Everfree, Ch 6

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TwentySided
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Everfree, Ch 6

Postby TwentySided » Tue Dec 16, 2014 6:49 pm

Primitive, mysterious, and dangerous are but a few words used to describe the massive forest outside Ponyville. Never fully mapped or explored only the most adventurous of ponies enter the forest though even fewer return. Yet some call this dangerous place their home, namely Zecora and Xiania. Both zebra's far a distant land and both alchemist born and breed call this place home. Yet for all it's wonders the forest is a dangerous place full of ruins, dangerous beasts, and who knows what.

Deep within the forest itself, activity can be heard as recent occupants of the forest, deserters from the Draconic Alliance, and members of Torlem the Watcher's Brood prepare themselves for their first winter as a newly formed Union.

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einsUNDcolt
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Re: Everfree, Ch 6

Postby einsUNDcolt » Fri Jan 30, 2015 3:44 am

Atriark- Somewhere in the Everfree Forest

Atriark picked his way through the forest, the brambles thick and the vines large. He followed behind a light grey female gryphon with darker grey feathers, specks of black adorned her ankles and the calves of her legs. While he would never admit it to her, being here was putting the smaller zebra on edge. Everything about being in the forest itself gave him the willies, and he wanted to be out of here as quickly as he could. However, everything was made marginally better by the view he got of his escort's hind end.

"When I was told we were heading out into the forest, I had thought it was a sign of you taking a shining to me; a bit of wine, some food. Not a trudge though the most gloomy and dank place we could find," Atriark commented.

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Re: Everfree, Ch 6

Postby TwentySided » Fri Jan 30, 2015 4:09 am

Cilia Grey - Everfree Forest - Somewhere

Moving through the dense forest, Cilia stopped every now and again, pulling out a map to give a quick series of sketches furthering the map's progress south before looking back to make sure that Atriark was still with her. The tiny zebra had somehow made it through this far into the forest, then again they hadn't seen any predators. More than likely finding their little surveyor group not worth the effort. "HA!" the gryphon couldn't help but laugh just a little at the zebra's comment. "Yeah me and you? Not gonna happen short fry. You certainly have self confidence I'll give you that, but that isn't going to get anywhere for me, not when you take into account the rest of you." Cilia replied, "Besides I am here to either find or cut a path out of this place. Supposedly there is a equestrain town close by, just need to find it. After all can't really do much for the township if we don't have some contact, and you are here because as of right now, not too smart to go alone, and if we run into any predators it'd be best to have a medic close by."

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Re: Everfree, Ch 6

Postby einsUNDcolt » Fri Jan 30, 2015 4:47 am

Atriark- Lost in the Everfree Forest

The small zebra laughed at her response, yet a part of him felt a sharp pain for but a moment. However, he would not let that ruin his cheer, nor would it dissuade him from continuing his advances in the future. He tsk'd to himself as he galloped up beside the gryphoness, to get a view of her map. "A town you say? Why don't you let me have a look/see at the map?" Atriark asked, holding a hoof out to her. "And are you sure we are still heading south? I know from experience you can easily get turned off track without realizing it. Maybe it might be worth a fly through the canopy to get our bearings set straight?"

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Re: Everfree, Ch 6

Postby TwentySided » Fri Jan 30, 2015 11:34 am

Cilia Grey - Everfree Forest - Somewhere

Atriark had a point. Handing the map over to the zebra, Cilia looked up to see the a few openings in the canopy above. Spreading her wings, taking off with a powerful flap. Dodging branches and leaves the gryphon broke out of the forest cover. Pausing at the peak, she looked around her, surrounding the gryphon was a sea of green in every direction, seemingly neverending.

Pulling out a compass from her survival saddlebags, Cilia made sure the orientation of 270 degrees was still in place. Eyeing the need nearly thirty degrees off to the west, the gryphon swore a bit under her breath. Luckily it wasn't that bad. She hadn't assumed that it would be a straight shot anyways but she wished she had known how long they had been walking along these coordinates. Looking behind her, Cilia spied the wisps of smoke that marked where she and Ark had come from. It had been nearly five months since they had taken up shop in the forest. While it was certainly something to get used to, she felt confident in the township's well being. The first years crops had been planted, and a stable amount of food was coming in, but now they needed to actually start and form connections with the surrounding towns and cities.

