Completed [Kabrin Road] Road Terror (Xiulachu)

[Fubuki Kouri]

28th of Spring, 30 Chimes after the 22nd of Bell, 513 AV It was very late at night as Kouri found herself sitting in her favorite tree branch. "*Siiiigh*..." She let out a sigh full of boredom. Yesterday, she had met lots of unique people near the Kabrin Road. A red-haired mage, a blonde woman with her pup wolf, a male ghost, and her friend, the Wolf Kelvic Akilia. But today, nothing interesting happened so far. "........." Kouri stared at the sky in silence, her very long ethereal white hair slowly swaying in the air and crimson red eyes focusing on nothing in particular. Kouri was still getting used to her current ghostly state. In the back of her mind, she still wished for things to get back to how it used to be. Living happily with her parents, singing, playing with her dolls, eating, sleeping, and crying normal tears like a normal Snowsong Vantha would do. "Kih..." She scoffed in anger and annoyance, her mind was violently crushing those false dreams. She had a master now, he's the most important person in her unlife and he loved her like his own daughter so she wouldn't have to worry about anything. "Aha..." A mischievous idea popped in her head as she remembered that the road near the woods was quite crowded, even at night. "Ehehehe~" She creepily giggled and slowly floated down to the ground. "I'm gong to have some fun tonight..." Kouri darkly muttered, her ethereal body began floating forward heading to the Kabrin Road. 30 Chimes later, 23rd of Bell "Ehehehe~" Kouri peeked her head from behind a rather large tree near the road, her crimson orbs searching around for merchants or people to prey on. Aha! There you are... She spotted a brown carriage pulled by two horses. Kouri flashed a wicked grin, she would scare the shykes out of whoever is inside the carriage. Putting her plan into motion, Kouri's form slowly vanished into thin air. Inside the Carriage ---------------------------------------------- A human woman wearing rather expensive clothes was calmly sitting inside the carriage. On her lap was a sleeping little girl around the age of ten to twelve years old, most likely her daughter. The brown-haired woman was the wife of a rather wealthy merchant, her husband already waiting in Syliras city for his family's arrival. The journey seemed to be well and it would most likely end well... however that thought was broken when the woman felt something ominous was about to happen. Suddenly, she could feel that the temperature inside the carriage unnaturally dropped and traces of black mists slowly spawning around her. "!!!" The woman instinctively hugged her still sleeping daughter. That's when it happened... an apparition in the form of a little girl with very long silvery white hair, crimson red eyes, and corpse-like pale skin tone wearing a blood-stained white dress suddenly appeared before her. "By the gods..." The woman's first motherly instinct was to shield her daughter from whatever being was in front of her. ---------------------------------------------- Kouri blinked inside the carriage to found two human females... from the looks of it, they looked like a mother and her daughter. That little girl... how dare you... how dare you sleep so peacefully in your mother's embrace... while I was all alone in the petching woods... with no blanket, no bed, and no embrace to cover me... "Grrr..." She let out a low menacing growl full of envy. Kouri's plan on playfully scaring the passengers quickly changed as feelings of extreme jealousy and envy washed over her. Due to her circumstances, she abhorred to see another people being shown paternal affection. "So..." Kouri slowly spoke, her hauntingly beautiful voice was filled with venom as she stared murderously to the terrified woman. "What if... I kill your daughter... how would that make you feel?" Kouri tried to inflict pain and fear to the woman with her words, she wanted her to suffer out of jealousy. As expected, the woman immediately begged to Kouri, she begged for her to let her daughter go and kill her instead. The mother didn't even bother to ask who or what Kouri was and why was she here. Her daughter's safety was her top priority. "Ahahahaha! Ahahaha~ No good... that's no good, madame..." Kouri approached the woman and materialized herself, her hand slowly caressing her daughter's hair. "Is that all you can offer? Only your life? Ehehehe..." The woman was dumbstruck, no coherent words escaped her lips. If the phantom before her would not accept her life, then what could she do? Money? She doubted the phantom even want that. It seemed like it was trying to torture her mind into madness. Kouri flashed the woman a malicious grin. Yes... yes this was what she exactly wanted. To have some... 'fun'.

