12-17-2004, 05:24 AM
T'was too long:
The half-breed girl moved through the valley of rocks and grass. She climbed over low mounds of dirt and rocks, getting scratched and dirty, but never stopping. She continued on, with no food or water. She would get something when she got to where she was going, until then she would put up with the hunger and the dry feeling in her mouth.
She walked through the wet terrain; the rain had washed through most of the land. It was muddy and slippery, she fell a few times causing her clothing and legs to get covered in mud. She pushed herself the whole way; the journey was tiring and took a lot out of her. Loch moved through more dangerous areas, such as The Innothar Swamp. She had to travel though the dangerous bog, in order to get to the ?No Man?s? land.
She entered it and rested for a moment. The sun hid behind grey clouds for most of the day, and the trees that surrounded the swamp hid most of the light. She moved through the damp dangerous place, watching for anything dangerous. She stepped on something, and suddenly jumped as it moved. A crocodile immerged from the swamp like water and snapped at her, she moved just in time and leapt over the creature. She decided to get out of there fast. She dodged and leapt over pools of swamp water and swamp monsters, her feet trotting fast until she was stumbling onto clean soft grass.
Loch sighed and looked back, everything was beginning to set. The clouds drifted away and gave way to an orange blue like sky, evening come on fast, by the time the sun was setting, and Loch was collapsing onto the ground by a large tree. She had traveled through the valley and swamp and finally looked through some brush to see a few houses. She sighed, knowing this was not Llyn Barfog, but perhaps it was Llyn Barnog? She stood up, with the help of the tree she had fallen by. She looked further through the brush to see more houses, she was still a while away, but could make out the small town. Just a while away was another town, and far to the north was a larger area that seemed dark and evil. She pressed through the bushes and looked down the short hill, to the east there seemed a misty forest, she must have come in the easy way.
As she traveled further down she saw a sign saying the misty forest had been the other part of the Innothar Swamp. She was beginning to enter the barren land that was Innothar, it was dark and seemed so dead. Loch was tired but she kept moving. If she made it past Llyn Barnog and made it to Llyn Bargorn, maybe she could find an Inn and sleep there, and then head into Llyn Barfog.
She passed the small town, it was quiet with sleep. She heard that this town was the safest, and it held great herbs. She moved past the town, not wanting to arouse anything, or anyone. She soon made her way on the path to the next town; she made little noise while making it through the night. Her feet soon touched the cold moist cobble stone. She looked into the dark street that lead into the cold evil town, Llyn Bargorn was more dangerous than any other town she had ever been to, and she was planning on finding a place to lodge.
She walked into the shadows and darkness, her eyes looking for any source of light. Loch sighed; there was no sign of light anywhere. It was as if the dark gloomy town was deserted. She walked down the road and into an ally, the sound of dripping water echoed through the long lane.
The Halfling climb onto a bunch of barrels and leapt onto the roof of a house, it seemed safe enough for the night. It was clean, just a bit damp. Loch curled up on the dark roof and covered up with her cloak. She sighed and tried to put herself to sleep. The wind blew cold against her, and she did sleep, but it was a cold restless one. She shivered and dreamt dark dreams, obviously because of the environment. She slept for a few hours and awoke shaking and looking around herself. The sky was still dark, she wondered if it ever turned day around this place. It was so depressing, and she could feel the darkness clinging to her. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and woke herself up; she decided to just keep going.
The feline girl leapt off the roof and landed silently on the ground, it was cold still. She started to make her way through the town, toward the center of Innothar, Llyn Barfog. She would make it there soon, she felt full of new energy, and she traveled quickly through the land between the town and the destination. She heard howls and cries, like people being tortured in the shadows. Her eyes looked from one way to the other. She hadn?t met one person, not a thing. Perhaps once she got to the town she would find someone.
The area grew lightly foggy, but she could still see well. She walked further, until stumbling over something. The Halfling looked down to see the bloody face of a man; she jumped back and stumbled over another one. She fell down and looked at the bodies? with wide eyes. Obviously she didn?t get there first. Loch picked herself up and walked into the town gates.
Loch walked into the town, it seemed cold and quit. She could feel the presence of others, she was sure that when day broke things would liven up, but at night time the bad guys came out to play. She drew her dagger and continued to walk, she had to wait a while until the day began, and then she would wait for the others and what would come next. She walked further until she saw what looked to be a town square. She stopped when suddenly a black figure jumped in front of her.
?What do we have here, a pretty little diamond?? the creaky voice sounded, its head twisted to one side and its body was scrawny like an edgy shadow. It had red creepy eyes that seemed to sparkle at her; it advanced on her, long stick like legs moving forward, while long thin arms held forward like it wanted to grab at Loch. The girl stepped back and held up her dagger. ?Pretty girls should play with dolls, and little boys should play with dogs, what is a child like you doing with such a dangerous thing? Methinks you ought to hand it over little one.? Loch hissed and growled whatever this thing was; it was dealing with the wrong person.
