Dust and Blood (Celeste)

[Mirage]

58th of Summer, 513 AV

Since their first meeting Riyanna had not given her newest Initiate much of her time, and though she knew it was not truly her fault she could not help but feel a bit guilty for this fact. Thus she had called her new Initiate out this day to join her in the fields, simply smiling at questions asked and saying she would find out when they arrived. The Warden had a flair for the dramatic, and she actually enjoyed the air of mystery she put on this day.

Thus that is how Celeste came to be sitting on her cloak on the edge of the prairie, staring at the very mangy dog model she had showed Riyanna the other day. The Warden wagged her tail, panting happily as her large tongue hung out.

"Today we are going to work on your current model, since this is one that you seem the most familiar with. We will see if we can make a few modifications and make it more suited to life here in the Prairie."

She barked, and as Celeste watched the dog began to grow slightly in size until she was about a hand taller at the shoulder. Riyanna looked at Celeste, "You will find that the greatest skill I can teach you is how to modify your existing models. Today we will practice in a controlled environment, and later we will add other elements to your training." She nodded to the girl, "Now copy what I have done, and we will move from there. Inform me as we get closer to your limits. Then we will break through them." she winked.

[Celeste Arumen]

It was beaming that Celeste joined Riyana at the Prairie, quickly adapting to their habitual nudity. It was quite liberating in fact, though she was becoming pointedly aware of Riyana’s swelling curves. In the quiet space of her room, she’d attempted to emulate her mentor’s womanly physique, but to no avail; instead, she looked disproportionate and grotesque. It’d been with a sigh that she let her djed snap back into place. One day perhaps, she’d be able to master that shape. But for right then, she resigned herself to that awkward, pre-adolescent form she knew so well.

”Wow,” she breathed, admiring how easily Riyana modified the pre-existing model. She was perpetually amazed at her sheer mastery.

She stared at her for a moment, noting the differing lengths from one figure to the next. Celeste rose artlessly, nearly stumbling in the process. ”Okay,” she announced. With a sigh, she shut her eyes tight, trying to focus on the perpetual stream of djed within. A furtive shiver ran down her spine as she accessed it, sensing the two hemispheres of energy, both intellectual and concrete. Very slowly she began to separate the two, setting aside all other inclinations, pulling apart her very essence strand by strand. It was still a slow process, but one she enjoyed; each unraveling skein gave her a thrill as it became truly individual - porcelain clay readying to take shape.

At long last the two sides were set apart, ready to mold into whatever she wished.

Deliberately she honed in on the all-too-familiar image of Daisy, only imprinted with the size differential. A big Daisy, she thought, would suffice. Otherwise she’d be building it from scratch, which would take far more effort than it was worth. Very slowly she extended a phantom hand to that physical djed, identifying the essence which comprised her legs and carefully popped her knees out of place, giving her a strange sense of dislocation. Her skull shuddered as she pressed, djed thinning rapidly as it altered, shifted, grew. She accessed each individual strand of her being; eyes, lips, ears and altered each one piecemeal. It took more effort to become larger, which was as she expected. The true amount of effort however, was something she did not.

Celeste strained as she pressed the essence of her hair - fur taking root, replacing downy human fuzz with bristling shag. It always itched tremendously as she changed, something that could not be helped. Her arm sockets popped and clicked as she shaped them, raising just a hand higher than before, but the difference felt truly strange. She’d never tried to be larger before. Her bones thickened, grew longer, the feeling akin to being stretched on the rack. It burned somewhat and she knew that she could not hold the transformation for very long.

The result was decent, but Celeste forgot an important detail. She forgot to lengthen her tail. Her shaggy beast-self tried to take a step and nearly fell over. Apparently, tails were far more important than she really knew. Her legs sprawled and she listed to one side. Very, very embarrassing. Blushing as much as a dog could, she focused inward once again, reserves stretching very thin. Celeste focused on the image of Riyana’s tail, pushing it downward until it was an appropriate length.

”This is tiring already,” she said, clearly fatigued. Her body felt a little weak from the change. ”I’ve never tried to be any bigger than what I am.”

Edit!I went back and changed some of the process to reflect what you suggested in chat.

