c r y p t i c ---- [[open]]

[Fallen]

c r y p t i c s o n g s a r e a l l a r o u n d y o u n o w
l i s t e n c l o s e l y , n o d o n ' t e v e n m a k e a s o u n d
a f a i n t r u s t l e a r o u n d e v e r y c o r n e r
y o u w o u l d n o t e n j o y b e i n g c a u g h t . . .
G O S S A M E R
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------- Pawsteps. Light, faint movements thudding ever-so-softly against the hard cinnamon-colored stone, a few pieces of rock crumbling around the edge. A dark shape swerved around the slightly jutting formations of rock, paws darting along the rim of the building, and although it was a thin layer to move upon, the creature was nimble and agile enough to keep balanced while it moved, although a few times it stumbled a bit, breath billowing out slightly in invisible wisps -- panting. Each time, however, it just got up and kept moving and moving.

------- Suddenly, the dark feline came to a halt. Again, something so faintly silvery, spectral, yet unnoticeable to those without the sharpest of eyes came from her parted maw, and as it swirled into the rest of the air mixed with dust, churning up the uncomfortable particles into her eyes. The she-cat blinked a few times. Eyelids fluttered over two differently colored orbs -- one bright golden, and the other sapphire mixed with hues of peacock feathers, only the dark eyelids to shoot up moments more, and then back down. The dustiness of the breeze became less uncomfortable, and with a final sigh, the creature let her limbs splay out beneath her in an inelegant formation.

------- For a few moments, it seemed time were never to pass again. There was the chirping of a bird in the distance, and what else was she to expect, as they neared the season of genesis? The enlightened song lingered in the air for just a bit, showering the atmosphere with a happy, peaceful feeling. And then, aches wracked through her muscles, liquid pain mixing with the blood of her body. Letting out a soft groan, Gossamer sat up, her midnight fur glittering with the rays of sunlight. The delicate femme raised one paw to muzzle, and a dark pink tongue poked out, as she began licking the hard black surface.

------- Almost instantly Gossamer recoiled as a sour reek filled her jaw. Taking a closer look at her pad, she noticed small and unpleasant cracks lining it, where thin lines of scarlet pooled out. Eyes glinting, she warily put her paw to her tongue again to be groomed, although every sense of her body wanted to get rid of the taste it brought. She then noticed the dullness to her usual beautiful black pelt. Deciding it would not bring as much of a revolting scent, she began to lick the rest of her body, too, until it gleamed as bright as her sapphire eye.

------- Gossamer had almost forgotten why she had come here. The scene was so blissful. Perfect and quiet -- she rather liked the solitude, though she seldom got any of it. But of course, everything perfect always has to come to an end, no? A sharp voice pierced her mind. You do not deserve such a lovely climate! Wincing, Gossamer replied quickly in her head, Oh, but you do? It was almost as if the soft wind of a quick, jerky nod rushed through her head. Of course! All our tribe was better than you. Still is. Worthless unappreciative scum. You should be happy you lived at all.

------- The black fae looked to the skies. Oh, for the love of all things good, why me? she spoke aloud. The sound of her voice tingled the air, disrupting the bliss. Now she remembered why she had come to this part of the Primer Trimestre home. Her dreams had been ridden with irksome nightmares, and she had come to let the sunlight give her warmth and take away the jumpy feeling the nightmares had given her. But Gossamer would never truly escape the wrath of her bloodline. Although she tried not to remember the dreams, they just kept on flooding back to her, every detail so real as if she was reliving the moment...

------- A final sigh escaped her maw. She knew she was defeated, and always would be, but at least she led a slightly better life now in the Primer Trimestre phase. The cats were a lot nicer, that was for sure, and everyone was different from one another. Colors of one's fur and eyes did not seem to give anyone an assured place of regality in these parts, and she rather liked the idea. The touch of the sun did not exactly warm her pelt -- it was deprived of cold, and she was almost certain that whatever unseeable force that was out there was doing this. She had one considered the idea that she was paranoid, but she decided even if she was, everything was real to her.

Best to just be happy with what you have, eh?

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[Shaye]

Try to relax and enjoy the Crysis.

---

~All around her, the world faded in and out of darkness. Unnamed shapes slithered through the shadows, and cries filled the black night. Plants withered, and the river ceased to flow, replaced by a new tide. A tide of deep crimson, the only color that stood out in this abysmal blackness; blood.

~Then, the darkness faded into nothingness, and all was peaceful, if not totally silent. The nothingness was soon replaced by a vivid landscape, at night. Stars painted the sky, and a crescent moon hung low on the horizon, until it disappeared altogether. Calmly turning her head, she watched for a brief moment as the first rays of light filled the landscape, and realized with an almost imperceptible start that she was sitting on the highest point of a temple.

