. I can't really say any more than that; there's nothing to criticise (but I bet Dan will find something ).

[Sl'askia]

I think Dan stopped reading the moment he saw some of my older characters in this....*shrug* oh well.

Chapter 9

In ways the figure standing next to her was similar. The overall body shape was like hers only much shorter, less then five feet tall. However there were differences:
Instead of four claws fingers there were only three. Tail was shorter, about three feet long, which was understandable due to the figure's height. Skin was a yellow green with no variation in color anywhere that she could see. She wore garment that was a combo of a tunic and loincloth to cover her 'feminine' features.
The main difference was the head; the closest she could compare it too was a mudokon's. The snout was more pointed and triangular, with two clear nostrils at the tip; the eyes were distinctly drakkic-like and were regarding her with a curious look, but Dementa could see that this creature had more knowledge and wisdom then what her appearance showed.
"What are you?" Dementa wondered aloud.
The figure grinned, somewhat mischievously, showing briefly a set of sharp carnivorous teeth.
"Wouldn't you like to know...?" she said, a hint of mischievousness in her voice. Then she turned serious, "But what I am is not important right now, lets just say I am something you wouldn't want to get on their bad side..."
Dementa didn't know if it was the seriousness of the creature's voice or something else, but she quickly nodded her head in agreement.
"I am Ishtar." the creature said, "and you are a lucky Drakkic to be alive."
Dementa gave Ishtar a sideways glance.
"Do you mean lucky to be alive as in the Great Slaughter of my people or...more recent." she asked.
"Both." Ishater replied, "From what I know a pure Drakkic has been seen in nearly 300 years and you are lucky to have survived those gun shot wounds as I couldn't heal you magically."
"There's a reason for that..." Dementa said quietly, "For both it looks like..."
Ishtar's brow furrowed slightly and her eyes narrowed slightly, Dementa couldn't tell if it was in annoyance or thought. Her eyes seemed to look right through her and Dementa couldn't help but tremble slightly.
"There is a dark curse on you..." Ishtar said finally, "I didn't notice it before but now I can 'see' it. It explains a few things I was wondering about you. Like that 'harm touch' that gave the others a dickens of a time carrying you back to the village and your usual physic. Who put this curse on you?"
Dementa swallowed thickly.
"A black female mud with weird eyes." she replied, trying hard not to let the memory of that day overwhelm her.
"What was weird about the eyes?" Ishtar pressed.
"They...looked like nothing but transparent black orbs with a white light behind them."
Ishtar's whole demeanor changed. She started pacing with a worried and almost fearful look on her face.
"What's wrong?" Dementa asked, "There's no way you could have known her...it was over 300 years..."
"I do know her." Ishtar interrupted with a growl, making Dementa shut up quick, "That was no mud...that was the Goddess of Suffering, Zilathoga."
Dementa's jaw dropped open.
"Let me guess..." Ishtar continued, "This curse not only causes others pain when they come in physical contact with you...but also keeps you alive...making you virtually immortal."
Dementa nodded mutely, bringing her knees up to her chest.
"Oh yeah...that type of curse fits her perfectly." Ishtar growled again, before muttering in some sort of language Dementa couldn't understand.
"Can you remove the curse?" Dementa asked hopefully. She had asked all sorts of shaman's and other types of magic users to try, only without success. She figured that if she knew the one that put the curse on her she might be able to help her.
"I am not powerful enough." Ishtar said with a shake of her head, "But I might be able to get one of my superiors to help you...however..."
"What?" Dementa asked.
"Before I can submit the 'request' I need to know the story around why it was put on you in the first place. Start from the very beginning."
"You mean...my life story up to the point where I was cursed?"
Ishtar merely nodded.
Dementa sighed deeply, not really wanting to relive her past by telling it, but she had no choice if she wanted to have the curse removed. So she gathered herself and began....

