Mysterious Caverns

[Dregunta]

Darkness shrouded the deep tunnels. Sounds of water dripping and animals scurring echoed all throughout. Then, a rattling of chains scrapping the ground resounded. Dregunta struggled to her domain with her cane and a heap of chains tossed about her old fragile shoulders. Her eyes were wide as she sought her way through the tunnels. Her home was not far ahead but it was difficult getting along what with her chronic ailments and injured hip.

Finally she came up to a wooden door with broken hinges and pushed it open with her cane. Dragging the chains, she tossed them at the back of her small dwelling place. After her burden was lessened she rubbed the small of her back and closed her eyes due to the heavy pain. She set her cane against the cave wall and sat down on the spiderweb-woven comfort chair. She let out a sound of relief and rubbed her temple. Sleep was short from her poor and distressed mind.

[Rachel Gavial]

OOC: I put this here because it is where she is going. You know so we don't have to type a few lines in each board.

Just as the sun was setting, Rachel's sense of adventure roared. Her plan was to visit the crystal caves under the sweet blanket of nightfall. The stories of the witch of the realm always struck her as strange. She could never underrstand why the old woman was so feared. Rachel believed every fairy had some good in them. Of coarse she knew that this was dangerous and most unspoken of but it was something she just had to do. She had to discover the truth otherwise she would go insane forming her own thoughts on the situation. Not that she didn't love a good mystery but she felt a strange pull towards shedding some light on this one. It felt like it was some sort of destiny of hers.

Rachel had just finished preparing a small sac of provisions for her trip. It should prove to be quite interesting. She hoped no one would suspect what she was doing. she figured not due to her lack of friends. Her social life was not very expansive. Perhaps that had something to do with her wanting to discover who Dregunta really was. She did get bored quite often. It made her sad sometimes but most of the time she liked being alone. It was better for her anyways. She had no clue as to how to share her life with someone else. That was another mystery that she didn't care to much to uncover.

Finally, she was ready to head out. The night was thick around and it covered her like a cool blanket. Smiling to herself at the excitement building up inside, she took her first steps towards her adventure. Going passed the small houses of other fairies, she had to be very careful not to make a sound. They should all be sleeping in their warm beds by now anyways. She just didn't want to be caught and forced to expalain where she was going in the middle of the night.

After passing the last house she let out the breath she had been holding in. She felt home free but there was still danger ahead. She took in another breath as she found herself at the edge of the Ashed Lands. The expanse was large and barely visible in the dark. Rachel found herself squinting to see the shadows outline the night sky. Onward she went into the the barren land of the Ashed Lands.

[Dregunta]

Dregunta dreamed of better times while she slumbered. A grand castled loomedover her as she walke through a long lost kingdom's gates. She felt most regal floating through the crowd of fairies. There were counsel members on either side of her that talked profusely in her ear. She wasn't listening though. A distraction had caught her off guard. A beautiful face in the crowd with gleaming brown eyes was staring at her with such a look that burned her heart. He was a common fairy though. The bounaries had been set. As queen, she would have no choice but to marry a noble birthed fairy. The law had no say that she must marry though. She found this loophole to work to her advantage. With the counsel members breathing down her neck it would be hard for a romance to blossom. She would have to make preperations for nightfall and be very cautious that no one sees her.

She slipped out the back gates and went to their meeting spot. It was under a gazebo that they had their first kiss. They talked for hours on end about their hopes and dreams. It was one o'clock in the morning before they finally departed. She made her way into the palace but not without notice. A counsel member had discovered where she had been and scolded her about her antics. She herself didn't condone the sneeking about either but she felt she had to. The counselman firbbid her to ever see the peasant again. She was furious at the couselman for attempting to dictate her life and her choices. She was the governing queen anyways. Who did this fairy think he was? She defied his words right infront of his eyes. She left to her chambers with full intent to see the common fairy again. The counsel member turned angry and his face burnedtill it was crimson red. His words resonated throughout the hall and rang in her ears, "You Will Regret Turning Away From My Counsel!"

As she continued her affair with the common fairy, little did she know, there was a threat growing behind her back. A strong threat that she would have no control over. The counselman tried to confront her on the matter again. He threatened to reveal her secret. She laughed in his face and told him that she knew a secret of his. She knew that he was in love with her and that it was easy to see it in his eyes and fury. The counsel member was embarrassed and the revealed another secret that she hadn't told anyone. She was preganant. He laughed at how the tables had turned. Then he trtied to grab her and take her for himself. She pushed him away hard and without intent to, she sent him to into a burning lamp. His wings were singed and torn. She was sorry that it happened and tried to help the poor fairy but she had no idea that she had hurt him worse than what she had seen. One of his legs was gashed open by the bottom of the lamp and dark blood pooled around him. She had rushed off to find a medic before realizing her injury to him.