~Crysis's eyes fluttered open as she heard the faint sound of pawsteps. Lifting her head from it's resting place on her paws, she looked around. She'd been dreaming, and been calm through it all, even the scariest parts. She sat up and slithered out from her comfortable hole in the stone wall, only to come face to face with the creature that had disturbed her dozing.

~Her green eyes narrowed as she registered who it was, and that this certain someone was also having an argument with herself, it seemed. "Gossamer," She stated as she lifted a paw to her face and licked it lightly."talking to ourselves again, are we?" Her face remained passive as she eyed the other cat, her voice icy cold, so cold that one would thing it might shatter if she ever raised it.

~If memory served, Gossamer was the El Xaman, and Crysis had an exceedingly good memory and made it a point to know who was what and did what and why. After all, she was basically the second-in-command of the phase, and needed to know these things, if no other reason then to be able to decide proper punishment when the time came, if ever.[/i]

~Letting her paw fall back to the stone, she regarded the other once more. "Perhaps you'd like to explain why you saw fit to be making such a racket, hm?" Crysis made sure that her expression remained unreadable, but allowed her fangs to show and gleam in the sunlight as she spoke. El Xaman or not, Gossamer had better have a good explanation for this.

[Fallen]

c r y p t i c s o n g s a r e a l l a r o u n d y o u n o w
l i s t e n c l o s e l y , n o d o n ' t e v e n m a k e a s o u n d
a f a i n t r u s t l e a r o u n d e v e r y c o r n e r
y o u w o u l d n o t e n j o y b e i n g c a u g h t . . .
G O S S A M E R
-----------------------------------------------------

------- Movement. Gossamer turned her dark head to face the source of the tiny vibrations in the ground, her eyes locking on a white and gray feline. Her eyes narrowed slightly on instinct as she watched the creature stir, shards of emerald suddenly piercing the morning sunrise. At times like this she didn't enjoy much company -- she'd have to be careful with her words, and Gossamer just didn't so enjoy it. In truth, she was slightly afraid of Crysis. Those long, sharp claws and gleaming fangs. Certainly not the most alluring sight.

------- However, she could be severely punished for not showing respect. Gossamer dipped her head politely, and fastened her face in a position so that it betrayed no more expression. Her past, the voices, nightmares -- these were things she did not enjoy sharing with others. The dark fur rippled slightly in the caressing rumbles of wind, sending spasms of ice through her body. Had she not been prepared for things like this, her body would more likely than not have crumpled beneath her, but she stood rigid, the usually graceful build as hard as tone. All this happened in but a matter of seconds.

------- A real voice, not her own, was the cause of this sudden cold, she assumed. Talking to ourselves again, are we? The voice brought the fae back down to reality. She struggled for a grip on her mind, as the voices attempted to pull her back into the lurid shadows. It took a moment for the words to get through to Gossamer. Oh no. Someone else had heard? Oh, no, she couldn't have been talking out loud! She wasn't talking out loud, though, right? Wasn't she only talking in her head? Thought churned in her confused little world, where everything was always messed-up and utterly demonic, and she was helpless to this.

------- Perhaps you'd like to explain why you saw fit to be making such a racket, hm? She was making a racket...? Gossamer stared in almost disbelief at the Enforcer. How could she have--but she had been asleep just moments ago! Her jaws parted slightly for a moment, though no words came out. Finally, she found her voice and said plainly, Forgive me. I did not know I was making such a racket.. maybe you just have, er, sensitive ears? If you'd like I can try and fix that for you. I'm sure you must be tired.. your job is such hard work, is it not? Expertly she made an attempt to weave around Crysis' curiosity.

------- Gossamer now tried to settle herself physically as she did mentally. Relaxing within her own private bubble, she sent soothing images to the muscles of her body. Relax, they said. Do you want to live for another day, or not? It seemed like hours until her body replied -- time had a way of doing that when she was beyond the real world -- but really it was only a second. Gossamer's body stood relaxed now, and her scent betrayed nothing of fear or worry. She played with the air around her until it seemed nothing was wrong, and that she had nothing to be worried of, as if she knew there was no trouble. Of course, there was, but nonetheless..

------- Before Crysis could reply, however, Gossamer quickly spoke again. Again, terribly sorry if I woke you. I just thought I'd get out for some fresh air, you know, listen to the birds at dawn. It's really a peaceful thing to do, it is. You should try it sometime. Relaxes the soul. Nothing wrong with it, now. As if the sky seemed to bend to this cat's will, the atmosphere mimicked the deceiving tone Gossamer put around herself. She just hoped it would work.. even pleading to the Lider could hardly save herself from this cat's claws if she ended up in trouble. Nevertheless this was not the phase you'd want to mess up in, Gossamer was sure of that.

