City of IF

[Mephistopheles]

f5 crunchy, patience MW. don't get too bossy with your readers, or you may lose them through your attitude.

I pictured a barren waste, and having lived in the desert, i also pictured sand that Red could roll in. And i also agree that the best idea would be to move towards the village as a group, using red to fend of attackers and thus allowing everyone to get back to the village safely.

Good chapter Mw, look forwards to seeing more writing from you.

[Masterweaver]

They're in the mountains. I've made that point mulriple times.

[Masterweaver]

We've got run as a group and seek shelter. ANYTHING ELSE?

[Scheherazade]

I'd think that running as a group would be difficult, as all four sides would be open to attack and Longteeth seem to be stealthy and quick. If Red made a diversion so that a runner could get through, that might work if he could attract the attention of all the Longteeth - after all, he is probably nearly immune to their teeth because he's metal. Of course, this works better if they have some sort of shelter. I also liked Chinaren's idea of using the venom.

[Masterweaver]

Right, that's diversion, run, and hide. I'll be back with a poll very soon. Get your suggestions in NOW!

[Masterweaver]

Let's add a little twist, shall we?

Now that the poll is up, you're voting on what to do. You are also, however, voting on who to die. Each option has an associated person who will die if you select it.

The catch? I'm not saying which is which.

Sharpen those axes of voting!

[Masterweaver]

“I refuse to leave you alone with these beasts!”

Get the guard, shinebeast!” barked Spider, wincing as her should lanced with pain. “You can’t fight them all off!”

“He’s made his choice,” Strength intervened. “We should respect that.” He gripped his spear tensely.

“But these are longteeth!” cried the left twin. “They snagged Wrist!”

“I will hold them off as best I can,” Redemption replied, bracing himself. “You all go back to the village.”

The howling, inhuman, hungry, incessant, drew nearer. Long threw one of his spears over a boulder. A yelp resounded.

“They’re too close,” he announced, taking another spear. “You cannot hope to hold them all off.”

“Not forever. Just long enough for you to get back.” Without waiting for a reply, Redemption bounded over the boulder.

The pack was startlingly large. Four of the spiny wolves were already on the ledge, and at least eight more were clambering up the mountain. One of the nearer ones sniffed and leapt toward him. He flashed out his arm—

Metal shifted, clicks clacked, cracks appeared and were mended---

The wolf became impaled on the ragged blade. Redemption pushed it off onto the ground. The three other longteeth leapt upon the corpse in a cannibalistic frenzy.

He watched as his sword morphed back into a hand. It was slightly disconcerting to se his skin, his very flesh, changing right in front of him.

He looked up, around. There were the hunters, quickly carrying the Scrobra corpses up the mountain and glancing fearfully down. A small group of longteeth was getting close to them.

Redemption leapt to the group and began slapping them off with his powerful arms. “Go on! I’ll hold them off!”

The hunters needed no other incentive, merely speeding up in reply.

Redemption managed to fight off the last longtooth, and stood to survey his working---

“SKINWING!”

Immediately Redemption assumed the worst. He ran towards the source of the cry. The sight that befell him---

A cave, darkest of darks---

The massive unfurled sails---

The red, bloodthirsty eyes---

The hunters, running, running, running---

Long, spears outstretched---

The massive, fanged maw---

He could not get there in time---

Death---

Death---

Death---
***
“How did you fair?” Knowledge asked, as the hunters came to the cave.

“The hunt itself had few injuries,” Strength reported, slapping the Scrobras on the cavern floor. “Redemption was hit a lot, but he’s a shinebeast. Spider, though, got blasted in the shoulder.”

“Long is not with you?”

Strength paused. “He… held off a skinwing.”

Knowledge remained quiet for a moment. “I see. He was… he was a good man.”

“And a great hunter. He always wanted to snag a skinwing.”

“Indeed.” Knowledge looked over at Redemption, who was sitting quietly on the other side of the cavern. “What about him?”