But then, it cackled softly, there seemed to be more of them. Loch looked around, there were at least five. The first one continued, ?Come now girlie, pretty thing, don?t be afraid.? He cackled and Loch felt cold hands grabbing at her, the scratchy fingers pinched and poked at her flesh, they grabbed and felt her clothing. Loch swiped and slashed at them, but they were too fast. She growled and looked every which way, their giggles and chuckles making her angry. She jumped at one but it moved out of the way, another one jumped on her back and she cried out. She shook it off and backed up into a wall.
The 5 demons advanced on her, they voices chattered and chanted. She ignored them and started to focus, she had to attack them with smarts. She leapt at one and it moved out of the way, and then she leapt at another. She watched their movements and began to move in her own way. She moved with smooth movements, like she was dancing at the same time. When one demon jumped, she jumped the other way and caught one of guard. Her dagger tore deep into its back and it cried out. Black liquid gushed down Loch?s arm and it burned her flesh. She cried out and let go of her dagger. It fell to the floor and the sound echoed throughout the area.
The shadowy figure fell with a groan and twitched, until finally growing still. The other figures hushed and seemed to group. Loch held her hand and arm out. She looked down at it, it shook from pain, and the pain was like nothing she had ever felt. The pain made her want to rip her arm off, but she tried her best to ignore it. She wrapped it up with a part of her cloak and picked up her dagger. The other demons seemed to be scared, they screeched when Loch turned to face them, and they fled away.
Loch breathed heavily and sat down on the edge of the square fountain. Water bubbled softly and Loch calmed herself down. She sheathed her dagger and unwrapped the cloak from around her arm, it was sticky from the blood from the demon, and she dipped her arm into the water and felt the cool liquid come over the burning sensation. It didn?t heal it, but it helped. She sighed and wrapped up her shaking arm again. The blood had left patch like stains against her arm, and she wondered if they would go away.
She looked around her, the place was quite, save for the sound of the fountain. Loch moved from the edge of the fountain to the ground where it was placed. She sat against it with her knees up; she rested her wrapped arm on her knees and rested her head against her arm. She wasn?t tired, but she still had to wait. She still didn?t know what she was to wait for; perhaps she was waiting for day. She hummed softly to herself in the silence, she hoped she didn?t have to wait long, she hoped nothing attacked her again. Next time she wouldn?t get a demon?s blood on her arm, it had really hurt. She rubbed her arm and continued waiting, waiting for what she hoped was worth looking forward to.
The half-breed girl moved through the valley of rocks and grass. She climbed over low mounds of dirt and rocks, getting scratched and dirty, but never stopping. She continued on, with no food or water. She would get something when she got to where she was going, until then she would put up with the hunger and the dry feeling in her mouth.
She walked through the wet terrain; the rain had washed through most of the land. It was muddy and slippery, she fell a few times causing her clothing and legs to get covered in mud. She pushed herself the whole way; the journey was tiring and took a lot out of her. Loch moved through more dangerous areas, such as The Innothar Swamp. She had to travel though the dangerous bog, in order to get to the ?No Man?s? land.
She entered it and rested for a moment. The sun hid behind grey clouds for most of the day, and the trees that surrounded the swamp hid most of the light. She moved through the damp dangerous place, watching for anything dangerous. She stepped on something, and suddenly jumped as it moved. A crocodile immerged from the swamp like water and snapped at her, she moved just in time and leapt over the creature. She decided to get out of there fast. She dodged and leapt over pools of swamp water and swamp monsters, her feet trotting fast until she was stumbling onto clean soft grass.
Loch sighed and looked back, everything was beginning to set. The clouds drifted away and gave way to an orange blue like sky, evening come on fast, by the time the sun was setting, and Loch was collapsing onto the ground by a large tree. She had traveled through the valley and swamp and finally looked through some brush to see a few houses. She sighed, knowing this was not Llyn Barfog, but perhaps it was Llyn Barnog? She stood up, with the help of the tree she had fallen by. She looked further through the brush to see more houses, she was still a while away, but could make out the small town. Just a while away was another town, and far to the north was a larger area that seemed dark and evil. She pressed through the bushes and looked down the short hill, to the east there seemed a misty forest, she must have come in the easy way.
As she traveled further down she saw a sign saying the misty forest had been the other part of the Innothar Swamp. She was beginning to enter the barren land that was Innothar, it was dark and seemed so dead. Loch was tired but she kept moving. If she made it past Llyn Barnog and made it to Llyn Bargorn, maybe she could find an Inn and sleep there, and then head into Llyn Barfog.
She passed the small town, it was quiet with sleep. She heard that this town was the safest, and it held great herbs. She moved past the town, not wanting to arouse anything, or anyone. She soon made her way on the path to the next town; she made little noise while making it through the night. Her feet soon touched the cold moist cobble stone. She looked into the dark street that lead into the cold evil town, Llyn Bargorn was more dangerous than any other town she had ever been to, and she was planning on finding a place to lodge.