[Mirage]

Riyanna chuckled, walking in a circle around Celeste, easily holding the form herself. Her eyes shifted from its usual gold to a deep purle, and her fur shimmered as it too changed to a sparkling blue, "Those who still have a set model identity find it difficult to make these kinds of alterations. Everyone starts this way, but do not worry it will get easier as you practice." She swished her tail back and forth, the appendage elongating and ending in a slight curve. The fur over the rest of her body altered as well, becoming short bristles as her snout elongated further and curved teeth hung over her lower jaw. Her paws grew larger, the padding thicker, and the claws there elongated and dug gouges into the ground. Ears became points, laying back flat as bony plates began to sprout around the neck, shoulders, along the belly and spine. Finishing these alterations Riyanna grew in size once more until the height of her shoulder was nearly five feet. Her lips pulled back in a snarl, revealing rows of pointed teeth as she opened her jaws in a fierce intimidation. Her hair stood on end, and she exuded bestiality. Ending the display Riyanna shook her head, looking down at Celeste, "This is the model that you shall master, built entirely off of your previous one. You will find that it is easier to modify existing models than it is to acquire all new ones. Thus you will spend some time every day mastering new modifications to existing models that you have, as well as spending some time trying to gain new ones as well. Practice is what will make you great, though at the end always be sure to return to your original form. The more time you spend changing the easier it is to lose yourself and your identity."

She shrunk down, losing all additional features to stand as she had before, a simple mangy mutt with a goofy grin, "For now we will keep things simple. You must adapt to moving in your new proportions, but while you do that also try and shift the color of your fur as well. Try and do it as you walk in a circle around me, and we will see how well you can divide your attention."

[Celeste Arumen]

”Ah,” she said, trying to note each modification Riyana made. Larger paws, longer jaws… But what on Mizahar were those strange plates? Celeste had no biological reference for anything of the sort. Luckily, her Master wasn’t about to push her too hard; the strain of holding her shape out so much farther was starting to give her a headache. Too many adjustments at once and she’d certainly cross the line.

”Of course,” she replied, having already been warned, but thoughts of her Gran went largely ignored. They’d only serve to distract her further. Riyana, for all intents in purposes, took on that role now. Whatever really happened to the life she used to lead, she cast it aside for the time being.

Celeste did as she was told, beginning to trot around her Master whilst looking within. It was helpful that her djed was already primed and ready; slowly, very slowly she focused on the iridescent shimmer of energy, searching for that which colored her fur. After a chime she found it, feeling the telltale bristle of the strands. Mental fingers plucked it from the natural spectrum, forcing it up and out toward her favorite hue – rich, royal gold.

Her djed stretched wearily, unable to resist as it had at first. The elasticity was slowly wearing away, which might hold consequence later on, but she would not refuse. To get better, she had to push past her limits. That’d been part of her stagnation in Alvadas. Very steadily she shifted her coat from follicle to tip, shaping the energy from brindle to aureate. She twisted the strands of djed from the gentle wave of the natural to the acute, linear line of the arcane. At first she had to bit of internal digging, searching for the perfect shade, which in turn made her ever-changing, moving from ocher to orange and back again.

Finally, after chimes, she nailed down that lovely tint, acute lines of energy curved ever so slightly to reflect that brilliant, joyful shade of gilt. Meanwhile of course, she was still moving, though the circling could be more accurately described as “squaring.” She was wobbling all over the place, unable to multi-task whatsoever. Celeste had never been asked to do two things at once before. Her brain had a difficult time managing both, so naturally, the morph had become her primary focus.

It was only when she managed the adjustment was she then able to follow the other steps, circling Riyana gaily. ”This is hard,” she said, but it was not without hope. Celeste was leagues away from giving up. The little girl was far too stubborn for that. ”I didn’t realize how much it took to move and morph at the same time… How do you do it so easily?” Of course, the answer was simple.

Practice.

[Mirage]

If a dog could smile, Riyanna surely did, and of course she knew that Celeste knew her answer to the question, "Practice cutie, practice."

Riyanna swished her tail, circling Celeste to observe what she had done. Finally she spoke in an approving tone, "Good, very good. Now we need to--" Her sentence was cut short by the sound of howling. A low note filled the air, long and vibrating before arching in pitch, and then quickly back down once more. Riyanna's ears twitched. Wordlessly she shifted to her white wolf form, lowering herself and turning her golden eyes on Celeste, "Get on."

It was not a request, it was an order, and her tone brokered no argument. Riyanna would fidget slightly as she waited for Celeste to change back to her human form and to clamber on board. No sooner had Celeste grabbed a handful of fur then Riyanna would be off, bounding forward with urgent speed. Her speed was almost blinding, and the wind that whipped by threatened to pull Celeste off if she did not hold tight. The Warden shouted over her shoulder to Celeste, speaking over the screaming winds, "That call was a warning sent by Brom. I shall teach you our calls soon as well, but for now we haven't the time. When we arrive do everything that I say, when I say it. I will protect you as much as I can, but you have to do your best to stay alive as well."