[Xiulachu Falliron]

Xiulachu Falliron The darkest time of the night being ever one of his most favorite times to wonder the woods alone to think upon his past and his future; Xiulachu found himself following the road from the tree line, never too far out for fear of someone spotting him and wondering who he was and why he was out at night alone. His cloak seemed to fly back behind him and catch itself on his pack every few minutes which greatly annoyed Xiulachu to no end and only resulted in him having to straighten it every time the wind picked up. The gleam coming off of his dagger that rested on the lift side of his waistband could be seen every time his cloak flew up with the wind. With ears that could hear over a longer range than any human Xiulachu heard the slightest sound of duress and quickly ran towards where the sound had come from yet when he reached his destination he saw only a child and father playing together at the edges of a large caravan that was coming down the road. Though Xiulachu preferred to sleep as his true form he still liked on occasion the true security of a crowd of people to guard each other in case of attack, which rarely happened to a group as large as the one that was camping now. Though Xiulachu never had his guard taken down in any group, for there were dangers from within that Xiulachu will most likely have to face being a wonderer as he was. Though a guard that was obviously just a normal merchant called out for him to stop he kept moving in till he was at least five meters from the guard, a suitable distance for Xiulachu to talk to the obviously startled ‘guard’ who were ever weary of bandits and murderers that would profit greatly from the many gems and jewels that were likely to be found in such a caravan of people. When Xiulachu finally got through to the guard in response to the guards order to stop many feet from where Xiulachu now stood, Xiulachu was able to gain himself entry into the circle of carts and carriages that formed the makeshift barrier that would be the first line of defense for the defenders in case of attack by nefarious creatures. Xiulachu always scouted out the area inside the carts and carriages of caravans in search of any areas that could be used to make a quick escape and even found one of two that would be suitable and of course if things turned sour he could always just fly out with his pack that he carried; nothing inside being heavy in the least bit. When he was sure he had found enough secret exits that would being him outside of the caravan at the first sign of danger Xiulachu made his way to an area clear enough for him to lay down and sleep. Though the area he had found to be his own was just a meter away from a certain carriage that had a mysterious black fog-like substance around the door facing Xiulachus way. With nimble steps, that would sound as silently as a great black panther, Xiulachu carefully made his way to the carriage that most likely belonged to a family. When Xiulachu reached the carriage the smoke had fully formed into what looked like a shadow that was standing just inside the carriage. With his super hearing that came from being an owl Xiulachu was able to hear what sounded like a whimper from within the carriage and with that sound alone Xiulachu was able to determine that something was definitely going on in the carriage that shouldn’t have been. Quickly and deftly in as silent as he could possibly be he quickly slid out his dagger that had a wondrous blue gem on the end of a masterfully crafted handle connected to a razor sharp double sided dagger which has been used in Xiulachus past to defend himself from various enemies. With great skill that could only be surpassed by a master bladesman , Xiulachu quickly brought the blade up before him as he pulled back the covers that covered the entrance to the carriage. Xiulachu had to quickly observe the situation in front of him which was one of the strangest incidents that Xiulachu would ever face. A woman and a child that was obviously the mothers and another figure that was obviously not right in the picture that was the inside of the carriage. Xiulachu noticed that the womans child was standing right next to what looked like a girl.

[Fubuki Kouri]

"Hehehe..." Kouri kept staring into the woman's terrified eyes, her reptilian crimson red eyes reveled in the fear emitted by the woman. She wanted to see how long the woman could maintain this dreadful silence. Alas, her indulgence was interrupted when the cloth that was covering the carriage's entrance whisked open. ".............." Kouri kept silent, her face completely unamused at this intrusion. Slowly, her head slowly turned to face the intruder, her neck twisting to impossible degrees which would break a normal human's neck. Kouri now looked like a little girl whose neck had been broken. The woman closed her mouth with her palms to stifle a shocked gasp at the creature in front of her. "..........." Kouri saw that the intruder was a man with dark hair, hazel eyes, and fair skin-tone. Kouri didn't care, she didn't care about all that. She just wanted this man to leave her alone in her torturing session. Flashing a malicious toothy grin, Kouri let out a haunting giggle to deter this intruder away.