Turning back to the orientation she needed, Cilia tried to see if they were even close to the Equestrian town, seeing only green before her, feeling her heart sink a bit, looking below her, the gryphoness remembered that Atriark was still waiting for her. Thinking that she should probably get back down there before the zebra was nabbed by...well...anything for a mid day snack, Cilia, descended back where she had came, landing lightly next to the medic. "Well, I've got news and bad news. Looks like we've heading South, but a bit to the east, roughly thirty degrees that way. Not terrible but we don't want to wander any further." Cilia explained as she eyed the compass once again turning until she was facing south. "Worse news, I don't see the town anywhere close to us, which means we've still got a ways to go. I'd say roughly three to four days as a safe estimate."

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Re: Everfree, Ch 6

Postby einsUNDcolt » Fri Jan 30, 2015 9:19 pm

Atriark- heading the wrong way

After receiving the map, the little zebra examined it as his fine feathered traveling companion broke through the treeline and examined their whereabouts. It seemed like they were heading on the correct course, but of course he knew that it could be false, or at least inaccurate. Traversing through a forest in a straight line was hard to do; many obstacles could get in the way and little deviations in one's course could have a big impact if not corrected post haste

A slight scurrying sound pulled Atriark's attention as he poured over the map's details. He was staring off into the forest, trying to determine the source of the odd sound when Cilia returned and explained to him what she learned.

"Wait wait wait, you mean we have to spend more time in the forest?" The runt of an equine sighed and hoofed Cilia the map back. "Least we caught this before we were really off track."

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Re: Everfree, Ch 6

Postby TwentySided » Fri Jan 30, 2015 10:23 pm

Cilia Grey - Everfree Forest - Somewhere

"Three more days if we are efficient, and like I said earlier, I was tasked to find the Equestrian township and open up ties for trade and map the path. If you don't want to help then you can leave and I can do this on my own." Cilia replied looking over the map once more before moving once again. "Nice catch though. We'll probably want to do it every couple of hours, make sure we haven't veered off track any more." the gryphon called back to Ark, assuming he was still following.

Walking further into the woods, Cilia noticed the change in light, as they walked. Looking at her watch, she confirmed that it was still the afternoon. She could only guess that it due to the canopy up above growing denser as they walked. "How you holding up Ark?" Cilia called back, "Gotten your fill of the great outdoors yet?"

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Re: Everfree, Ch 6

Postby einsUNDcolt » Sat Jan 31, 2015 5:02 am

Atriark- Traversing South Again

Ignoring her comment, Atriark resumed following the gryphoness. Of course he didn't want to leave. Especially given how far away any permanent structure was, or would possibly be from their current location. So, Atriark just shut up and followed behind Cilia. However, after further walking through the forest, the small zebra began to feel more and more exhausted; and when Cilia asked him how he was holding up, he couldn't help but fall to his haunches. "I don't know how you can keep walking like this. I need a moment to rest."

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Re: Everfree, Ch 6

Postby TwentySided » Sun Feb 01, 2015 3:24 pm

Cilia Grey - Everfree Forest - Somewhere

Moving forward, the gryphon could help but notice the change in light even more. What was once dark, now it seemed like it was nearly evening. Even the ground looked weird, like something was coating the ground. Cilia looked back at the zebra. Rolling her eyes as she stopped, at the same time she too was starting to feel tired. "Yeah, best to take a break. I guess, we still have a ways to go." the gryphon replied, moving to the nearest rock. Sitting down on it, Cilia gestured for Ark toward the other side of the rock. "So, what did you do before the war?"

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Re: Everfree, Ch 6

Postby einsUNDcolt » Sun Feb 01, 2015 5:27 pm

Atriark- Stopped in the middle of Everfree Forest

Atriark shuffled forward, closer to Cilia, but remained seated on the ground, not noticing nor caring if anything was wrong with it. "Before the war, I was learning medicine from an elder in my tribe," the fluffy zebra replied, then chuckled to himself. "I really don't know why, I just thought it would be good thing to do. Contribute to the well-being of the tribe and all that jazz. What about you? Surely a gryphon such as yourself did something important."

