11-14-2009, 01:43 AM
For a competition in which those involved were not only encouraged to kill each other, but expected to, Sophia’s time spent on the island had been incredibly dull. Sure, she almost got completely torn apart by what she surmised to be some sort of superbear, but other than that, the healer found herself aimlessly wandering out in the woods. That was the bear’s fault, she knew, but not having a plan made her feel…worried, paranoid, vulnerable. Sophia looked at her guide as she walked—she was barely paying enough attention to keep putting one foot in front of the other, as she mulled over her thoughts in such an intense way that only Sage could pull off. The healer laughed as Sage nearly walked straight into a tree, lifting her eyes to the path ahead just in time to avoid it.
Sophia cringed. She was almost wishing for a slapstick moment just to spruce things up. She desperately needed something to happen. It was odd to think that she was one to crave adventure, but when a peaceful stroll through the woods would be sufficed for the woman when she was still a priestess, she felt that she not only wanted something exciting to happen, she needed it. Of course, she thought that then.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Sophia jumped, feeling as though her chest was about to collapse. The piercing shrill of her collar alerted not only the two woman in the woods, but everything with a pulse in the entire area. Her breathing fell into shortened bursts as she fought off the urge to tear the device off of herself—she had no idea what such an action would do, and a potentially fiery death was something she was hoping to avoid. Sophia looked back at Sage, who seemed to be having a similar “Oh my God!” moment.
Searching…Searching…
A computerized voice belted out of the collar, pulsing through her brain at a volume that would wake the dead. It was overbearing, annoying; aggressive and frank, though distinctly feminine. The healer had very little experience with technology as it was—Kaden had been trying to get her watch a few movies, for example, as it was something that she hadn’t had the pleasure to experience—so she was naturally spooked by the event. A quick shiver ran up and down her spine as she looked to the apparition for answers. Her voice shook, though she tried to mask it. “Sage? What’s happening?”
“I…don’t know,” Sage always seemed to be stumped at the most inconvenient of times.
Signal located. Beginning combat protocol.
“…combat protocol?” Sophia repeated out loud. Whatever that was, it didn’t sound good. Crossing her arms, she scrunched her eyebrows; didn’t Sage talk about something like that before? She was always hard to fully understand, but she kept saying “combat days” and “die for real.” Neither of those phrases meant anything to her, but logic told her that she would have to be fighting something. She chuckled—there was nothing like fighting a bear to prepare her “combat.” Besides, with Sage’s control over the ice element, she was confident that any battle they got into would go smoothly.
And then…a flash.
Sage was no longer there.
Instead, a familiar figure stood before her. Sophia tilted her head, her eyes ignoring the person for that moment while she took in her new surroundings. She was still in the forest, though she was obviously in a different part of it—a convenient clearing that was surrounded by a protective bubble. Sophia naturally felt the urge to reach out and touch it, but she knew that there were more pressing matters at hand, especially when she suddenly recognized who her opponent had turned out to be.
Just one thing after another…she thought, sighing and rubbing her temple tenderly. Why did it have to be her? This is so awkward…
“Speaking of awkward,” she said aloud, garnering of the attention of her friend. She had changed the color of her hair, but it was definitely Piper. The situation was almost stifling in its severity, but she knew that she would laugh about it somewhere, someday. After all, her facial expression was priceless. To someone like Sophia, who had literally gone to the afterlife and back, bad luck wasn’t such a shock anymore.
*
Sophia couldn’t help but be relieved as the “fight” went along. She knew for sure that she didn’t want to fight Piper; after all, even if they weren’t already friends, Piper had shown such physical prowess during the time they had spent together that the healer was almost afraid to cross her in any facet. The mental commands she had given her removed the “fighting” aspect from her predicament, however—an orchestration of moves rather than a brawl; a ritualistic dance rather than a bloodbath.
Of course, hitting the side of a tree was never pleasant, even with the ability to fly and a forewarning. She flexed her sore shoulder by moving her arm in small circles, fixing her hair with the other. The healer wanted to ask Piper what was going on, why they were acting out this play, but something about the way the soldier carried herself made her stay mum. Sophia had garnered several opinions on her situation judging off of collar she wore on her neck, but she had no way to be sure what was actually happening.
If someone was watching, they’d give them one heck of a show.
Sophia strolled towards her opponent, as cool in her movements as the breeze that had just rolled through the trees. She had taken upon the role of confidence, playing the stuck-up pretty girl, and when she was honest with herself, she was enjoying it.
Piper masked a smile, shooting her a telepathic message. “You’re getting into this, aren’t you?”
She had no way to communicate back without forsaking her role, so she decided to show her the old fashioned way—a half-hearted punch to her chest. Her knuckles glanced off of her ribs, miraculously if it was even felt, but Piper could prat fall with the best of them. Gasping loudly, she stumbled backwards, taking extra long to regain her balance.
“Good! Finish it with another left.” Piper thought to her. Nodding, the priestess lunged forward, smacking the woman in the nose smartly. Piper’s eyes widened as she landed soundly upon her backside. She looked up at her for a brief moment, raising an eyebrow.
“I’m so sorry!” Sophia spat, immediately raising two hands to cover her mouth, like that would take back the words she had spoken.
“Don’t be sorry. I won’t show you the same compassion, Sophia!” Piper shouted.
“Don’t be out-of-character!” she shouted telepathically simultaneous to her spoken part.
Piper rose up immediately, returning Sophia’s blow with a punch of equal velocity.