Ashamed at hurting the counselman, she rushed to her lover and told of happened. He assured her that everything would be fine and that when the child was concieved that he would take it and raise it without ever revealing it's true identity. She was relived at his words and was astounded at his courage. How she wished that he was of noble birth. He had the most noble heart she knew.

After the counsel member was recovered he wa in utter pain. He was burned inside as well as outside. Scorned by the one he loved, the counselman thought of the most hateful thing he could do for revenge. Once the child was concieved the counselman confronted her for the last time in the most secret of rooms of the great castle. His face was twisted in a wicked way. Cricling her like a vulture would his prey, the counselman spoke in words unknown to her. He chanted louder and louder. Her body began to ache and age. She could feel herself shrinking and her body changing. A sharp pain formed in her side. Her hip had broken as she underwent her transformation. Waves of sparkling magic engulfed her until she was an old hag. Her voice was rough when she asked what he had done to her. The only response she received was a meniacal laugh that echoed throughout her mind and awoke her from her dream turned nightmare.

Sweat was thick on her brow as she sat up in her chair. Sighing, she rubbed her sensitive hip and watched the last embers of her fire fade out. Her past had a haunting affect on her. It was a neverending displacement she felt. The worst part of it all was the fact that she had never met her son. She wondered what kind of man he would be like. Hopefully, he took after his dear father, the love of her life. It didn't really matter that much now. Everyone feared her. She could never reveal herself unless she wanted to be rediculed more than she already was. Perhaps they would hurt her if she said the truth due to rumors against her that she had did away with herself. She almost laughed at this but instead large tears began rolling down her face. Shaking her head, she tried to get dark thoughts away from her mind. She hated being sad. It was never a good feeling. All she ever wanted was to live a loving life and care for her gracious subjects. All of those dreams were long gone. So very long gone.

[Rachel Gavial]

It wasn't until now that Rachel realized that she wasn't too fond of being alone. The large expanse seemed to widen and was very barren of all life. It was so strange how the silence surrounded her like a deep void waiting to suck her in. The night air began to grow colder. Her skin pricked with chill bumps. Her mouth was dry from breathing heavier than usual. Her fear had caught up with her. She wondered if she had a friend if they would have made this trip with her. Probably not. She didn't give others much credit. The ones she had conversed with were not very pleasent. She kept to herself because it was better for her. No one could get close and hurt her. Now, though, she found herself longing for another fairy's presence.

Just as she made it halfway across, sounds resonated from under the surface she was standing on. She stopped in her tracks and listened to the eire noises. They almost sounded like voices calling out to her. She tried to calm herself but that seemed an impossible feat. To rid herself of her fear she began walking forward slowly. Confidedence grew until an audible voice from behind her spoke. She froze in her steps again. She could tell the voice was male. He spoke in even tones when he asked, "What are you doing out her all by your self? Don't you know how dangerous it can be? The Ashed Lands are no place to be even in the day time much more the night."

She wondered who he could be or what he could be. What if he were a goblin? She thought about taking off running, or flying in this case. She should do something though. If he were in fact a goblin and she stood still then what would happen if he caught her. She could only imagine the terrible things he would do to her. Gathering up courage, she slowly turned around to face the other. She was nearly in shock when she was only four feet away from Dysin, the goblin king. Forzen yet again, her mouth opened and closed like a fish. She wasn't sure how to react. This was the danger that she hadn't anticipated. He seemed to watch her with eyes behind long bangs that hung over his face. She struggled for words that seemed to have fled her throat. Her eyes grew wider as she realized that there might be no chance of escape. She wasn't sure if she could out run him or even fly away in this situation. What would he do? Her hands clentched tightly at her side wouldn't move an inch to give her some leverage. How could her own body betray her like this? She felt so vulnerable.

[Dysin Hexfire]

And vulnerable she was, Dysin fought the urge to break the distance between them and gather her trembling form in his arms. His dark hair fell over his broad and finely muscled torso, pale skin nearly glowing in the light. He crossed his arms and leaned against a nearby tree, its branches twisted and black with decay.

