• Closed • [Burning Mountains] Lost Girl

[Vivian Shiryu]

Continued from: Release the Beast

81st of Vhalar, 716

Vivian let out a slow breath as the Zvezbeast hauled itself away from the river. Giving it a minute to get farther away, Vivian sneezed from the cold headed to the side of the shore the beast was on. It was slower going than she liked, she was cold, tired, and hungry, but she made it to the other side and paused to catch her breath. Once she reached dry land, she paused to catch her breath before looking up at the building forest fire. "Brilliant. Damn dog..." she growled, before she started in the direction the hell hound had taken.

Fortunately, it didn't take her long to find where the beast had stopped to transform. Zvezdana was naked and covered in blood, but she was alive. "Good." she panted, pulling on what was left of her energy reserves to run up to Zvezdana and start shaking her. "Come on, Zvez, you need to wake up. This is not a good place to sleep." she said, her tone rushed and sharp. She supposed she should be nicer at the moment, but there was a fire approaching and they needed to get away from that first.

Shaking Zvezdana little harder than was probably necessary, Vivian let her tone turn sharp. "Zvezdana, wake up! We have to get out of her, unless you want to be cooked well-done!" she said, now pulling on her friends arm to start hauling her to feet. If Zvez didn't wake up, she'd just have to carry her out. Not that she was sure had the energy left to do that. "Come on, come on, COME ON!" she shouted, her voice taking a note of panic.

[Zvezdana Venora]

Zvezdana stood in the middle of a ballroom, in what felt like the warm glow of a spotlight. Everyone around her, from various aristocratic and noble house, seemed to be watching her. She loved the attention, the way the seemed to stare at her with adoration. Then it changed. Their warm looks turned sour and cold. They began to whisper to one another behind their hands, spreading lies and slander about her. The warm light suddenly felt scalding hot, like fire. Suddenly, she was surrounding by flames, the world she knew succumbing to the voracious fire. Behind the wall of spitting flame, the people merely laughed. It licked at her skin, gripping her in the location of Syroa's mark, tugging at her towards her demise. Zvezdana pulled and thrashed. Instead of succeeding, the ground crumbled away. While screaming, she fell into the darkness that seemed to engulf her.

"Come on, come on, COME ON!"

Zvezdana found herself startled awake, her lips parting into a shriek as she woke-up from the presumed nightmare. She threw her hands out, either shoving or smacking Vivian away from her without comprehension of what was going on. Her heart was racing as she tried to figure out where she was. Trees, grass, the glow on the horizon - this clearly wasn't the room she recalled being in. What had happened? A splitting headache came shortly after, and she cried out again, burying her forehead into her palms. For a few moments, she pressed against her temples and groaned, trying to get the pain to go away. When it appeared to dull a little, she peaked up only to start freaking out again.

Was that blood she was sitting in? Again, another shriek split her lips as she pushed herself backwards, scooting her bare buttocks across the forest floor. She turned to get up only to slip and fall on the tissue and fluid. She was panicking, and it was not pretty. Actually, it was quite disgusting. Again she scrambled, her bare and swollen belly dressed in rivulets of blood. Finally, she set eyes on Vivian, whom had probably approached by now with intent to calm her down.

"What happened? Where am I?"

[Vivian Shiryu]

Vivian let out a grunt as Zvezdana started flailing, hitting hard in the stomach and knocking her back. "Good morning to you too." she grunted, before watching as Zvezdana panicked at all the blood she was covered in. Standing up, she took off her cloak, damp though it was, and walked towards her friend. "Syroa happened. And one of these days, I'm going to gut that Immortal bitch for what she did to you." she said, wrapping the cloak around Zvezdana. Her tone was genuinely angry at the Immortal. She fully blamed Syroa for her friends curse and meant exactly what she said. Vivian fully planned to kill Syroa.

Looking around, Vivian started guiding Zvezdana to the river she had stood in, hoping to find a place to cross without getting in the water again. "We have to move, Zvez. It isn't safe for us here." she said as she guided them to the river. There, they came across a stroke of luck, a fallen log resting in the water. Not very wide though, which caused Vivian to grimace in exasperation. "Okay, you, up on the log." she said, her tone a clear command. Once Zvez was on the log, Vivian started to wade into the water, staying next to Zvezdana to give her friend something hang on to in order to keep her balance.

It took longer than it should have, and when they finally reached the other side of the river, Vivian collapsed to her knees. "Give...me...a...moment." she said, her voice hoarse with exhaustion. After a bit, she dragged herself to her feet and started away from the river, staying next to Zvezdana. "We need to find a place to rest." she said, her voice stronger but still showing her weariness.