[Akilia Dosert]

Akilia Boring, bored and bored again. Akilia couldn't bring herself to sleep. She just felt restless, it was probably eating so much candy before going to bed. It put her on a suguar high, last time she had one, she just went for a run which made the candy wear out fast and sent her crawling back to her tent in exhuation. She smiled wryily as she got dressed, she faintly remembered promising herself that she would never ever do that ever again. The girl knew it was just a matter of time before she had broken that promise which was less than a couple of nights ago. Breaking it again didnt feel so bad at the moment but there was a nagging feeling in the back of her mind that too much movement would cause her to puke up the already unsettled food in her stomach. she sure did hope she wouldnt run into anyone tonight. She slipped out of the tent quietly and headed in a random direction. The way of the Kabrin road, this was a pleasant change from where she went last time, which was right in the heart of some angry wolves' territory. That had not be fun. But no doubt this would...she could almost feel it. Almost...she didnt want to feel too sure about it, when she did things always seemed to go the other way. She was quite close to the road, living around the outskirts of the woods had its benefits. The girl's dark brown hair whipped behind her as a gust blasted her way, blue eyes shining she let out a breathless whoop of exhilaration. She was wearing her usual simple gray blue shirt, dark blue pants with her scabbard strapped to her side and padding lightly on the soft earth floor with leather boots. Each stride bringing her ever closer to her destination. She broke free of the trees and looked about her. She was at the edge of some type of camp filled with caravans and a...was that a carriage? A wishful sigh escaped the Kelvic girl. She envied anyone who was rich enough to afford to waste money on that extravagant form of transportation. Akilia only had her strong legs to get around, or paws if she was in her second form, her first one. Since it took her interest she headed towards it sneaking by the few people up and about at this hour. As she got closer, she could distinctly see a shape of a man. What was he doing? He looked like he was...taking a peek inside? What for? She wondered drawing closer, she was behind the man now, less than a few paces away. She tried to look over his shoulder, going up high on her tippy toes to try to catch a glimpse of whatever he was looking at. He looked quite occupied with whatever was in there. Akilia would've left him alone if he didn't look so out of place standing there. He wasn't wearing bright richly decorated colors of someone who was rich, and he was tense she could feel it and the dagger held in his hand also captured Akilia's interest. There was another thing, something so strong in smell that she could've had ignored or walked away from ever...the smell of fear. Taking him by surprise didn't seem like a good idea, there was a chance he could gut her with that knife in his clutches. So why not make herself known? There wasn't a guy she had met yet who was mean enough to cause her any physical harm. It was to her advantage that she still looked like a child. "Whatcha doing?" She asked pleasantly stepping forward and halting beside him. She opened her mouth in surprise when she saw the people in the carriage. A woman and a girl then another girl in a dress... "Kouri!" Akilia said in greeting to her friend. Akilia's gaze flickered back and forth between the cowering woman and what looked to be her daughter. The Kelvic girl's eyes narrowed as they found they're way back to the mother and daughter, jealously gnawed at her. She observed with narrowed eyes at the way the mother stood in defense of her daughter. Akilia could only wish to see her mother again. Fat chance of that. "Who are they?" She asked dryly. "Rich pricks."