Dementa told Ishtar every thing that went on in her life before she was cursed, to the best of her recollection. About how her father left her mother not long after she was born, swearing that she wasn't his child. About how she was teased and bullied by others because of her very odd coloration. How she had so few 'true' friends to help her get through her mother's unexpected death not long after became a year old. And how a gang of adolescents, who where all children of the royal guard, threatened to accuse her of a crime she didn't comment if she didn't swipe something from a nearby muds hut (though she didn't know until recently that that mud was the Goddess if Suffering, Zilathoga, herself).
Ishtar sat and listened as Dementa told her story, her expression unreadable the whole time. Once Dementa had reached the point where she was cursed, Ishtar signaled her to stop.
"That is enough." Ishtar said calmly.
"Well?" Dementa asked, "Can you help me?"
Ishtar was quiet for a long time, her eyes closed, apparently in deep thought. Then for the first time her expression changed, to one of sorrow and regret. Dementa felt a sickening knot from in her stomach.
"I am afraid I can't..." Ishtar said finally, shaking her head sadly.
"Unfortunately from what you just told me...Zilathoga was in her right to punish you...though a bit extreme."
"Wha...what..." Dementa muttered, not wanting to believe what she just heard. "Wh...why.?"
Ishtar stood up and looked at her straight, a dead serious look on her face.
"One...you were trespassing. Two...you attempted to steal one of her belongings."
"But...I had no choice!" Dementa protested.
"There is always a choice." Ishtar said sternly.
"What not do it and get punished for arson!?" Dementa said jumping up and glaring down at Ishtar, "Get punished for a crime I didn't commit and become even more of an outcast then I already was!? What other choice did I have? Walk up to Zilathoga and say: 'Excuse me miss, but can I burrow one of your items so I can get these jerks off my case?' I seriously doubt she would have let me!"
"Considering your age and other factors, you may not have been mentally able to think of that solution. But you cannot change the choices of the past, you can only do what you can to correct your mistakes afterward."
"What do you think I have been trying to do for over 300 years!?" Dementa screeched as she started pacing the room, "Oh and I bet Zilathoga is just enjoying watching me suffer for all this time, must be a real thrill to her." at that point Dementa fell back into the bed, burying her head in her arms and breaking out into tears. "I just want to be normal again and be happy...but it doesn't look like that will ever happen..." she sobbed, "I just want to end it...but even death is beyond me."
She heard Ishtar sigh and remain quiet a moment.
"It may not seem possible to you now." Ishtar said, softly, "but you will find happiness. You just have to look hard enough."
"What would I look for?" Dementa asked looking up, her face stained with tears.
"That only the fates know..." Ishtar said, "I never got your name by the way..."
"Dementa."
Ishtar raised a brow, "Why do I get the feeling that is not your real name?"
"It's not...I have forgotten what my real one is..."
Ishtar just nodded, "Well Dementa, I will still see if my superiors will help you, but I wouldn't count on it. In the mean time, rest and heal up.
You can stay here in Khufa while I converse with my superiors." Ishtar waved a hand over her muttering something in the same odd language she heard her speak in before. Dementa was just able to breathe a soundless 'thank you' before drifting off into dreamland....

[Sl'askia]

YES! I ACTUALLY GOT MORE OF THIS FIC DONE!!! WHOOOHOOO!!! *does backflips*

Chapte 10

Dementa didn't now how long she had slept, but it was the most restful sleep she had in a long time. The bed she was in felt so warm and comfortable that she didn't want to wake up, but a savory scent reached her nose and her stomach growled. Realizing that it had been ages since her last decent meal (and therefore increditably hungry), she sat up and opened her eyes.
"I figgered that would wake yer up." A female voice, one that had a sliggish accent to it. Dementa looked over and her eyes widened slightly in surprise once again.
Standing beside her, holding a plate of food, was another odd being, though there was obviously slig treats in her. Her head and arms were distinctly slig, but the rest of her mimicked Ishtar. Her skin was a yellow-green with green barring and her eyes were a flaming orange.
"Who are you?" Dementa asked, "And where's Ishtar?"
"Names Jai'ana, most jus' call me 'Jay' though." the female said as she handed Dementa the food, "An' mother is out talkin' ter her superiors, seein' 'bout gettin' that curse off of you."
Dementa eagerly accepted the plate and dived in.
"So..." Dementa asked between bites, "Are you cursed too?"
Jai'ana blinked at her for a moment, then hooted a laugh.
"Nah, I was born like this." She said.
Dementa thought a moment, then said, "You called Ishtar your mother...that would mean your father was a slig..."
"Big Bro actually." Jai'ana said with a smile, "I guess when yer a goddess you can breed with anythin'..."
"Goddess..." Dementa muttered to herself, remembering what Ishtar had told her about the one that had cursed her...and how it was unlikely the other gods would help her, "Not like any of them care what happens to me..."
"Mother's at least tryin'...yer can't fault her fer that..." Jai'ana said.
Dementa put down the plate and laid down again, turning her back to Jai'ana, in a deep state of despair.
"I just want to end it..." Dementa said softly, "but even that choice is denied to me..."
Jai'ana, seemingly at a loss as to what to say, just said, "Yer sure you don' want any more?"
"I'm sure..." Dementa said as she pulled the covers up around her, "I am not hungry anymore..."
"Ok...."
There was a moment of silence, and then Dementa heard Jai'ana leave the room. Dementa sighed, curled up into a ball and closed her eyes....