[Zvezdana Venora]

Her friend draped the cloak around her shoulder. Dismay crossed Zvezdana's face when she realized the cloth was wet. It stuck to her thighs and butt, but it was better than being bit in the nipple by the biting wind. She pulled it tighter around her. Syroa? What did she have-

Realization flashed into her eyes. Not again. Oh no, please, not again. What have I done?! The Sessfiend had come out again. As a cursed woman, she was still attempting to understand exactly what damage the curse could bring. She did not exactly understand what was going on, and with each transformation, she learned something knew. Vivian would have to tell her exactly what had gone on when they found a safe place to rest. Zvezdana reluctantly followed Vivian, looking over her shoulder. Was that a forest fire? Had she done that? Nausea hit her like a wave as she numbly followed her friend towards the river and away from the fire.

It was strange to be commanded onto the log, but she had little will to fight. Her mind was bogged down with worry. How far outside of Jorick's Keep were they? What damage had she done? Where was Seira and Seriel? Her bare feet moved slowly across the wet log, one hand gripping Vivian's offered hand. She looked down at her friend, weary and cold from the river. Why had she been wet in the first place? Why was she out here with her? Soon the river gave way to the bank, and Zvezdana jumped off the long and onto the damp earth. Vivian collapsed, and Zvezdana found herself simply standing there, staring at Vivian.

What had she done?

"We will go no further. The fire cannot reach us here. Sit, rest. Tell me exactly what happened. Where is Seira and Seriel? What did-" Zvezdana bit her lip, her lower lids glistening with the thread of tears. Was Zvezdana scared?
"What did I do?"

[Vivian Shiryu]

When Zvezdana said they would rest there, Vivian nodded and collapsed back to the ground, this time going until she was laying down. She could easily drop off to sleep, but at Zvezdana's questions she opened her eyes and looked her friend. When she saw how close Zvez was to tears, she reached out and took hold of her friends hand. "Not your fault. Always remember that." she said, her tone firm before she took a breath. "The girls are fine. They were never anywhere near it. It broke the tower and ate a few people, but I distracted it before its rampage could get very far. I stole Blackwoods horse and led it into the woods, to the river here. It ate the horse, but it really hates the water." she said, before something occurred to her and made her sit up with a sudden burst of energy.

"Not just the water. It's scared of its reflection. Every time it caught a glimpse of itself it panicked and retreated from it." she said, her words coming out in a rush. After a moment though, she laid back down, still tired as a thought occurred to her. "Don't worry. It didn't hurt me. I'm just cold and tired. As long as I stayed in the river, it couldn't get to me, but I couldn't exactly afford to sleep. Not until it let you go." she said, her tone calm, but tired. "How are you feeling, Zvez? I don't know if you sleep or not when it's out." Vivian's tone was calm, but collected. She was pretty sure the beast was unlikely to come out again so soon, and now that Zvez was safe, they could try to figure out how they were going to explain her survival.

[Zvezdana Venora]

It had eaten people. The nausea was overwhelming as Vivian told her exactly what had happened. Not only had it/she eaten people, it had eaten a horse raw. So what if it was scared of water and its own reflection? Had it not been for those flaws, it would have killed Vivian! That thought alone caused Zvezdana to bolt up and rush over to the nearest bush to relieve the pressure on the stomach. The taste of bile filled her mouth as she vomited into the forest. Despite the heaving and pain that came with the vomiting, she was relieved that she did not taste blood or tissue as well. Whatever the beast had eaten had never made it to her stomach. When she was finished, she turned around and stared at Vivian.

What would she do if it/she had killed Vivian? Would she even know that she had done it? She had not remembered any part of this event, which only confirmed that every time the beast came out, she would wake up the next day having no recollection of what she had done? Whom had she killed in Andaris? Whom had she killed in Jorick's keep? The red of Vivian's cape blended with the blood on her neck and face where she had splashed around in the remains of the beast after her transformation.

"I could have killed you," Zvezdana whispered, tears beginning to flow freely down her cheeks. The beast desired those that she loved. It would not have followed one soldier out of a keep of soldiers. It was like chasing a steak over the 1 nel all-you-can-eat buffet. Vivian, Seira, Seriel, Andras? The baby? Zvezdana wrapped her arms protectively around the child that was growing within her. None of them could be near her. They would be in danger otherwise. Resolution struck her like a mountain. It crushed her for what she was going to have to do, but for once, it was the right thing to do. It was the unselfish thing to do.

"How can you be so non-chalant about this? I could have killed you!" Zvezdana found herself screaming at her friend, tucking herself down into a squat. Her eyes were red and puffy from the tears that flowed free, but her face was contorted into distress and anger. "Don't you see me for the monster that I am? Everyone else does! You follow the Rebel Queen blindly, Vivian. You stupidly gave up everything that you had - a career, a family that cared - to follow me?! That is the definition of crazy! What is crazier is that I accepted your friendship and built a lie around myself. I thought having a friend was a good idea, but what a waste that was. I can't have friends or family! They'll just turn their backs on me, backstab me or my loved ones. Elyna did after all. She drove a knife into her Uncle's neck. I thought she was my friend. Now you sit here, telling me that I ate people and a horse, with only weariness in your voice? You stupid girl!"