"What a poor creature," he began, unable to keep his place against the tree. He slowly approached her, his robes brushing the ground. He circled her slowly and touched her hair gently, letting the silky ebony locks flow through his fingers until the flopped against her back. He marveled at her wings, at any moment she could fly away, oh in such splendor. His mind floundered, as if remembering something that was no longer there, or perhaps covered by a vale too thick to penetrate. He stood in front of her, the heat from his body radiating toward her, his muscles to close. She would be able to smell the trees on him, the smell of earth and pine...but also a hint of blood and death. He had nearly forgotten how beautiful some of the fay could be and found himself chuckling. The sound was low and rumbling, it drifted through the air and felt warm, dangerous, like a thick chocolate poison.

"All alone out here and who should find you but me?" he smiled, a wicked picture that was both horrible and lovely, his pointed teeth could be seen through parted lips. He took in a breath, her scent was intoxicating. Flowers and sandalwood, jasmine and rose. Such a delicate combination. He stood at least a head taller than her, and her eminent fear only drew him closer to her. His warm breath fell over her, it smelled of cinnamon. Curiouser and curiouser, he felt, inches away from her. He found his fingers in her hair again, it was so much like silk, her eyes so full of life. He could read the emotions in them, anger, fear, hatred, wonder, "Such beautiful eyes..."

He licked his lips slowly, his own dark eyes burning into her, "I ask again," his voice was a growling whisper, "what are you doing out her all.." his fingers lightly traced her shoulder and down her arm, "by yourself?"

He was bare apart from a few bits of jewelry on his neck and upper arms, and one could follow the map of his muscles down to the V shape at his pelvis before fabric cut off one's vision. Black and flowing, it was embellished with gold and flowed to the ground, covering his boots. His hair hung thick and straight around his shoulders trailing down to his waist and it shone almost blue in the light. He looked like a king indeed and his presence matched the title. He felt a strange pull toward her lips, but only breathed again. Holding her gaze, and his position as something moved in the foliage nearby.

[Rachel Gavial]

Rachel let out a breath and watched Dysin with cautious eyes. He loomed over here like a disease. He sickened her. Her nose started to crinkle up and a side of her mouth curled up in disgust. Her eyes narrowed until they were slits. Her eyebrows furrowed and left small wrinkles between them. Her body seemed to have been freed from the spell they had been under. Her limbs itched to move away from the slimmy goblin. "I was looking for something," she said bravely, "not that it's any of your concern." She was getting cocky now as she lifted her arms up to her chest and crossed them. The expression of disdain fell and a look of humor took it's place. An eyebrow lifted as she continued to watch him cricle her. "You are like a vulture, you know that right?" she said with a smile threatening the left side of her mouth. She found taunting to be fun, almost sporting. Becoming somewhat braver, she chuckled. She wanted to see his expression. She wanted to see how badly she had offended him.

A rustling beyond them startled her. Her breathing quickened and her arms fell to her sides with tense muscles and clentched fists. She wondered who else would have dared come out to the wastelands.

[Dysin Hexfire]

He raised an eyebrow and stepped back from her, crossing his arms. The foliage behind him rustled ominously before going still again. He was not going to react in anger, one little fairy was not worth that, plus he had nothing to lose, being out here in the dark..she, however...did. On the other hand he didn't want her to feel as if she had won something by her comment. His thought teetered on a reaction before he finally showed her a wicked grin and returned to his place against the dead tree.

"Yes," he let a dark chuckle echo through the dead and grey trees, "I am a vulture aren't I? And whose corpse might I feed on but yours my dear?" He felt himself brimming with anticipation for her reaction, he pictured her beautiful eyes wide and afraid, how she might feel, what thoughts she might think when he...

"Looking for something eh? There's nothing out here love," The thick, dead branches shifted again, there was definitely something unpleasant out there, "nothing but things that would only want to harm your pretty little head."

He watched her smugly, her fierce and resentful glare would soon change. "You don't believe me? My dear little fairy I could do so many things to you that would scar your mind and flesh for life." His eyes remained smug, his stance relaxed and unshaken as he lifted one hand up near his cheek. His raised his eyebrows for a moment before his facade turned sinister, and he snapped his fingers.

Silence. Even the wind seemed to stop, and the rustling branches went still. Rachel would have to look to see the shadows creeping across the ground toward her feet, rippling and growing into wild and half-decomposed dogs, their teeth gnashing and hungry. All was still silent, the creatures went unnoticed as they formed around her.