[Xiulachu Falliron]

Xiulachu Falliron The fear he could see in the eyes of the woman and her daughter were the only things that allowed Xiulachu to keep his composure in such an unusual circumstance he found himself in now. The wind blew back and forth allowing those from a good distance to see into the carriage yet the only person to come sounded as though she was less focused on the occurrence in the carriage and more focused on Xiulachu himself. Xiulachu never really did have any courage when it came to monsters and other wild animals that happened to appear in front of him but when the girl who seemed to have no trouble turning her head completely around like an owl might do his confidence completely dropped and forced him to take a step back. If the head turning all the way around, as if her neck was broken, deterred Xiulachu as much as it did than the most evil laugh that he had ever heard emanating from the girl with her head facing himself and her body facing the woman and child scared Xiulachu back even more. With his knife still up in a defensive posture Xiulachu slowly kept inching back from the carriage and only then noticed that the sound of a woman had come just to the right of where Xiulachu had been standing. He really didn't know what to do; at first he thought it was a robbery but the way the little girl turned her head to face him told Xiulachu that this was more than just a robbery, this would most likely end in someone getting either hurt or killed. The word Kouri just now came to Xiulachu which only proved to him that the two strange people who looked like they had no business in such a caravan as this, Xiulachu included. OOCSorry, I've got one of the worst headaches right now and can hardly focus my thoughts :/

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri "Hehehehe..." Kouri creepily giggled in satisfaction. Her trick was working, the man was visibly intimidated and slowly backed away from the carriage's entrance. She slowly turned her head back to its original and more human-like position, facing the mother and daughter. "Oh... you've woken up..." The daughter, possibly disturbed by the chilling temperature had woken up, her face was that of pure shock and fear. Witnessing a creepy translucent little girl turning her head at almost 180 degrees was not a pleasant experience. The daughter tried to scream, but was quickly silenced by her mother. Perhaps the mother thought that screaming would aggravate this monster more and she could possibly be hurt or killed. The mother closed her daughter's eyes and shushed her, telling her to keep sleeping and that it would be okay. "..............." That act filled Kouri with even more anger and jealous, she was now seriously considering of killing them both, but then... "Huh?" She heard her name being called by a familiar voice. Akilia? Kouri's eyes perked up and she turned her body normally. "Akiliaaaaaa~" Her deadly aura immediately disappeared and a wide happy grin appeared on her face. It was unsettling on how fast the ghost girl could change her mood. Kouri then vanished from the carriage's interior and appeared right next to Akilia and the dagger-wielding man. The mother was visibly very relieved and looked at Akilia with an expression full of gratitude and appreciation, like Akilia was a hero who saved her daughter's life. "Ehehe~" Kouri materialized herself and hugged the wolf Kelvic. "...No one..." Kouri whispered in a low voice to Akilia's question regarding the carriage passengers' identity. While still hugging Akilia, Kouri's eyes locked itself to the man who disturbed her. "............." Her eyes narrowed itself as if silently asking him about who was he and 'why were you disturbing me?'

[Akilia Dosert]

Akilia A little creeped out at the angle of Kouri's neck, Akilia cringed, and rubbed her own neck with her hand imagining just how painful that would be if Kouri was alive. The lucky duck...or maybe not. It was always unnerving at how fast Kouri's mood changed...it was like it changed with the wind. You never knew which direction it would take. So maybe it was a good thing the Kelvic girl had distracted her friend, she knew Kouri to be one to take some things to extremes. She returned Kouri's hug in earnest, after all the ghost was her friend. Or at least she was pretty sure. Akilia could feel the eyes of gratitude the mother in the carriage gave her and returned it with an guilty smile. She felt ashamed for envying them, they didn't do anything or say anything to deserve being resented maybe even hated a little. They where just rich... Rich pricks. Her jealously still lingered but she gave a nod to the woman in the carriage then looked over at the man who was looking into the carriage from before. Peeping Tom. She thought, even if it wasn't true. "Who the hell are you?" She asked the man, then she blushed. It came out harsher than she'd meant. Even so, she had too much pride to take it back. He was still holding that dagger she noted, eyeing it wearily. The Kelvic girl let go of her friend and stood on the balls of her feet to be ready for an attack.

