Open Fleshless

[Vaerin]

19th, Winter, 516 AV

He felt listless, disjointed, lost. It was a feeling of floating face down in the ocean. Yet it felt like the sun was blinding him. The same red hue that filled the back of his eyelids notified him of that. Had he been suspended there for a long time? It felt like an eternity. Yes, certainly an eternity. It was the same looming, smothering feeling of dread that welled up in one's stomach when something felt amiss. Time around one often halted when that feeling took over as the beating of one's heart became a deafening dirge in their ears. Dra-Vaerin didn't want to open his eyes. If he opened his eyes, then he would have to confront what surrounded him. As long as his eyes were shut he would be safe in this frozen moment of time.

When he opened his eyes, it would all fall away and time would cruelly begin its march once more. Whatever posed a threat to him would surely then set itself upon him with reckless abandon. He didn't care if that made him cowardly. He wouldn't open his eyes.

He clenched his fingers deeply into the palms of his hands. There was an odd delay between him willing his fingers to do this, and the dull sensation of the sharp black nails digging into the soft skin. Peculiar. Why did that take so long? It felt longer still until he received the feeling of pain. He furrowed his brow, turning his head in the direction of his hands. He had to know what was causing this odd sensation. His curiosity was killing him. Dare he peek though?

He dared. Opening his eyes only a sliver, what he could make out was obscured partially by his eyelashes made Dra-Vaerin's heart skip several beats in its rancorous song. A gasp emanated through the cavernous expanse of the void he was residing in.

His eyes flew open in horror, trying to make sense of what was around him. Doing so caused his head to flip around in the shallow, gelatinous pool he was floating atop. This revealed to him where he was and the answer to his earlier query. He was what looked like the cave system Kalinor was built in. The opalgloams illuminated the pool, and the cave floor like twinkling stars in the night sky. Yet, this place defied all rationality and certainly was not Kalinor. The pool or lake that he was currently drifting in made up the ceiling of this cavern. Two stalactites on either end of the cave (as far as he could see...the sheer size of the cave defied all comprehension). Beneath him, he could see what looked to be human like figures looking up at him. He was not entirely sure if they were people, or just rock formations though.

Yet, he didn't have much time to process the surroundings as he let out a scream of panic. Floating by him was his arm, and further off in the distance, his hand. He violently thrashed his head around while screaming until the base of his neck somehow managed to hover just on the lip of the water's surface. His body floated all around him. Yet, it was not a gruesome sight like he was expecting when he closely observed himself. It was more akin to a disassembled jigsaw puzzle, or a child's doll, waiting to be pieced together. Complete with the socketed grooves and recesses that formed where his joints connected.

He was still in control of his body, but moving it and getting it to cooperate with him was difficult. Such was the differentiation between him sending out a thought to the individual body part, to it enacting his will. The laborious process of reassembling himself took another life time. All the while, Dra-Vaerin felt eyes on him. He felt vulnerable. But not in the same way he had before. Now he felt exposed. He knew he was being watched.

The more of himself that put itself back together, the more he had the ability to see around him. He wasn't the only one that was suspended from this odd shallow lake. In the distance the young man could see at least several others. Their eyes were still firmly closed and submerged in the water. He dared not coax them to open their eyes. It felt like it would be an invasion of their privacy. He pitied them though. Were they too afraid to open their eyes, like he had been?

So he swam to the stalactite that was closest to him - which in itself felt like a feat of strength because of how far away it was. He shimmied down it, gripping to it like a young child fearing separation from their parents might. He gazed up to where he had descended. It was oddly beautiful. The glowing stones that were submerged shone as brightly as any of the stars in the night sky. Yet there was a refracting undulation to the light as the surface of the water moved. It gave the effect of gazing up at the stars in the night sky from just below the water's surface. It reminded him that now he was damp and cold, with no clue as to where he was or really who he was. Nor could he sense the presence of any of the eyes that were on him. Was he alone down here now?

[Vaerin]

There seemed to be little point in standing around and trying to figure out what needed to be done. If this cave floor was anything like Kalinor, the worst thing that could be done was to stand around and wait for something to approach him. The only issue was to figure out where exactly to go. There was nothing in the vast expanse that gave him any kind of indication of which direction would take him to safety. There was always going back up and swimming in the pool, but such an idea seemed so morbid. Dra-Vaerin found the notion of accidentally colliding with one of the plethora of disjointed limbs and heads horrific. Then there was also the fact that the entire lake was just suspended in the air. It defied any logic. Much too eerie for his liking.

"If I have to travel here, it is going to be on my feet. Where it's safe. I'm not going to fall to my death." He stated adamantly to himself. Why had he decided to say that to himself? It seemed to be a better alternative than just having the oppressive silence fill the moment.