Note that this was not Dysin's own power, merely his dominion over the creatures that always resided within the dark lands, they had been at bay this whole time, he merely gave them permission to act. Suddenly a horrendous screech was heard in the foliage, one that would have made the untrained ears seem to bleed. Dysins great beast emerged behind him, head thrashing as if it were in immense pain, something was tearing it apart inside it's head. It's tail and wings thrashed and flapped.

"Grellock!" Dysin called angrily, and the shreaking demon silenced, his eyes wild and breath labored, it's head still swung from side to side, and it looked at her, crazed, frightened, almost, then simply crazed again. The shadow dogs made themselves known as a thick cloud of bats filled the sky turning it black. The dogs, red eyes and glowing red veins in their deformed and twisted bodies made for a black scene of horror for the fairy. And there were more, it seemed all the dark creatures of the wood had found her and were coming to feed on her sweet fay skin.

Dysin gave a chuckle as the dogs began to close in, "No one to save you here little fairy, you are not at home, this is no place for you. No one will help you, no one that is..." he waited for one of the dogs to nip frighteningly close to her leg, "but me."

What would he do with the fairy? Perhaps another excuse to go see his dear friend Dorian, or better yet, force Dorian out of his shiny little cave and into Dysin's clutches. Or perhaps simply make her his pet, she was so defiant, he would enjoy seeing her in chains. And if she got away, well, what would he lose? It was all just a game to him, and now it was her move.

[Rachel Gavial]

The darkness in his tone seemed to grow. There was a confused look and then a smile wriggled itself across his face. Rachel wasn't sure what this ment. Not until the creatures came forth and ripped hellish growling through there bared teeth. They were ravinous dogs with eerie eyes that glowed red throw the slits. Her fear showed for a brief moment. She swallowed a breath and raised her small arms to her chest. Her legs trembled as they neared her. She closed her eyes and then stopped moving all together. She didn't even breathe.

A small glow formed around her body. It was a light golden brown, just a shade lighter than her rusk brown hair. It began growing lighter and lighter. The ora was a clear beam surrounding her like a shield against the dark forces. Her eyes opened, now bright with golden flecks shimmering beyond the brown. A smug smile crossed her lips and her arms folded over her chest. She took a more leisure stance as well with one hip cocked to the side. "Darkness cannot come where the light is, sir Dysin," she cooed in mockery.

[Dysin Hexfire]

Her light send the creatures running to the edge of the trees, there they paced, waiting for another chance. Ah, fairy magic, Dysin thought, a bit envious, however the emotion did not show. Instead, he looked bored. He yawned, what else was there to do. Suddenly there was a tinge in his mind, a tingle and he thought of the sword. He was sure the little fay would know nothing of it nor did he want her to learn about it. Now he was only curious as to her purpose here in this dark wood. He knew she would not tell him.

Dysin's beast screamed again, this time thrashing more wildly, the pain in the poor thing's head was unbearable and unimaginable. If one understood the sounds and language of dragons one could almost hear her crying. She lifted her mighty head up toward the sky, eyes rolling. Her black scales glinted in Rachel's light, the gold shining. In it's pain, the creature stumbled closer to her. It's breath was hot, coming out in labored bursts of smoke, but it stopped it's thrashing when it accidentally neared her light. It's breath, still labored and heavy, but its eyes once again returned to their crazed and wild norm. Again, the she-dragon looked at her through eyes clouded by madness, if one looked even deeper into those read-orange eyes, one could almost, just almost see a pleading for help. However the poor beast could not be helped. She was tied to her master, trapped under his spell until the day that he should die.

Dysin noticed that the fairy was unintentionally easing his dragon's pain, and thoughts of that sword were still tickling his mind, he should get back to check on it.

((OOC: This next part I though would be a good way for Rachel to end up with Dregunta, she could find her unconscious on the ground and bring her back to the cave, I can change it if you don't like it.))

"Shingra!" Dysin commanded in the old language. The dragon moved from Rachel's light back to him, swinging her head in pain once again whimpering as the feeling of a thousand blades tearing from the inside of her skull resumed. He mounted the beast.

"You may, dear fairy, think you are immune to darkness. Be that as it may, you have no defense against a lost creature of light." Dysin had then given away, in slightest detail, the story of his beast. It was a sad tale of what he had done to break the magnificent creature and bind her to him. "Shival!" He said, and the beast lifted into the air, "Grenogh!" The beast opened it's mouth and within was a green-gold light, the dragon cried, acidic tears pouring from her eyes as if somewhere in her mind she felt the deepest sorrow for the command she could do nothing but obey.