Ahead a form resolved itself into Tierra bounding toward them. Slowing slightly so that the Initiate could match pace with them, Riyanna asked, "What has happened?"

Tierra panted from exertion, wounds bleed freely from her exposed shoulders and her legs, when she spoke though her voice was even, "Something escaped from the Bloodhills, obviously a failedbeast. Brom is keeping it at bay while I was sent to retrieve you." Her eyes lighted on Celeste for a moment before returning to Riyanna, "Should you bring Celeste? This could be dangerous for her."

Riyanna barked a laugh, showing the other Initiate a toothy grin, "It will be good practice for her, and besides I remember another Initiate who did not want to be left behind due to the dangers to her own being."

"Of course my lady."

As they drew nearer they could see Brom in the distance, battling something with tentacles...

"Petching deadies," Riyanna cursed, "What is with their fascination with tentacles?"

Riyanna slowed to a stop, lowering to allow Celeste to clamber off as Tierra raced ahead to help Brom. When Celeste dismounted Riyanna would quickly shift back to her human form, the change taking just a few seconds, and as the fur receded the tattoo on her back became visible once more. As she reached back over her shoulder with a still clawed hand, the tattoo responded, squirming beneath the Warden's skin as it detatched itself. The hilt stretched up, ink becoming black leather of a hilt, as Riyanna's hand grasped it firmly. Then with a firm tug Riyanna ripped the broadsword from her very skin, swinging it down before her eyes as she grasped it with her other hand.

Looking down at Celeste she said, "For the moment I want you to stay here, to watch and observe what we do. If I call for you though you must respond immediately. If I give you an order carry it out without though, and without question. Hesitation could kill you. You must have complete trust in me. Can you do that Celeste?"

[Celeste Arumen]

Celeste basked in the approval, eager to receive criticism when –

A chilling howl pierced the air, sending a plaintive shiver down her spine. Riyana reacted immediately, shifting from mangy mutt to snowy wolf in a chime or less. Celeste remembered that previous command – do as I say always, without hesitation – and so she did, loosening the fist from her djed, prying phantom fingers back from the weave. As soon as her normal bearing shivered into place, she clambered atop her Mentor at once.

Danger. The urgency of Riyana’s pace smacked of it, well before she even began to explain. ”I promise, I will.” But could she? Her throat suddenly became very dry, fear creeping up through her gut. This was the first confrontation. This is how Celeste would prove her worth. At all costs, she had to remain alive.

Seeing Tierra’s wounds did not help – she was bleeding profusely from her haunches and top of her back, the flow worsening with each passing chime. How Celeste wished for a healing salve in that moment. It was within her power, yet she did not have it! And somehow through it all, she expressed concern, for her. It was such a strange contrast. The whole situation was quickly becoming surreal.

And how the stench of blood made her stomach roil.

As soon as they were within sight, the girl slid from Riyana’s back, unable to even speak. Adrenaline ran thick and yellow through her veins. She trembled. Whatever they faced, it was large and tentacled, a gross abomination. But surprisingly, Riyana did not mold into some great beast but rather shifted back and reached for her… Tattoo?

Celeste visibly gasped as the sword came free. What manner of item could do that?! It was a great, gleaming broadsword, true to the image it previously held. Riyana’s instructions suddenly bled together. She must listen. She had to trust her. Nodding weakly she held her stance, waiting for the melee to begin. And then she realized.

Whatever happened, she would give her life to protect Riyana.

[Mirage]

OOCI apologize for taking so long to respond!! I got caught up in a lot of the 'start of a new semester' flow, but things are settling now and I am going to try to get a normal posting routine going again. Alright so lets get this started, and remember use every skill at your command

Riyanna smiled, reaching with one hand to pat Celeste on the head, "Thats my girl. Be strong, and trust in your fellow Initiates. Watch and listen, because this is our real purpose out here on the Prairie."

Her eyes shifted, altering to a dark brownish green color while her right pupil rotated from a vertical slit to a horizontal one. Her muscles became slightly more defined, especially those of her arms and shoulders, and with a pop both of her knees reversed direction as her feet molded to form large hooves. Her arms lengthened so that when she bent at the waist her left hand could easily rest flat on the ground to support her weight. Finally bony plates began to spring up all over her body, completely encasing her from the neck down in layered plates of bone. She smiled a toothy grin, and winked. Somehow despite all of these changes, the twisting of her body and shifting of her features, there was still an almost alien beauty about her.