He peered to either side, squinting to try and better see in the darkness. He'd loathe to think what other races that didn't posses superior sight in such conditions would see where they were attempting to go. From his assessment, he could see that the way to the right was marginally better lit than the way to the left. He could also see that the right path had more stalagmites jutting sharply from the cavern's floor than the left. "More places to hide behind...just in case. That is quite possibly more prudent than taking the darker and less covered path. Although, it is just as likely that anything that would wish to do you harm could have also decided that cover was a wonderful idea as well..."

It occurred to him that these stalagmites were most likely the humanesque figures he had seen, as it appeared there was nobody down on the cave's floor. Perhaps it was better to have stayed up there with his eyes closed. Had those people opened their eyes and decided it was safer to stay up there?

He carefully mulled over which path to take. Both had a distinct advantage over the other, so it really did come down to what his preference was. He could have a more unobstructed path of travel, albeit a darker one; or a more well lit but potentially more dangerous one. Though truthfully he knew which path he was going to select from the moment he first compared the two. The path to the right was the better choice in his opinion. At least he would be able to have something to hide behind or use to his benefit if he needed to run away. If he went with the more open path, if something gave chase to him on it; it would inevitably come down to who was the stronger entity. Dra-Vaerin was not a strong or capable fighter. Therefore, relying more on his intellect and ability to hide seemed the more prudent of options. If it came down to it, he was sure he could be able to climb up the rocks. His dance training had made him a somewhat competent climber for one that did not have the benefits of being able to scale vertical surfaces.

With that, he steeled himself and proceeded quietly as he was capable of doing down the path to the right. He ducked and weaved through the stalagmites that dotted the ground like a bystanding crowd in his best imitation of a stealthy thief trying to avoid detection. He prayed to Viratas that it was successful. He felt like he was being watched once more.

[delete]

Daffodil felt snow crunch under her feet as she hiked up a mountain that never seemed to end. Something was pulling her tired legs forward. Some sort of determination whose origin she could not explain. There was no happiness, all she felt was a sort of ache. She was trying to get somewhere but she could never reach that place. It felt like she had been going on for hours and hours. There was nothing too look at. The sky was starless and bathed in dark clouds, the snow was infinite and monochromatic. The only sound she could hear was the crunch, crunch, crunch of her footsteps.

She was getting tired and slowing down. After pushing on for what felt like another hour, she finally collapsed onto her knees. For some reason, she didn’t feel the freezing ground against her skin. She looked down at the snow around her legs and just felt numb. Something in her gave up and she fell forward onto her belly and shut her eyes tightly. She kept them shut, wanting to escape, not wanting this bleak existence to go on, wanting to go back to her home in Riverfall where she felt somewhat wanted.

But instincts kicked in when she heard a sound. More footsteps. Footsteps echoing against stone. Panicked the young female sat up and jumped to her feet. She looked around. She was in a cave? Was this Xy? If this was the Zith City, she was surely done for! Her mind raced, and she headed for a stalagmite that was thicker than her body and sat behind it, angling her head to see and listen for the approaching stranger, whoever- whatever- it was. Her hands shook and her head throbbed. She began to see things in the dar. Things that looked like eyes watching her.

Pressure built up slowly and the sound of someone moving was getting closer. But she couldn’t pinpoint it like she usually could, there was too many other distractions. Pressure continued to climb in her chest and eventually she sprung up and began to run. Daffodil was clumsy. She accidentially tripped and fell with a thud and a groan on the ground, only to look up and see a strange male standing over her.

She let out a shriek and stood up, backing away and putting her hands up near her chest, palms faced towards him in the universal ‘surrender’ gesture. He was strange looking, more so than her maybe. His skin was about ten shades paler than hers and he had weirdly long limbs. “Where are we.” She asked him, standing up. Something about his presence said ‘friend’ to her, once she’d looked at him long enough “Do you know how to get back outside?” She looked around fearfully and hissed “Is this Xy??”

[Vaerin]

So far he felt that he was doing a successful job. Why, perhaps he would have been a natural at this if his moral compass wasn't as rigid as it was. That did not matter in the least. What was more deserving of his attention was trying to figure out what exactly was going on in this cavern?

It felt infinitely old. Like it had always been there, and always was. There was not an overtly malevolent aura that exuded from the cavernous void. Yet, it was not a comforting presence that he felt from looking on ahead. It was an uncaring place to be. It made Dra-Vaerin feel as if it would not go out of its way to force its dominance upon him. But should he make a careless error, it would punish him with all its might for his stupidity. Perhaps one day many eons ago it was a spiteful entity; but the rage it held had since quelled for reasons incomprehensible to the mortal mind. Thus, Dra-Vaerin also cautioned himself against the trappings of hubris. He needed to be rational and careful as he traversed this alien landscape.