In a black-green blast from the dragon came toxic fumes that would burn the fairies eyes and throat. You see, Dysin's dominion over the creature had also robbed it of it's fire, every dragon's pride and joy, replacing it with smoke toxic, rancid, deadly smoke. Due to Rachel's shield, the blast would not harm her skin, however the cloud of smog did not dissipate from the area where the little fairy was. Dysin pulled his dragon about, chuckling to himself and flew back to his kingdom, picturing the fairy choked to death, her body left to rot into the forest, or be eaten by it's kin.

However Dysin underestimated the power off her shield, it would protect her from death this night, instead she would cough and sputter in the mist until her vision faded black. She would become unconscious and left bare to the creatures if no one would save her. And the one who could was sitting in front of a fire not to far from where the screams of Dysin's dragon were heard.

((OOC: Was that okay?))

[Rachel Gavial]

Rachel's smile faded at the bored look on Dysin's face. She was somewhat worried about that. Her attention then turned to the poor dragon that was writhing about behind Dysin. The dragon was no doubt attatched to him in some way. That broke Rachel's heart. it had started moving towards her. Her eyes watered at the sight of the creature. It looked like pain was all it knew. Dysin had spoke but Rachel was trying to block the vile goblin's voice from her mind. She wanted to reach her hand out to the dragon and comfort it. It was a pure instinct that she had obtained when she was very small. As it neared her it seemed to grow less agitated. This was curious to her.

Dysin then broke her from the wonder with his foul words. He forced the dragon to come to him and he straddled it. Rachel began to become angry and less afraid. Dysin didn't realized it but she was thinking of the many ways to render him a limbless being with no tounge or eyes. She didn't try to voice her thoughts because she was sure he would laugh at her. He then told the dragon something and a breath of green toxic fumes came from her snout. Rachel eyed the vapors and tried to block it out with a barrier of her light and dark powers. It didn't touch her skin but it reached her nose, eyes, and mouth. It burned in the open areas and left her coughing. She kept the barrier up until Dysin left but shortly after she gave in to the coughing and sputtering. Her light faded from her and her vision blurred until darkness covered her view. Her body felt limp as it slowly fell to the dusty ground. Unconsiousness consumed her.

[Dregunta]

Dregunta had a strange feeling while she sat in the chair made of twisted branches. It was a feeling of despair and toil. It hurt her insides and made her joints ache. She had decided she should find the source of this agony. Her frail, boney body lumbered out of the chair and over to the wall where her cane sat. She took it uo and soon out the door of her cave dwelling.

She traveled through the tunnels with ease. She had been doing this for so long that the labrynth wasn't so much of a maze anymore. Soon she was out into the open night. The darkness was a comfort to her now. It hid her from anyone wondering around wanting to cause trouble with her.

Her tattered and aged wings spread out and fluttered to get the dust and twigs out. She made her way out into the outterlands and her heart began to ache more heavily. She followed the ache until she came upon a small girl fairy lying on the dusty ground. She looked like she was in pain. Dregunta picked the girl up with ease and brought her back to her abode.

[Rachel Gavial]

Bleak darkness covered Rachel as her body felt endless pain. She felt paralyzed though. Pain and fear was all she felt. A dream crept through the darkness and at first there was a small light that flickered to life. A small screen that looked centuries old scaled out and it's sepia color showed many fay. Even in the silence she could tell there was a celebration going on. The area seemed foreign to her though. The palace was much grander than that of Luminallia. It seemed more free and happy. The want to be there ached in the pit of her stomach. Still, the image played out longer.

Now, there was a face, bright and shining boldly with a smile that radiated warmth filled the screen. Dark flowing hair surrounded her face and golden eyes glimmered brightly against the sunlight. Rachel wondered who the woman could be. The people below seemed to cheer her on with extreme glee. Then, Rachel noticed another face hidden by a hood close behind the woman. His eyes were cold as steel as he bore holes into the lady's back. A feeling of extreme disgust filled Rachel and the urge to protect the woman was all too strong. She felt her eyes tighten and she could reach her hand out as her voice found itself screaming out to the woman. Her paralysis was over and her bright eyes opened to a strange woman hovering over her. She wrapped her arms about herself and she shook violently. Her whole body was drenched with sweat. "What happened? W-who are you?" she sputtered out with wild eyes.