RuneScape Forum Archive | ~` Illusions `~

CaptChekaka

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Another sound emanated from the brush, and Anthoni raised the source of sight reluctantly, peering carefully into the darkness. His eyes scanned the blackened abyss, searching for an answer to his expedition, but he did not receive one like he would have hoped. Leaning over towards the source of the noise, he was found to be off balance - a definite mistake, which cost him dearly; a huge paw swept at him from beneath its dense shield, and it struck him in the face, sending him tumbling backwards into a tree.

“Anthoni!” Brexton shouted, lifting his staff into the air. It shined brightly as he fused his energy into it, something that would be done only in the worst of circumstances, and he directed its rounded tip towards the being that rested along the path. Sparks crackled at the end, sending the hairs of all those around to stand on end, before a huge burst of blue lightning erupted from his weapon, engulfing a good amount of the brush that guarded the foul beast.

Content, he turned to Anthoni, who was leaning against the tree; a hand held his cheek cautiously as blood dripped between the fingers’ crevices. “Damn,” the rebellious man muttered. The lantern was still firmly in his hand, as dropping it was suicide; it was amazing he had been able to keep it after the surprise assault. “What was that thing?”

“No idea,” Brexton responded, glancing backwards. A pile of ash now covered the ground, burning with slight intensity, but he assumed the creature had been killed. “I believe it to be dead now, though. Are you alright? It seemed like the thing got the best of you there.”

23-May-2009 01:34:38

CaptChekaka

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Anthoni started to chuckle, but the bleeding cheek stopped him from doing so. He grimaced and lifted the lantern in a quick manner; they had to keep going, and each of them knew that. One man’s injury would not deter them from completely the task at hand, and even he responded with firm intent. “We have to keep going. Wasting more time on something like this trivial matter will not help us in the long run.” He paused to regain some of his composure; his heart settled. “Let’s go.”

A collection group of grunts followed his command. They turned, and set down the path, not knowing what was ahead of them. Only a few moments passed, though, before shrieks belted from deep within the forests, shattering the peaceful, almost serene, silence that had come to be. Cries of death, of agony, of torture, rang through the ears of the six adventurers, and they were forced to stop, otherwise they would be deafened by the extremity of the screams.

*What is that?” Korinth yelled, holding her palms tightly along the side of her head.

*I don’t know!”

Korinth tried to discover who replied, but the devastating sounds soon clouded her thoughts, and the darkness, aided by the newfound terror of the night, overtook her: the lantern was with Anthoni, and she was lucky if she could catch a glimpse of her companions’ faces if the flames would reflect across the midnight air. Shaking her head, she closed her eyes; the painful yelling continued.

Moonlight dripped through the canopy as Korinth struggled to regain her composure, but the screams did not cease; they did not desist. She dropped to her knees as the voices crept through her mind, tearing at the tight fibers that held her sanity, but Anthoni pulled her to her feet. Ears covered, Korinth saw their figurehead motion for her to keep going: the mission would not end in disaster.

23-May-2009 01:35:52

CaptChekaka

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The sliver of light fell upon each of them as they passed; they hoped for some knowledge, some remembrance of a lost tale that mentioned such peril, but none came to them. Every time hope seemed lost, though, the lantern would swing to the fallen adventurer’s side. Anthoni, the traitor to Rezod, led his cause - he led a squad under his rule; it had come full circle.

They endured.

Hours came and went, but no light appeared to them deep within Isol’af’s wood: an endless stream of darkness moved out from behind them, in front of them - to their left, and to their right. Anthoni’s lantern dimmed, and he turned the crudely-fashioned **** atop it forcefully. “Dammit,” he muttered, turning his head back; the glow centered on his cheek, scarred. “I was unable to assess this properly, it seems. Either that, or there’s a leaking somewhere. We’re running low on oil; I have no idea how much longer we have.”

Brexton’s voice broke a shallow silence. “What do you suggest we do, then? Turn back? We’ve come too far, so get any though of retreat out of your mind.”

“Did I say anything?”

“Well,” Brexton started. His voice was filled with the utmost tension.

“No, he did*’t.”

A low shuffle immediately broke, and all eyes - although merged in darkness - fell upon the pitch behind them all. Anthoni’s lantern moved towards the voice, and Korinth emerged, no longer the meticulous librarian. Her face was now drenched in sweat that flowed for her scalp; her body consisted of a multitude of scratches - both large and small alike were there.

“Don’t do that…” Jacob sighed; his hand, faintly silhouetted by the red and yellow flames, brushed something from his face, it seemed.

23-May-2009 01:37:22

CaptChekaka

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Brexton grunted as Korinth continued: “There’s no need for arguing, especially since you both only look more foolish in the process of wasting our already-low oil. Every moment we stand here is another drop gone; it’s another man dead because of whatever we’re searching for. We don’t need that.” She turned in the direction of Brexton. “And, if anyone tries to argue with that, we don’t need them, either.” Cold and calculating, her stare dug deep into him.

“I can’t believe this!” Landon shouted, pushing past the quieted Maxwell and into the light; he was fully illuminated. “We need not discuss this. By God, we should keep going before something… before something happens.” His coughed loudly and stepped away.

“Is this what you’ve all become?” Brexton inquired; his face was shrouded, but his voice made his persona obvious. “Are you all cowards? Delinquents? ‘Don’t argue!’ you say, but then you demand for us to continue? I never wanted to come along; I never wanted to help Rezod; I never wanted any of this!” Anthoni flinched slightly in a passing breeze, and the lantern bobbed up, and then down again. “You all come here with your morals and your so-called intelligence, but what do we get? We get stuck in the damned woods with only a little oil! Who can call this a success?!” No one responded. “Well? Even if we make it out of this, we have to scale a mountain - something that has only been done once before.”

“Brexton…” Anthoni began.

The light caught Brexton’s face, and his eyes narrowed. “Are you prepared to die, Anthoni? Are you truly prepared to give up your life for this? For this hopeless fantasy of power and might?”

Anthoni remained motionless.

“Well? Answer me!”

“I… am.”

23-May-2009 01:38:59

CaptChekaka

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Brexton chuckled and made his way around the former general, edging his way to the front. “You’re foolish. All this preaching of sanity… of integrity… but I know who you really are, Anthoni. One chance to escape this hell Rezod’s created, and you’d take it; I know you would. Any sensible man would. Let reason guide you; don’t let your emotions take control. Don’t let yourself fall to such inane practice!”

“You see, Brexton… that is the difference between you and myself.” Brexton’s footsteps halted, and silence ensued. “You do things for reason, while I base mine off of what I feel is right. Foolish? Perhaps. But can you agree with what you have done in your life? Do not forget that you helped Rezod long before I did; you agreed to this!” The lantern swung, barely holding onto its hinges. “Brexton… do not lose yourself; do not become what Rezod has become.”

After a few moments, the footsteps reemerged - no response came.

The forest called to them. They answered.

-- End of Chapter Seventeen --

23-May-2009 01:40:27

Ik oClock

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Sorry, had to do that. Thanks really much. The fact you have written this, makes me feel warm inside (not in that way) and because of the spring it makes me feel warm outside too

. I'm going to read it on my PSP when I have some more time.

Ik1111111-If E=Mc2, what do I have to do with that?

23-May-2009 10:39:06 - Last edited on 23-May-2009 10:54:17 by Ik oClock