“Heh, old habits never die, do they?” Sophia said through a wince, wiping off a small trickle of blood with her thumb. “Believe me, friend or not, I’m not going to let you win. I’ll put you down myself, you stupid b…beh…” she paused—she couldn’t bring herself to curse, even if she didn’t mean it. “…mean person!”
“Is that seriously your best comeback?” Piper thought to her in disdain. Sophia vigorously fought off a smile as she wound back her fist for another clash.
Sophia cringed. She was almost wishing for a slapstick moment just to spruce things up. She desperately needed something to happen. It was odd to think that she was one to crave adventure, but when a peaceful stroll through the woods would be sufficed for the woman when she was still a priestess, she felt that she not only wanted something exciting to happen, she needed it. Of course, she thought that then.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
Sophia jumped, feeling as though her chest was about to collapse. The piercing shrill of her collar alerted not only the two woman in the woods, but everything with a pulse in the entire area. Her breathing fell into shortened bursts as she fought off the urge to tear the device off of herself—she had no idea what such an action would do, and a potentially fiery death was something she was hoping to avoid. Sophia looked back at Sage, who seemed to be having a similar “Oh my God!” moment.
Searching…Searching…
A computerized voice belted out of the collar, pulsing through her brain at a volume that would wake the dead. It was overbearing, annoying; aggressive and frank, though distinctly feminine. The healer had very little experience with technology as it was—Kaden had been trying to get her watch a few movies, for example, as it was something that she hadn’t had the pleasure to experience—so she was naturally spooked by the event. A quick shiver ran up and down her spine as she looked to the apparition for answers. Her voice shook, though she tried to mask it. “Sage? What’s happening?”
“I…don’t know,” Sage always seemed to be stumped at the most inconvenient of times.
Signal located. Beginning combat protocol.
“…combat protocol?” Sophia repeated out loud. Whatever that was, it didn’t sound good. Crossing her arms, she scrunched her eyebrows; didn’t Sage talk about something like that before? She was always hard to fully understand, but she kept saying “combat days” and “die for real.” Neither of those phrases meant anything to her, but logic told her that she would have to be fighting something. She chuckled—there was nothing like fighting a bear to prepare her “combat.” Besides, with Sage’s control over the ice element, she was confident that any battle they got into would go smoothly.
And then…a flash.
Sage was no longer there.
Instead, a familiar figure stood before her. Sophia tilted her head, her eyes ignoring the person for that moment while she took in her new surroundings. She was still in the forest, though she was obviously in a different part of it—a convenient clearing that was surrounded by a protective bubble. Sophia naturally felt the urge to reach out and touch it, but she knew that there were more pressing matters at hand, especially when she suddenly recognized who her opponent had turned out to be.
Just one thing after another…she thought, sighing and rubbing her temple tenderly. Why did it have to be her? This is so awkward…
“Speaking of awkward,” she said aloud, garnering of the attention of her friend. She had changed the color of her hair, but it was definitely Piper. The situation was almost stifling in its severity, but she knew that she would laugh about it somewhere, someday. After all, her facial expression was priceless. To someone like Sophia, who had literally gone to the afterlife and back, bad luck wasn’t such a shock anymore.
*
Sophia couldn’t help but be relieved as the “fight” went along. She knew for sure that she didn’t want to fight Piper; after all, even if they weren’t already friends, Piper had shown such physical prowess during the time they had spent together that the healer was almost afraid to cross her in any facet. The mental commands she had given her removed the “fighting” aspect from her predicament, however—an orchestration of moves rather than a brawl; a ritualistic dance rather than a bloodbath.
Of course, hitting the side of a tree was never pleasant, even with the ability to fly and a forewarning. She flexed her sore shoulder by moving her arm in small circles, fixing her hair with the other. The healer wanted to ask Piper what was going on, why they were acting out this play, but something about the way the soldier carried herself made her stay mum. Sophia had garnered several opinions on her situation judging off of collar she wore on her neck, but she had no way to be sure what was actually happening.
If someone was watching, they’d give them one heck of a show.
Sophia strolled towards her opponent, as cool in her movements as the breeze that had just rolled through the trees. She had taken upon the role of confidence, playing the stuck-up pretty girl, and when she was honest with herself, she was enjoying it.
Piper masked a smile, shooting her a telepathic message. “You’re getting into this, aren’t you?”
She had no way to communicate back without forsaking her role, so she decided to show her the old fashioned way—a half-hearted punch to her chest. Her knuckles glanced off of her ribs, miraculously if it was even felt, but Piper could prat fall with the best of them. Gasping loudly, she stumbled backwards, taking extra long to regain her balance.
“Good! Finish it with another left.” Piper thought to her. Nodding, the priestess lunged forward, smacking the woman in the nose smartly. Piper’s eyes widened as she landed soundly upon her backside. She looked up at her for a brief moment, raising an eyebrow.
“I’m so sorry!” Sophia spat, immediately raising two hands to cover her mouth, like that would take back the words she had spoken.
“Don’t be sorry. I won’t show you the same compassion, Sophia!” Piper shouted.
“Don’t be out-of-character!” she shouted telepathically simultaneous to her spoken part.
Piper rose up immediately, returning Sophia’s blow with a punch of equal velocity.
“Heh, old habits never die, do they?” Sophia said through a wince, wiping off a small trickle of blood with her thumb. “Believe me, friend or not, I’m not going to let you win. I’ll put you down myself, you stupid b…beh…” she paused—she couldn’t bring herself to curse, even if she didn’t mean it. “…mean person!”
“Is that seriously your best comeback?” Piper thought to her in disdain. Sophia vigorously fought off a smile as she wound back her fist for another clash.