The next thing she knew, she was standing near a cliff edge. Cautiously she stepped up to the edge and looked down; she couldn't see the bottom. There was nothing but never ending blackness.
Kind of like my life... she thought, nothing but endless suffering....
”Only if thou let it.” a soft female voice said.
"Wha? Who's there?" Dementa said, staggering back, startled.
Just then a large serpentine shape appeared in front of her, hovering over the depths of the chasm beyond the cliff edge. It was silver in color with a white flowing mane and two draconian arms. One the face where two catfish-like feelers and the eyes were white and pupiless. The whole form moved as if it was treading in water...though nothing but air surrounded it. The creature reminded Dementa of something...something from her past, but she couldn't place it.
”I am known as Thunder Moon.” the creature said, “Goddess of Healing”
"Goddess?" Dementa thought a moment, "Then you must be one of Ishtar's superiors."
”Thou are correct.”
"Then...are you here to remove the curse from me?" Dementa asked hopefully.
The Goddess shook her head, sadly.
”Alas, we cannot undo what is meant to be.”
"You mean I am meant to suffer!?" Dementa howled, furious.
"Thou only suffer because thy let thyself suffer."
"Do you think I want to suffer!? No! I have looked all my Odd damned LIFE for a way to ease my suffering...and to actually be happy. Have I found the means? Obviously not!"
The goddess lowered her head down to Dementa's level and turned it to one side, looking at her with one of her white pupil less eyes; Dementa could see her reflection in it. Dementa stood firm, but shaking with fury and sadness
"Happiness can be achieved, if thou searched hard enough and in the right place. The key to thy's happiness lays with another."
"I can't get close to another as long as this curse is one me...." Dementa said softly, turning her head away, tears running down her cheeks.
The goddess turned her head so that she was completely facing her now. With one of her feelers she gentlely turned Dementa's head back toward her.
"There are ways..." she said softly, with a gentle smile, "Open thy heart and thou will find them...til then...farewell"
The goddess suddenly dissipated into mist...and faded away to nothing.
Not long after the Goddess had fully disappeared, an evil laugh echoed through the air; one that Dementa recognized immediately.
"Zilathoga..." Dementa whispered, breathlessly as she backed away from the cliff edge.
Suddenly there was a loud crack, and the cliff around her broke off from the rest of the cliff, casting her down into the blackness of the chasm below....

[Grid]

Thou fic exists on many levels of coolness.
Thy author is very talented at thee literature.

[Sl'askia]

Gawd its been awhile since I added to this fic...damn Writers Block...
Anyway I managed to scrape up another chap...

Chapter 11

Dementa woke up with a start, sitting up sharply and with a short scream.
She looked around and saw that she was safe in the room she was in before and breathed a sigh of relief. She jumped with someone touched her shoulder.
"Jumpy this morning eh?" she heard Ishtar's voice say, "You ok? I heard your scream..."
"I am fine..." Dementa panted, trying to calm herself down, "Just have a little nightmare that's all."
"I see..." Ishtar lowered her head, "I'm afraid I have some bad news..."
"I know...your superiors refused."
"Huh?" Ishtar snapped her head back up, "How did you..."
"One of them visited me in my dream...Thunder Moon if I remember correctly."
Dementa lowered her head, a single tear rolling down her face. "I am surprised she didn't fry me or something...considering how angry I acted toward her."
"Thunder Moon is a very understanding and patient goddess...." Ishtar explained, "It is rare for her to get angry."
"I guess so...but what am I going to do? I am stuck with this curse for eternity it looks like...."
"You just have to make the most of your life..."
"That's what I have been trying to do...all of my life." Dementa closed her eyes and sobbed quietly, "But everything I do...ends up sour somehow. Everything..."
"Things will change for you, you'll see. You mustn't let this bring you down."
"How? When all I can see is downward....?"
"You see downward because you only want to see down..." Ishtar said, seriously, "You think that there is no hope for you...but there is. It is hard to see but there is. You just have to look for it."
Dementa sighed and laid back down, her back to Ishtar.
"Please...I...just want to be alone right now..." she whimpered.
"Alright..." Ishtar said with a sigh, "If you need anything...just holler."