She walked into the shadows and darkness, her eyes looking for any source of light. Loch sighed; there was no sign of light anywhere. It was as if the dark gloomy town was deserted. She walked down the road and into an ally, the sound of dripping water echoed through the long lane.
The Halfling climb onto a bunch of barrels and leapt onto the roof of a house, it seemed safe enough for the night. It was clean, just a bit damp. Loch curled up on the dark roof and covered up with her cloak. She sighed and tried to put herself to sleep. The wind blew cold against her, and she did sleep, but it was a cold restless one. She shivered and dreamt dark dreams, obviously because of the environment. She slept for a few hours and awoke shaking and looking around herself. The sky was still dark, she wondered if it ever turned day around this place. It was so depressing, and she could feel the darkness clinging to her. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and woke herself up; she decided to just keep going.
The feline girl leapt off the roof and landed silently on the ground, it was cold still. She started to make her way through the town, toward the center of Innothar, Llyn Barfog. She would make it there soon, she felt full of new energy, and she traveled quickly through the land between the town and the destination. She heard howls and cries, like people being tortured in the shadows. Her eyes looked from one way to the other. She hadn?t met one person, not a thing. Perhaps once she got to the town she would find someone.
The area grew lightly foggy, but she could still see well. She walked further, until stumbling over something. The Halfling looked down to see the bloody face of a man; she jumped back and stumbled over another one. She fell down and looked at the bodies? with wide eyes. Obviously she didn?t get there first. Loch picked herself up and walked into the town gates.
Loch walked into the town, it seemed cold and quit. She could feel the presence of others, she was sure that when day broke things would liven up, but at night time the bad guys came out to play. She drew her dagger and continued to walk, she had to wait a while until the day began, and then she would wait for the others and what would come next. She walked further until she saw what looked to be a town square. She stopped when suddenly a black figure jumped in front of her.
?What do we have here, a pretty little diamond?? the creaky voice sounded, its head twisted to one side and its body was scrawny like an edgy shadow. It had red creepy eyes that seemed to sparkle at her; it advanced on her, long stick like legs moving forward, while long thin arms held forward like it wanted to grab at Loch. The girl stepped back and held up her dagger. ?Pretty girls should play with dolls, and little boys should play with dogs, what is a child like you doing with such a dangerous thing? Methinks you ought to hand it over little one.? Loch hissed and growled whatever this thing was; it was dealing with the wrong person.
But then, it cackled softly, there seemed to be more of them. Loch looked around, there were at least five. The first one continued, ?Come now girlie, pretty thing, don?t be afraid.? He cackled and Loch felt cold hands grabbing at her, the scratchy fingers pinched and poked at her flesh, they grabbed and felt her clothing. Loch swiped and slashed at them, but they were too fast. She growled and looked every which way, their giggles and chuckles making her angry. She jumped at one but it moved out of the way, another one jumped on her back and she cried out. She shook it off and backed up into a wall.
The 5 demons advanced on her, they voices chattered and chanted. She ignored them and started to focus, she had to attack them with smarts. She leapt at one and it moved out of the way, and then she leapt at another. She watched their movements and began to move in her own way. She moved with smooth movements, like she was dancing at the same time. When one demon jumped, she jumped the other way and caught one of guard. Her dagger tore deep into its back and it cried out. Black liquid gushed down Loch?s arm and it burned her flesh. She cried out and let go of her dagger. It fell to the floor and the sound echoed throughout the area.
The shadowy figure fell with a groan and twitched, until finally growing still. The other figures hushed and seemed to group. Loch held her hand and arm out. She looked down at it, it shook from pain, and the pain was like nothing she had ever felt. The pain made her want to rip her arm off, but she tried her best to ignore it. She wrapped it up with a part of her cloak and picked up her dagger. The other demons seemed to be scared, they screeched when Loch turned to face them, and they fled away.
Loch breathed heavily and sat down on the edge of the square fountain. Water bubbled softly and Loch calmed herself down. She sheathed her dagger and unwrapped the cloak from around her arm, it was sticky from the blood from the demon, and she dipped her arm into the water and felt the cool liquid come over the burning sensation. It didn?t heal it, but it helped. She sighed and wrapped up her shaking arm again. The blood had left patch like stains against her arm, and she wondered if they would go away.
She looked around her, the place was quite, save for the sound of the fountain. Loch moved from the edge of the fountain to the ground where it was placed. She sat against it with her knees up; she rested her wrapped arm on her knees and rested her head against her arm. She wasn?t tired, but she still had to wait. She still didn?t know what she was to wait for; perhaps she was waiting for day. She hummed softly to herself in the silence, she hoped she didn?t have to wait long, she hoped nothing attacked her again. Next time she wouldn?t get a demon?s blood on her arm, it had really hurt. She rubbed her arm and continued waiting, waiting for what she hoped was worth looking forward to.
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DA08 Winner. "Screw them, this was her show now."