Why did he think of it as alien? Hadn't he always been here? Looking back on his life, he couldn't remember a time when he wasn't there. He had visions of another place...a land with a golden light illuminating the world which was just as expansive as this one. Yet it was airy, and filled with such pigment that didn't exist down in the bowels of the earth that this place inhabited. All those memories must have been the real dream. It was the only constant. Hadn't he witnessed his birth? He was the master of his fate in this regard. He chose to rebuild himself while those above him chose to stay suspended, lost in their illusionary dreams. Surely this was reality.

As he stepped lightly through the pillars of rocks, he thought he heard something. Yes, there was definitely a sound just above him. He could even see it, despite his lesser vision in this lighting. Something had thrown itself behind a rather imposing stalagmite in front of him, just within his field of vision before the distance faded into utter black. He had to be careful. It obviously hear him. He lowered himself into a crouching position, duck walking behind a stalagmite several paces to his right. In a fluid movement he pushed himself into an egg shaped ball, performing a forward roll. He performed another and another until he was behind another that partially covered him. If there was something watching him, he no longer worried or tried to scrutinize from where it observed him. There was something directly in front of him. It was either friend or foe. He leaned more towards the notion of foe. This cave clearly wanted to test him.

He was terrified, but knew he had to be ready to protect himself. It was the only way to survive here. This was why he likely felt his fangs slowly distend. If he needed to, the poison he possessed, while not potent, would hopefully incapacitate whatever it was long enough to run away. He didn't trust his strength or agility to be able to fell anything with his clawed nails.

Whatever laid behind that stalagmite obviously felt intimidated. He could hear its ragged breath, and it soon bolted in the opposite direction - or was hoping to flank him. Dra-Vaerin knew it was now or never. He ran. But as he did, he heard his foe fall. Certainly he was lucky, as now he was at an advantage.

Then he saw what he had mentally pitted himself against. The young woman's face was temporarily covered by her hair as he stopped next to her. Not for long however, as when he approached her side she let out a panicked scream. She backed away from him, her eyes wide with fear.

The pale boy no longer felt like he had to defend himself. She was just as afraid as he was. Her arms above her head, signaling she did not want to fight.

He observed her warily for a moment, as he came down from the adrenaline. She had a thin face, and was pale. Nowhere near as fair as he was. With her mouth open, Dra-Vaerin could see a number of sharp, pointed teeth. Not totally dissimilar from his own. Instantly he felt kindredship with her. He was sure that this stranger in front of him was not fully human either.

And then she spoke. Frantically.

"Where are we? Do you know how to get back outside?"

Her expression was very fearful. as she uttered her next phrase: "Is this Xy??"

Dra-Vaerin returned her terrified expression with one of perplexed curiosity. What did this woman mean by outside. There was no outside? Only the cave with its surrealistic watery ceiling. And what was Xy? There was no such thing as Xy here. In her terror, Dra-Vaerin could tell that she meant him no harm. She was worried, just like he was. He appraised her for a moment longer, trying to figure out how to respond.

Then a memory wafted through his mind. Of Kalinor. Of strange winged folk with sharp, pointed teeth and dark hair. They roosted in a part of the city built just for them...

what were they called? It took him a while to conjure the name from that dream world that felt so real. His brow furrowed as he spoke the name quietly.

"The Zith?..."

The name set off a tidal wave of other memories of that land that he was sure was not real - after all it did not exist in this cavern to his knowledge. This eldritch cavernous world that he was born into. He looked back at his new friend, a light of recognition in his eyes. Yes, he remembered hearing of this city for these people in passing. It was similar to Kalinor. Yet it couldn't have been anything like Kalinor, and therefore nothing at all like where they were currently. Had she had similar dreams of this waking world too? She must have been half Zith, just like he was half Symenestra. The teeth made sense, so too did the thickness of her hair.

"The Zith city: Xy? No. It can't be. Xy doesn't belong here." He responded, still unsure about what she meant by "outside".

"I...I can't answer your other question however. I don't know what you mean? Can't you see what I see?" He asked, his tone probing for hope of her knowing more about where they currently were than he did.

He looked all around him, the feeling of being watched still hounded him. He also hoped to perhaps see a hint of this 'outside' she talked of. It wasn't quite like he could see anything to hint at any of this. All he had to go off of was that same tightness in his chest that he felt when something was clearly amiss or observing him from an obscured vantage point. Did she feel the same way?

Once he had scouted to the best of his vision around him, he turned back to face the girl. By now his fangs had retracted to their normal position as he no longer felt threatened. Just unnerved. Mostly by the cave itself.

"I...I think it would be better for us if we kept moving. I don't like where we are currently."

He gestured to the right as he started to walk towards the potential safety of the very large stalagmite from before, putting a huge amount of faith in this stranger not to attack him now that his back was turned.