It took three weeks for Dementa to fully recover physically. Mentally, however, will take much longer, for what she had been through in that lab will haunt her for many weeks to come. It didn’t help her any that it was spring; the time of the year where many new relationships start and old ones are strengthened.
Dementa often watched these couples from the window, but could never stand watching them for long: it was too painful for her. It wasn’t that she didn’t desire a mate…no, it was the opposite. To be held in the arms of someone she loved without fear of her hurting him. But the curse prevented any such contact, much to Dementa’s sorrow. Such a relationship was out of her reach as long as the curse remained and the curse hadn’t shown any sign of abating in the 300 years it was on her.
One day, she just couldn’t take it anymore. Gathering up the few belongings she had, she slipped out of Ishtar’s hut in the dark of the night…

Dementa walked solemnly along in the night. She didn’t know how long she had wandered, nor how far, but she didn’t care. About her was the silence of the forest, save for the chirps of crickets and occasional paramite screech. The only other things were the sound of her own breathing and footfalls. She had left the company of friends for the sake of the last shreds of her sanity, yet her heart ached with loneliness. She yearned for company, yet feared unintentionally harming others with her harm touch.
Am I fated to forever walk this land alone…? she thought sorrowfully, desiring the company of others yet not due to this curse? Why was I fated to suffer like this when I hadn’t done anything to deserve this type of punishment?
Lost in her own thoughts of despair, Dementa only vaguely registered that she had entered a large clearing. Looking up the night sky she saw the moon was full.
Stopping her aimless wandering she stared at the moon for a moment, tears running down her cheeks. Then she opened up in song, the song of mourning for her people, from her culture. But to Dementa it was also a song of lost hope. She sang for a long time, her voice echoing amongst the trees surrounding the clearing, until she could sing no more and sank to her knees and sobbed.
“What has gotten you so down miss?” a voice said behind her.
Caught completely off guard, Dementa literally jumped to her feet with a yelp. Whirling around she immediately and instinctively dropped into a defensive posture: head and shoulders down, her whole body tense, ready to react at a second’s notice. But once she spotted the speaker in the darkness of the night, she felt breathless and bewildered….

[MunchOnThis]

Great story, Dragadon!!! I wanna hear more!!! Your stories are excellent,better than anything I could write.......

[Teal]

She's not the only writer, you know...

*sad*

*cries*

[Sl'askia]

Merp...here's another chap (finally)...now..what chap did I leave off at? Oh yeah...

Chapter 12

What she saw was a Big Brother...yet not a Big Brother. The top part of him was Big Bro...but from the waist down it obviously wasn't. Instead of the usual Big Bro pants this guy had actual legs; dinosaur-like legs, and a long tail. Also unlike a 'normal' Big Bro, he had large fangs jutting out of his mouth from his lower jaw. He was as tall as an average Big Bro, but she couldn't tell what his coloration was, due to it being night.
His face was full of concern and kindness and his eyes seemed to draw her in. Her legs felt like rubber and her heart was in her throat as a feeling overswept her. She knew this feeling...one she had wanted to experence again for so long...yet dreaded.
No... She thought as she took a step back.
"It's ok miss, I won't hurt ya..." the Big Bro-like creature said as he stepped toward her.
Hoards of thoughts and emotions were zipping through Dementa's head, but the most dominate was fear: fear of causing suffering to others. She cowered a moment, in a submissive positure, then suddenly she bolted, blindly running away from him.
Why...WHY must the gods torment me so!? She thought as she ran, ignoring the strangers calls to her.
Blinded by her tears and confusion, she didn't see the large rock in her path. She tripped and tumbled down a hill. She must had hit her head on something...for she was unconscious by the time she hit the bottom...