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Re: Everfree, Ch 6

Postby TwentySided » Mon Feb 02, 2015 12:12 am

Cilia Grey - Everfree Forest - Watch where you step

"Important, sure. I was servant before all of this, signed up to help the Alliance so that I wouldn't have to work for those higher ups anymore, house work just wasn't for me. I mean sure I'm still working for someone higher than me in the ladder, but at least I'm doing something I love rather than dusting and trying to keep some overblown hovel in order, always saying, 'anything I can do master, I finished the work master.' So demeaning." Cilia replied taking another drink from the canteen. "We're gonna need to find a river or something. It'll bring us right to the town if we just follow it anyways, also if we don't there is always a chance of running out of water but that shouldn't be too much a threat."

Getting off the rock, Cilia turned to Ark, noting the white threads stuck to her body as she did so. "Ah, shit, did I sit in something. Fuck me..." Reaching for the threads, the gryphon pulled at the threads, trying to get them off, only to find them stick to her talons. "Jeez...Ark you got any potions to dissolve this shit?"

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Re: Everfree, Ch 6

Postby einsUNDcolt » Mon Feb 02, 2015 2:44 am

Atriark- In the part full of webs

"Yes ma'am," the runty zebra replied, smirking to himself before digging through his saddle bag. "And I believe I do,'' he added. "So, you were a servant? I can say I don't believe that. You don't strike me as the type that would ever parade around in a maid outfit, dusting table, cleaning windows, and saying 'Master'. Well you know, outside of the bedroom that is~" Atriark commented, giving her a wink.

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Re: Everfree, Ch 6

Postby TwentySided » Mon Feb 02, 2015 3:00 am

Cilia Grey - Everfree Forest - Webs

Cilia paused her attempts at trying to remove the webs as she clenched her beak, looking to Ark with a slight twitch of irritation in her eye, "you really don't understand how easy it would be to make you simply disappear in this forest and never be found ever again, do you? Just give me the damn potion alright?"

Opening up her talons to Ark, she waited for the zebra to give her the salvant, as the noise of skittering caught the gryphon's attention. Forgetting the webbing already on here, Cilia turned toward the sound, glaring at where it had come from, "you heard that too right?"

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Re: Everfree, Ch 6

Postby einsUNDcolt » Mon Feb 02, 2015 3:19 am

Atriark- Cowering against a tree in the Everfree

Atriark swallowed hard, knowing he had crossed some invisible line for Cilia. Instinctively, the tiny zebra backed up into a tree just from the look she was giving him. However it was her words that really terrified the zebra; he knew that it would be easy for her. He was small, half her size, and she had wings and was a natural born predator, all he was was a small, runt of a zebra with a shaggy coat and an attitude to compensate for his small stature.

"No...no ma'am...'' was all he could respond to her question, he had not heard anything.

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Re: Everfree, Ch 6

Postby TwentySided » Mon Feb 02, 2015 3:48 am

Cilia Grey - Everfree Forest - Webs

Her eyes fixated on where she had heard the sound, Cilia slowly stepped toward Ark, he voice dropping low, "Don't mistake this for mercy for what you just said, but we do need to get out of here. Back up very, very slowly. Don't make any sudden moves. We're being watched and from the silk on the ground and rock, I don't think its friendly." Cilia hissed to the zebra, coaxing him away from the tree. "When I say run, you run."

Taking another step, Cilia noticed the amount of thin strands of web along her paws and talons. They had wandered into a den, of something, something she didn't want to really meet face to face. Another sound of rustling leaves, sent her her gaze shooting to the left, then to the right, then up above them. There were more than she had originally thought and they were surrounding them.

"RUN!" Cilia yelled as she burst into a sprint, the strands pulling at her legs before quickly giving way. All around her she heard the sounds of movement as the arachnids gave chase, but just beyond her vision. Occasionally she could catch a glimpse of one or the others, but nothing she could actually identify, thanks to the dim light.

A black form darted out in front of them, cutting off their path, skidding to a stop, it was then Cilia could finally see what they were, a hairy spider, roughly half the zebra's size, stood before them, rearing up on its back pairs of legs, a pair of fangs, glistened in the low light.

Giving chance to get their wits, from above, three more of the large arachnids leapt at Cilia, causing the gryphon to go into a panic as two of them landed on her back, the other hitting her in that chest. Flailing, the explorer, swung at the creature on her, knocking it off her, but giving a chance for the two on her back. "AAAHH!" Immediately Cilia cried out as she felt a pair of fangs sink into her back, her back beginning to feel numb, the feeling beginning to spread.