[Xiulachu Falliron]

Xiulachu Falliron The most unnerving situation was presented before Xiulachu and the girl who had been in the carriage disappearing and reappearing in front of the woman who had been standing next to him before he had made the smart decision to retreat a few steps back; far enough away that if necessary he could transform into an owl quickly enough to get himself out of his clothing and into the air before the two could strike at him. These two know each other, I have to act quickly. Xiulachu thought to himself as he carefully dropped his pack to the ground in as subtle a way as he possible could yet it wasn’t necessary due to the way the two were looking at him. The stare that the girl, who had been in the carriage, was giving Xiulachu at that moment was one that seemed to strip Xiulachu to his soul, if a Kelvic even had a soul. Though the girl didn’t look as threateningly as the one who had just asked Xiulachu who he was; to think someone who seemed to be siding with a nefarious entity could ask him that. Though the subtle movement from rest to a defensive stance would normally not be noticed by Xiulachu his entire focus was on the woman and Xiulachu had eyes much like those of an owl, not much gets past Xiulachu. Xiulachu decided that to better ease the tension he had better give his name, though he would not be happy with it. I’m Xiulachu, who are you? Xiulachu spat more towards the one who had asked him the same question than towards the girl who more a monster than an actual girl. OOCsorry for the late reply, I was resting for most of the day

[Fubuki Kouri]

Fubuki Kouri OOCGet well soon, Xiu. Kouri kept staring at the man in front of her, her eyes occasionally gazed at the metallic glint that was his dagger. He retreated more by a few steps then he dropped his backpack. What are you going to do? Was he going to attack? Kouri didn't worry about herself, she worried more about Akilia. Unlike her ethereal body, that dagger could pierce Akilia's body and that would not feel good. Then the man introduced himself, but more like introducing himself to Akilia rather than Kouri. "Xiulachu..." She whispered his name. Kouri was about to ask Xiu his name when.. "WHA-?!" one of the merchants who acted as patrol guard for the caravan came to the scene. His eyes spotted them, but were fixed on the blood-stained ghost girl. "By the gods! What are you?!" He quickly brandished his sword and called for the other guards, he then quickly shouted to Kouri "Get away from them!" Them as in Akilia and Xiulachu, the man thought Kouri was a dangerous being. One cannot blame him, Kouri was floating by a few inches above the ground, had a corpse-like pale skin-tone, and crimson red eyes. But what ticked the man off the most was her blood-stained dress and flickering form. "Tch..." Kouri let out an low annoyed sound. She could hear footsteps coming to their location. Sure, the men couldn't possibly do anything to her unless they have a mage or... !? a reimancy glyph... Petch that cursed item. "Grrr... I'm leaving, Akilia, you can find me in the usual place..." Kouri was mentioning her favorite tree near the clearing in the Bronze Woods. Kouri gave a grin to the man and whispers "We will meet again..." before she vanished into thin air, blinking away from the location. OOCNow Kouri will be at the Bronze Woods if you guys want to follow. Obviously, Kouri will not reply if you guys still have some business in the caravan

[Akilia Dosert]

Akilia Akilia's eyes narrowed suspiciously as the man dropped his bag. Just what was he planning? She wondered. I’m Xiulachu, who are you? His tone was so hostile...on instinct, Akilia placed her hand on her scabbard which held a dagger she didn't have a clue in using. She had never used or practiced with it in the first place... And the way he held his, gave no doubt that he knew how to use his. She opened her mouth to reply, but a fat little merchant appeared out of nowhere and yanked her away from Kouri. Another went all bug eyed and made a scene the man had obviously never seen a ghost before and called for more men. Before Akilia knew it, Kouri had vanished but not before telling the Kelvic girl where she would be at. The tree. Akilia yanked her arm from the fat merchant who had grabbed her. More merchants had appeared along with some bystanders. Even the mother and daughter in the carriage couldn't help watching all the commotion. They slowly fanned away a merchant eyeing both Xiulachu and Akilia nervously, "Watch yourselves, nasty things come out at night..." Then with that he too moved along. "Ptff...petching people." She muttered, then her gaze returning to Xiulachu, "The name's Akilia. Why'd ya drop your pack? You making a run for it or something?" She flashed a smug grin, "I'm not that scary am I?"