When Dementa regained consciousness she could feel the warmth of the sun on her skin. Groaning slightly she opened her eyes and looked around.
She was near a small, gently glowing stream in a small clearing. There was good sized rock that was behind her and lots a soft moss around it. Not far away was the rements of a campfire.
Who brought me here? she thought as she went to stand up, only to find her left ankle wouldn't support her weight.
Surpressing a cry a pain, sat back down and looked at her ankle. It was swollen and scraped up from the rock she tripped on.
Looks like I am not going anyway fast for awhile... she thought, frowning in dismay.
"Ah, you are awake finally." a familiar voice said not far away.
Dementa stiffened, now remembering the events of the night before. Slowly she turned to look in the direction the voice came from. There, just entering the clearing, was the same male she ran away from last night, only now she can see clearly his coloration: green with tan underparts and lighter green stripes. His eyes were the typical scarlet, like most sligs.
"I was starting to get worried about ya." he said as he dropped a couple of paramite carcasses onto the ground, "You had taken a nasty spill."
She wanted to say something, but all that came out was a barely auditable 'merp', which he heard and looked over at her.
"Aw I am not that scary looking am I?" he said as he knelt by her.
Dementa did answer. Her mind was reeling with thoughts, feelings, and memories. She was so stiff that she was trembling. Her eyes were so affixed on his face that she didn't notice at first that he was reaching up with a hand to stroke her face. Once she did...she reacted immediately.
"No...don't touch me!" she cried, moving away from him.
"Why? I said I wasn't going to hurt ya..." he said, a baffled look on his face.
"Because..." she broke into sobs, "if you do you'll be in pain...a lot of pain..."
He scratched his chin. "I didn't have any trouble when carrying ya here..." he said.
"It would have to be skin to skin contact..."
He shrugged. "Like I said...I didn't have any trouble."
Dementa shallowed thickly and studied his face: as far as she could tell he wasn't lieing to her. Could it be he was somehow immune to her harm touch? There was only one way to be sure. Hesitantly, she took off one of her gloves and touched him on the arm. Nothing, not even a flinch.
"H h h h how...?" she stammered, breaking out in tears again, "How are you immune to it?"
"Even if I knew what you were talking about I wouldn't know." he said with another shrug, "Anyway, names Hunter...and you are?"
She started to say 'Dementa', but she paused and said a name she had long forgotten...
"Authia..." she said.

[Black Dragon]

Nicely done, 'Kia. Ol' Hunter has finally made another appearance on the place where he originated.

Hunter: *Coughs* An' ter think yer threatened to put me in retirment...

Uh, heh heh... not NOW... *Tries to hide the mutant behind her immense form*

Hunter: Thought ya could get ridda me, eh?! Thought ol' Magar the Hunter was out of commission for good, didja?!! Well, Ms.Goldenwing-dragonpants, I've got some news for you!! When I was...!

*Rolls eyes**Grabs Hunter and flies out*

[Sl'askia]

I actually had this done yesterday...but forgot to post it...*grumble*

"Authia..." Hunter mused, "Pretty name."
"But that's my old name..." Dementa said quickly, "My name now is 'Dementa'..."
"I like 'Authia' better." Hunter said, "It suits a pretty girl like yourself better."
"No it doesn't!" Demetna suddenly snapped, causing Hunter to jumped. That name...her real name, just the sound of it brought back painful memories, memories she didn't want to remember. Unable to stop herself, she burst into tears.
"Hey now..." she heard Hunter say, "don't cry."
"They hurt..." she sobbed, "They hurt so much..."
Next thing she knew, Hunter had her wrapped in his arms in a comforting embrace. She froze at first; she wasn't used to having this kind of contact anymore, then relaxed and rested her head on his shoulder.
"It will be ok." he said softly, "what is hurting you so much?'
"My past..." she said with a sniff.
"Why don't you tell me about it? They say it helps with healing and stuff."
At first Dementa unsure if she should tell him, since she hardly knew him. She felt so safe in his arms though, like nothing would ever hurt her again. So she started telling her long tale. How she was teased relentlessly by the other draks because of her unusual skin color. The day she got cursed and became even more of an outcast. The day she lost her only true friend during the massacre of her people. Her deeds in fighting against the Cartel and her capture during her last attempt at stealing information.
She had to stop a couple of times when her emotions became too overwhelming. Hunter had waited patiently and didn't press her to continue. By the time she was done, it was pass noon, and both of them were very hungry. Fortunately, the paramite carusses were still good, so they ate their fill.
"So you're over 300 years old?" Hunter said as he finished off his share, "You don't look it."
"It's because of the curse..." Dementa said quietly, "It keeps me looking the same as I was the day the curse was first put on me...so I am basically immortal because of it. So many times I wish I could die...I have tried too, but the curse always brought me back. My life's been hell..."
"Well maybe I can help you change that." Hunter said as he put an arm around her shoulders.
Completely beside herself, she purred and leaned up agains him.
"Maybe..." she said with a faint smile. Maybe nothing. she thought, I wish it with all my heart...