But you can't always be sure of everything, dear...

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[Shaye]

Try to relax and enjoy the Crysis.

---

~She listened carefully to the other's story, noting everything that Gossamer did. It was with some mild amusement that Crysis watched the great war of emotions spit rapid-fire across the other cat's face, and she tensed and relaxed, over and over again. When the El Xaman was done with her first sentence, Crysis thought over it carefully.

~This other had the audacity to think that she was tired, overwhelmed by her job? Of course she wasn't! Was this what other cats thought, that she could not handle being El Enforcer? Did they think her too young, or were they being sexist because she was a female? Before Crysis could set things straight, Gossamer began speaking again.

~Relax her soul? She should try it sometime? Crysis kept her inner emotions hidden as she eyed the other darkly. For one, Crysis much preferred moonlight and the stillness of the night for "relaxing," and sunlight was not her favorite. If nothing else, birdsong annoyed her. She let the chill of night creep into her voice once more, and aloud some meaning of venom to come into it.

~Finally settling on the words she wanted to use, Crysis spoke."I'm going to assume that was not an insult, Gossamer." She bared her teeth."Though for sake of self-preservation, I suggest you not speak so freely in the future. Do not presume to tell me what to do or what is good for me. I decide that." Narrowing her green eyes, she glared at the El Xaman. "It will not happen again?" It was not a question.

~Crysis stood up, drawing herself to her full height, and flexed her claws, before turning around and walking to the end of the ledge. When she looked back, she said icily. "Come, there is something I want you to see." With that, she continued walking alone the stone ledge, towards small fallen rocks where it would be easier to jump down.[/i]

~Walking with not even a glance back, Crysis continued. For that El Xaman's sake, she'd better be following. Crysis had worked her way up to El Enforcer, and the rest of the phase had better be respecting that. She needed to remind them of it, it seemed.

[Fallen]

c r y p t i c s o n g s a r e a l l a r o u n d y o u n o w
l i s t e n c l o s e l y , n o d o n ' t e v e n m a k e a s o u n d
a f a i n t r u s t l e a r o u n d e v e r y c o r n e r
y o u w o u l d n o t e n j o y b e i n g c a u g h t . . .
G O S S A M E R
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------- Anger. Anger? Gossamer took a slight gulp as the fire-hot feeling spread over the other femme's face. Did she say something wrong...? It was clear Crysis thought she did--the perfectly composed yet icy-cold face was now burning with hatred in her eyes, and had it not been one of her own phase Gossamer would have presently run for all her life. But she knew that, being the Xaman, harm would not come as easily to her. She was needed to heal the phase in times of need. Perhaps Requiem would tell her Enforcer to spare her for that, perhaps not. In any case, she hoped it was the prior.

------- In any case, she had to respond, quickly, that was clear. Forcing herself not to make a sharp retort and for her reply not to be through her teeth, she said, That was not meant to be an insult. I know you do your job perfectly well--and to do my job perfectly well, I must make sure at all costs the cats of this phase are healthy and well. Of course, it's not likely there would be anything wrong with you. You do your job very well, and I admire that. But I just need to make sure. The usual silvery appeal her voice had was drained away to a distinct dullness, as if the she-cat was proving that she wasn't going soft or anything of the sort.

------- She wanted to say to the rhetorical question, will it happen again? Hm. Nope, it won't. Next time you get sick, I'll be sure not to heal you, but her voice said none of this and her thin face gave away no signs of the bitter resentment she felt towards the arrogant El Enforcer. At any rate, Crysis already told her to follow her and took off at a slightly quick pace, and so Gossamer's long-limbed body bounded after her, the delicate stature breezing over the earth in a sliding sort of movement, as if every time her paws looked like they were going to touch the ground, they merely grazed it--the wind bending to aid her pawsteps.

------- Something nagged at her inside that whatever the El Enforcer planned on showing her, it was probably nothing too pretty. Only the most acute of ears could hear the very faint gulping sound she made, as her strides, the rush of the wind, and the overall noise it made on it's own didn't add up to much to hear. She got an image in her head: shallow waters rippling in the breeze, stained with a scarlet pooling about inside it, clumps of dark fur floating in the water, Crysis dipping in her paws to wash out the blood from her silver claws..

------- She could barely stifle the thoughts and keep herself from screaming in terror. She might be able to outrun Crysis if it came to that--but she knew that eventually, the strength in the El Enforcer's legs would meet even the agility of herself, and if it came to a battle it would inevitably be the Enforcer who would come out victorious. All she could hope now was that a sliver of mercy was still left in Crysis' hardened, stone-black heart. Does she even have one? The thought could almost make her giggle--almost.

And almost is the key word...

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