Without a word she was off, her hoof feet carrying her high into the air as she bounded forward, using her hands to balance herself as she sprinted toward the creature, the sword resting on her shoulder as she went. The beast was a long worm like creature, thought it had hundreds of large spider-like leads that ran down the length of its body. Tentacles grew in a ring around its gaping mouth, as well as along the upper portion of its back. Eyes on stalks swiveled to look at Riyanna just as she leapt high in the air, cleaving one clean off as she arched her body over its head and landed on the opposite side. Brom and Tierra both took advantage as the creature reeled back in shock, lunging and sinking their fangs into the fleshy part of its limps and ripping two of its legs clean off. Green blood gushed out as they both jumped back to avoid the swipe of another leg in retaliation, Brom taking the chance to latch a hold and rip another limb free.

Riyanna sprinted around the creatures' front, waving her sword so that it caught the light to draw its attention away from Tierra as she circled behind. Suddenly the creature lunged forward, a yelp sounding in the air as it opened its gaping mouth to swallow the warden whole. Whipping her sword Riyanna lobbed off several of the tentacles, but she could not avoid them all and one wrapped itself tightly around her left leg, pulling her off balance so that she fell back. Lunging once more the creature made as if to swallow the Warden whole, but then Tierra appeared once more, her body larger and circular Ram horns on either side of her head which she used to knock the beast head to the side just enough for Riyanna so hack her way free and to retreat. Brom was no where to be seen.

Two short whistles sounded, and two short howls followed from Tierra. Falling back Riyanna waved her sword once more, catching the creatures attention as she turned and sprinted diagonally leading past Celeste. Hundreds of legs pushed the creatures large body across the dusty terrain, and as it did Brom's body could be seen lying on the ground, unmoving. Tierra spared a glance at her partner as she raced past, but she did not slow to help. Not while the beast still lived. Riyanna was drawing it away from Brom, well away from Celeste where they could continue the battle. The path was made clear, and as Riyanna drew closer her eyes sought out Celestes, waving one hand for her to go see to Brom before another tentacle seized her attention.

If Celeste chose to see to Brom she would find the great wolf body laying on its side, back left leg obviously broken as he labored to breath. His eyes were closed, gashes along his side were visible and several of the armored plates were cracked. Blood dripped from his mouth, staining the dirt crimson.

[Celeste Arumen]

Celeste watched the transformation in awe. Riyana was so fluid in her morphing that it was difficult to fathom how she did it. Her mastery was supreme that she could pick and choose which elements she needed for any given situation. A sharp ache of desire flashed through her young mind. One day, she’d be that good. But for now she stood in mute fascination as her mentor entered the fray.

The creature was horrible, a grotesque combination of eyestalks and tentacles, swiveling independently upon the back of the serpent beast. Celeste cringed as it attempted to swallow Riyana whole, but relaxed visibly at the sight of Tierra. Her tawny eyes swept the area. Wait, she thought suddenly. Where was Brom? A nagging feeling began to eat at the pit of her belly. Something was wrong. Even given his sour disposition, he’d not miss a chance to fight. Especially not if his Master was in jeopardy.

As the creature moved away, her jaw fell in horror. The prone body of Brom sprawled against the stony ground. As Riyana gestured, she was already on her way, hands furling and unfurling in the fabric of her cloak. Celeste fought the rising gorge. ”Brom,” she rasped, hands hovering over his body. Asking if he were alright would be a very stupid question.

One of his back legs was very badly broken and he seemed to be losing a lot of blood. He could be bleeding internally, she thought helplessly. There was precious little she could do. Tears stung her honey brown eyes. ’What do I do?’ she thought, beginning to tremble. ’What the petch do I do?’

’Breathe.’ Her grandmother’s voice came unbidden. Mopping her eyes, she nodded. ’Be brave, little one.’

Celeste attempted to look him over again, more clinically this time. His breath was escaping in short gasps. Hastily, a plan emerged. ”Brom,” she said firmly, attempting to sense his personal sphere of djed. She leaned in, making sure she held his gaze. He was far too injured to resist, anyway. ”You are okay. Everything is fine. I’m here.”One hand rested over his heart, trying to listen to the beat. It was far too fast.