“When we were attacked by longteeth, I ordered him to get the guard. He refused to leave us. He managed to keep them all at bay. He tried to get the skinwing, but---”

“So. Loyal, headstrong. Refuses to leave his companions in danger. Sounds similar to a hunter I once knew, yes?”

Strength looked away. “That man died with my son. I am wiser now.”

“Perhaps,” mused Knowledge. “In any event, I believe it is safe to keep him around.” He unfolded to a standing position. “I shall go speak to him.” He began levering himself across the cavern floor.

Wisdom hobbled over to Strength. “I don’t trust him. According to Spider, he is the reason Long died.”

“She would say that, wouldn’t she.”

“He’s a shinebeast, no doubt about it. He plans to murder us all.”

Strength glared at the hag. “If you had seen how he risked his life—“

“Risk? He’s a shinebeast! They have no lives to risk!”

“I will listen to you no more.” Strength walked away, quickly and precisely.
***
“Strength tells me you fought off longteeth.”

Redemption stared into the distance. “What does it mean when I can’t protect my friends from death?”

Knowledg sighed and nodded. “Aye. Long was a very helpful man to have around, and well liked at that. He chose how he would die, I think.”

“Why did he? Why would anyone choose how to die?”

“It’s one of the few choices we have left. I don’t doubt for a moment that he has gone to the grand realm, and I know exactly what he said when he got there.” Knowledg folded down. “’What shall I overcome today?’”

There was a moment of silence.

“This is not what I was meant for.”

Redemption stood. “I was not meant to see a man die helplessly at the hands of a wild animal. I was meant to… to… to do something, I don’t know, but to do something!”

“You could lead a hunting party---“

“No. No, it’s something different then that. I know… I know what I mean, but…”

“You are old. Perhaps the ancients gave you a task to do?”

“That must be it. They gave me a task. I just…”

Redemption sat down, face in hands. “I don’t know what it is anymore.”

Knowledge nodded. “Perhaps the shinebeasts would know.”

Redemption lifted his head. “I’ve been meaning to ask, what are shinebeasts?”

Knowledge chuckled. “Nobody really knows. Some say they were the old servants of the ancients. Others believe they were rocks granted life. They have no souls, though, so they are immortal. Perhaps they can recall your task.”

“Everyone here seems to hate shinebeasts.”

“Reasonable. The shinebeasts have always viewed mankind as inferior. They alone are glad the ancients fell.”

Redemption pondered. “You say they may know what I am?”

“Perhaps.”

“I should speak to them, then.”

Knowledge closed his three eyes. “I would suggest leaving at sunset. You could travel through the night without the danger of heat.”

Redemption nodded. “Very well. I shall stay until then.”
***
And now...

The stars awake, blinking their sleep of the day away. They see the red one, poised to leave. But what is this?

The humans have come to send him off.

“I thank you for your help,” says the one with three eyes. “And in return, I help you. These men have agreed to journey with you as long as they are able. Go and find the shinebeasts, learn what you are, and return to tell me.”

He levers himself to the cavern. The red one watches him, then turns to those assembled…
>>>
Two-way poll. First, which of the known character join him? Second, what NEW characters join him?

[Scheherazade]

I agree. Taking humans along would strain relations, at best, and would also slow him down.

[Masterweaver]

So we eve the humans behind. Any other suggestions?

[Chinaren]

Maybe the humans could go with him a little way, and then turn back,leaving him to go the rest of his way on his own.

[Masterweaver]

I hate to point this out, but the DP's WHO will be going, not HOW FAR.

[Mephistopheles]

leave the humes

[Masterweaver]

Any OTHER options?

[Mastermind]

They go with him as guides until they reach the shinebeasts.

And i think that logically Strength would want to go with him.

[Masterweaver]

So we have nobody, and we have Strentgh. Any other options?

[Masterweaver]

Poll is up, top four will go.

Post NULL if you want him to go alone.

Feel free to make up mutants to go with him and post them.

[Masterweaver]

*Ahem*

Voting.

[Scheherazade]

My vote's null as well.

[Masterweaver]

I'm just going to select four of these guys and get a chapter up.