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Re: Everfree, Ch 6

Postby einsUNDcolt » Tue Feb 03, 2015 5:19 am

Atriark- Fleeing From Arachnids the Size of Him

Atriark was right behind Cilia as she tore off at a full sprint. He didn't know what he was running from, but something had spooked the gryphoness and that was enough for him. Soon, he found out what they were running from. Spider, the size of him dropped down from the treetops, hissing. He veered left, avoiding it only to run straight into another hissing spider, it's front legs raised. In a panic, the small zebra skidded to a halt before taking off again, kicking dust into the spider's face before coming to a halt again. Atriark dug into his saddle bag, searching for and bringing out two glass bottles. He pulled off the stoppers and hastily combined the two liquids, getting as much onto his hoof as he did into the bottle.

"AAAHH!" cried out Cilia, tearing Ark's attention away from the bottle. Two spiders were on her back and it looked like one had gotten it's fangs into her. Anger rose up in the little zebra, and he corked his glass bottle, dropping it at his hooves as he charged the spiders assaulting Cilia. Atriark leaped onto her back, and tore one off before beating his hooves into the second, trying to dislodge the foal sized arachnid.

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Re: Everfree, Ch 6

Postby TwentySided » Wed Feb 04, 2015 1:37 am

Cilia Grey - Everfree Forest - Spider Ambush

Flailing in a clouded panic, Cilia, tried everything she could to dislodge the spiders, shaking, flapping her wings, anything she could do to stop the spreading numbness as it crept down her back. Feeling something else land on her, Cilia's panic peaked. Leaping to the ground, the gryphon rolled, hoping to get the arachnids off her. Only to succeed in getting more of the webbing on the ground stuck to her, as one of the creatures on her back fell to the ground in front of her.

Eyes filled with terror and fury, Cilia quickly grabbed the creature before it could scurry away, digging her talons into its underside as it too began to struggle, before finally pulling apart, ripping a large hole in the spider as its movements devolved into twitches. Throwing the corpse away, the gryphon repeated her rolls hoping to dislodge the third and final one. She was going to murder it, rip it in two. Nothing attacked her and got away with it! "GET OFF ME YOU EIGHT LEGGED FREAK!" She yelled, leaping from the ground, her back aimed at the nearest rock. If she couldn't dislodge it she would crush it instead!

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Re: Everfree, Ch 6

Postby einsUNDcolt » Thu Feb 05, 2015 6:24 pm

Atriark- Between a Rock and a Gryphon

Atriark held on as Cilia kicked and bucked and rolled, trying to get the spiders and probably him as well off her. In short order, both spiders were knocked off, or crushed as she rolled. He oofed as he was suddenly slammed against a rock, Cilia screaming "GET OFF ME YOU EIGHT LEGGED FREAK!"

"C...Cilia!" he cried, his body being crushed. "It's me!"

And shortly after he said that, his chemical mixture expanded beyond what the glass bottle could hold, and exploded in a shower of glass and fire above them, amongst the tree tops.

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Re: Everfree, Ch 6

Postby TwentySided » Sat Feb 14, 2015 6:35 pm

Cilia Grey - Everfree Forest - Spider Ambush

Breathing heavily Cilia looked at the rock, not seeing a crushed insect but instead hearing a voice on her back. An unfortunately familiar voice. "Ark?-" Before she could continue a loud bang ripped through the canopy above. "the FUCK!" the gryphoness cried, jumping back. Up above, she could see a number of the arachnids scurrying away. Some limping from the attack. Those on the ground however continued toward the pair. "Ark you best get off my back and kill at least one of these fuckers or I am going to leave you with the ones that ran off. Give them something to chew on."

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Re: Everfree, Ch 6

Postby einsUNDcolt » Sat Feb 14, 2015 7:46 pm

Atriark- atop a gryphon in a forest

"Okay okay okay," the little zebra stammered as he scrambled off her back. "I was just trying to hel-Lunacy! " he exclaimed at the spiders encroaching on them. He was really banking on the explosion driving them all away. He reached under his saddle bag and produced a knife which he bore towards the arachnids. "Giff baff!" He spat, slashing towards one that got too close.


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