Again, she felt her djed unspooling. Celeste was starting to feel faint. ”You are okay,” she said again, using more energy this time, allowing it to wash over him. She’d wait for his heart to slow before doing anything else. Once, she’d broken her foot from falling off the roof and Grams had explained what’d happened. Hypnotism was her best bet.

Celeste was getting closer and closer to overgiving. Tears came again unbidden, but she didn’t care. Damn the stupid tears. If she didn’t keep helping, Brom would die. She scrambled around until she found what she needed, a small boulder nearly out of sight, perhaps dragged behind the beast. She snapped it up and placed it gingerly under his broken leg, trying to elevate it. That’s what Grams had done.

She was a philterer but knew very little about actual medicine. Damn it all to the web! Frantic, the girl tried to think of what else she could do. He was still bleeding and short of cauterizing his wounds (which was not happening) she could – wait. The minute the thought hit her mind, her eyes snapped shut.

As quickly and methodically as she could, she accessed the dull shine of her djed, weak and dwindling throughout. Celeste separated the two hemispheres once again, shoving them apart with unusual force. With the model in mind, she began to work from toes to nose - hastily pinching out claws with a whimper, spine shuddering downward with an unforgiving crack, joints bending in on themselves with awful pressure. It was almost painful to try and morph so quickly, but she had no time. She went from area to area, reshaping her djed until she was the mutt she’d always known.

Celeste felt so weary. She moved to Brom’s side and did the only other thing she knew how.

She began to lick his wounds.

[Mirage]

Brom coughed, blood spattering the ground as his eyes blinked open. He turned his head to look at Celeste as she licked his wounds, and he fought to speak, "Celeste... Stupid girl." He growled, blood flecking as he nudged her with his nose, "I will be fine. Help... Help Riyanna. Kill the... beast. Leave me."

He snapped at Celeste, baring his fangs and growling fiercely, looking in the direction of Riyanna and Tierra. The creature was once more baring down on the Warden as she nimbly dodged and ducked under swaying tentacles. Tierra fought to create an opening for her master, but to no avail. The creatures eyes saw everything and every action they made. Brom coughed, his sides heaving as he struggled to breath, but he found Celeste's eyes again, "Y-You... YOu have to h-help her. THe beast... is focused on th-them." A whine escaped his lips as his body shook, but his eyes remained focused, "M-make an opening for... For Riyanna to slay it."

Brom laid his head on the ground, breathing uneven. The beast had its back to them both, all its eyes focused on Tierra and Riyanna as the Warden and Initiate fought to finish the job.

[Celeste Arumen]

She heard him but continued to lap at his wounds, more concerned with the state of his well-being. It was only after he snapped that she bounded back a pace, instinctually on the defense. She turned to face the melee going on behind and paled a bit, even in her animal seeming. As much as she hated to admit it, Brom was right. Riyana hadn’t intended to drag her into the fight, but the creature left no alternative. Celeste had to step up and act as an initiate or lose it all.

Inhaling deeply, she focused on the alteration from before. ’Bigger,’ she said internally. ’I have to be bigger for this, or it won’t work.’ But she was already scraped thin. Her djed protested weakly (a very bad sign) as she took mental inventory and reached out with ethereal fingers, grasping at her energy, pulling leg joints longer, lengthening claws and strengthening her spine. Her joints creaked in protest. She felt weary, a stretched sweater, threads now devoid of the elastic energy they once had. Once satisfactorily bigger, she gasped out a breath and tried to gain some composure.

”Brom,” she called, glancing back over her shoulder. Her brown, canine eyes swam with sincerity. ”Please don’t die.”

And with that, her claws dug into the dusty, unyielding earth.

Celeste sped toward the beast, propelled forth by powerful, mile-eating strides. This larger form allowed her more muscle for speed, but more mass to inhibit it. It felt odd, harder to maintain balance. She wobbled a bit as she ran, heart hammering in her throat. Her disguises had always been for deception, personal gain. The young girl knew precious little of combat. But she was animal, even if only by form, so she let those mammalian instincts take hold. ’I am the beast,’ she told herself, ’I am not afraid.’

Even though she was. She was heart-stoppingly terrified.

Yet, a sense of curious detachment enveloped her as she leapt onto the tail, jaws open. Her legs sprawled against the curvature of its worm-like back, but her teeth found a hold, sinking into cloying, abhorrent flesh. Tears sprang to her eyes from the taste and smell of it. It was unlike anything she’d ever known.

What was to follow would go rather quickly, as if it’d happened in less than a chime.