As the days passed, Dementa learned much about her new friend. She found it interesting that Hunter was once bounty hunter working for the Cartel and switched sides after he got mutated into the form he was in now and she sympathized with the pain he had gone through himself.
Dementa was experiencing things with him that she hadn't experienced in a long time, or never experienced at all. She couldn't remember the last time she had laughed. For the first time she didn't have to worry about 'accidentally' hurting him with her harm touch and she relished his touch.
Over time their affections for each other grew and their actions toward each other became more romantic in nature. Wasn’t long before they doing things of a ‘naughty’ nature…

“It’s a beautiful day isn’t it?” Dementa purred as she rested on Hunter’s chest.
“Not as beautiful as you.” Hunter replied nuzzling her.
Dementa giggled and kissed him in return and sighed happily.
“I never thought I would be so happy Hunter…” she said, “but I am…and all thanks to you.”
“You’re the best thing that has happened to me too.” Hunter said with a smile.
Suddenly, there was a crack of thunder as black clouds covered the sky and the wind picked up, a cold wind. Hunter tried to keep Dementa warm by wrapping his arms around her, but this was an unnatural cold, one that seeped into their very souls.
“What’s going on?” Hunter yelled over the wind, “Where did this storm come from?”
“I don’t know!” Dementa replied, shivering.
They heard an angry sounding growl and there was a flash of light. When they had recovered from the flash, they saw a figure standing just on the other side of the clearing they were in. A female black skinned mudokon wearing a black robe, her eyes transparent black orbs with a ghostly white light shining through them. And she did not look happy.
Dementa recognized her at once and her heart filled with dread.
“Zilathoga…” she muttered.

[Sl'askia]

"No no no..." Zilathoga said, "This will not do at all...you are not suppose to be happy..."
"Leave us be!" Hunter growled, standing up to his full height, "She had suffered enough."
Zilathoga laughed, there was a flash, and the Goddess looked to have disappeared with only a black mist where she once stood, but Dementa and Hunter kept their guard up.
Sure enough, the black mist suddenly gathered and condensed, and Zilathoga appeared once again...only in a different form. Now what stood before them was not a mudokon, but a combo of dragon and leopard. The front legs, body and tail where leopard, the rest dragon. A row of quills ran from the back of her head to the tip of the tail and they could see droplets of venom oozing out of the tips. The body was all black like before...only adorned with yellow and green leopard spots. The eyes were the same translucent black orbs with the eerie white glow.
"There is never enough suffering..." Zilathoga hissed, craning her long draconic neck toward them, "for suffering gives me power." She took a step toward them and they took a step back out of reflex. "Now what to do with you...." the Goddess mused, "What would cause more suffering...."
"No matter what you do..." Dementa said definently, "I will find a way to be happy...for I know it is possible now."
Zilathoga visibly frowned, her eyes narrowed and the tail of her tail twitching with annoyance.
"Well then..." Zilathoga said with a dangerous glint in her eye, "I guess I'll just have to torture your soul instead." Suddenly before Dementa or Hunter could do anything, Zilathoga slashed upward with a forepaw, though missing them by a good amount. Though she missed...Dementa felt oddly different, like a part of her was ripped out of her body. She cried out in shock and collapsed.
"Dementa!" Hunter cried as he barely caught her in time before she hit the ground, "What did you do to her!?" Hunter growled at the goddess, eyes blazing with fury.
"Why...did what she always to have done..." Zilathoga said with a grin. "She...removed the curse..." Dementa said weakly. But why? Why would she fulfill my greatest wish other then being happy?
"This is some sort of trick isn't it!?" Hunter howled; Zilathoga just smiled, an evil glint in her eye.
Dementa looked at her hands and noticed to her horror that they had started to rapidly wrinkle and turn pale. She looked and saw that the same thing was happening to the rest of her body.
"What's happening to me!?" Dementa cried out in panic as she felt her strength rapidly leave her body.
"Why...your body is making up for the 300 or so years it didn't get to age." Zilathoga said with a chuckle.
Dementa couldn't believe it. After all those years of wishing she could just end it all death was finally about to claim her. Only she didn't want to die now...not when she finally found a reason to live.
She looked up at Hunter, weakly, who was holding her close. Her eyesight was starting to fail and Hunter was becoming burrier and burrier to her. She tried to speak, but her voice refused to work now.
"I will always remember you.." she heard Hunter say softly to her and she felt the warmth of his snout touching hers.
If only... she thought as the world before her faded, we had more time together...

[Silversnow]

Was that the last chapter?
*reads it again*
I really like the "No no no..." somehow... Weird...

[Teal]

"Is that the end chapter"... *rolls eyes* You should know the Queen of Moosh can't keep any of her "good guys" dead by now...