Hate me. I just have to make you hate me.

"You are hereby released from my services. I don't want you around me. I should have you killed for what you know about me. One day, even you will see me as a monster."

[Vivian Shiryu]

Vivian watched as the realization of what the beast had done hit Zvezdan and she ran to vomit. When her friend turned back to her, Vivian just rolled her eyes at her comment. She knew what was likely to be coming, but she had honestly hoped that Zvez would have waited until she was less tired before making the attempt. As Zvezdana's tired burst forth, Vivian could not pretend to herself that her friends words didn't sting, but the sting was lessened because she knew the cause behind them, knew how Zvez would feel about what the beast had done.

When she stoppped, Vivian sighed and hauled herself to her feet before walking over to Zvezdana. "Right, then." she said calmly, before she slapped Zvezdana across the face. "That's for thinking that pissing me off enough to let you run off on your own would actually work." she said, before pulling her friend into a hug. "You didn't do anything. And in case you forgot, I'm a soldier. And I have been since before we met. Putting my life on the line is quite literally what I do for a living. The only thing the connection between you and the dog changed was the fact that I was trying to keep you alive. If it had been anything else, I'd have jumped in just quickly, but with intent to kill." She kept her voice calm, relaxed, as comforting as she could get it as she spoke. She guessed, however, that she just sounded tired.

Letting go of Zvezdana, Vivian met her friends eyes with her own, her gaze calm, but determined. "I don't follow people blindly, Zvezdana. You were and are worthy of the vow I gave you. And you can release me from it until your voice gives out and it won't change a thing. You aren't a monster, never have been and never will be. That thing is not you, it just rides you like a damned parasite. And it's a parasite I will see removed. Besides," she said, suddenly smirking as something occurred to her. "I know how to contain it now. So you can just drop that attempt where it stands, because I have no intention of leaving you, Zvez." Vivian let go of her friend as she spoke, then ruined her attempt to appear confident by letting out a yawn. "That being said, we need to find a better place to rest. You can't go very far in that outfit and I can't go very far without sleep."

[Zvezdana Venora]

The slap was smart and well timed. Her head was jolted to the left as Vivian beat her across the right cheek with the flat of her palm. With eyes wide open, she was dragged into the soldier's arms. She had tried to kill Vivian, and in response she was getting hugged by the woman? She did not deserve such a loyal woman by her side. The tears continued to flow freely and she weakly pounded against Vivian's armor. Naked woman in a red cloak versus a soldier? It was Little Red Riding Hood was about to be eaten by the wolf, except in this story, Little Red was the wolf. With a deep sigh, she pulled away, tucking her naked and blood covered body back into the cloak. A few splashes in the river alerted to her that something else had joined them.

It was a horse, saddled and haltered. It looked alarmed, as if it had taken off with a rider to avoid whatever disaster she had caused at Jorick's Keep. It was open-mouth breathing, its eyes wide in shock; however, it remained on the one side of the river. Its rider must have been batted off by a branch he/she had not seen in the flight. Of course, this provided a great opportunity for a plan.

"My order stands Vivian. Whether you follow it or not, I cannot be beside you right now. Or Seira and Seriel. I don't want to harm you. It will come out again, and what if there is no river then? I just cannot take that risk." Zvezdana was still in a broken state of mine. She would not return, that decision had already been made. "What money do you have on you Vivian? A small sum should do. You will find my money back in my room. Take it and any belongings you find worthwhile. Do what you will with them. I'll ride to Burhan and board a ship. Tell them I ran away, or that I died. Make up some lie. If you wish to refuse my order, do me this justice. Protect Seira and Seriel and do not come looking for me."

[Vivian Shiryu]

Vivian glanced over at the horse in surprise as it arrived, then turned back to Zvezdana as she announced her intention to leave. "I'm not planning on relying on a river to contain it, Zvez." she said, before taking the reigns and handing them to her friend. "I understand that you don't feel we're safe with you, and I won't stop you if you really feel you have to do this, but..." she fell silent, then embraced Zvezdana again, her own eyes filling with tears. "I will follow you. As soon as I have what I need to contain the beast, I will come for you." she said, her voice showing her own emotional state.

Letting go of Zvezdana, Vivian wiped her eyes and grinned at her friend. "And yeah, I'll help you out. I'm still sworn to you whether you like it or not. So where you planning to head? After all, I'll have to find you once I can contain the beast. Besides, at some point we'll have to find a way to lift that curse or at least find some way to lessen its effect on your mind. I've heard there's an Immortal in the east somewhere who can control dogs or something of that nature. I figured we'll start there." she said, her tone calm but saddened as she spoke. She didn't want to see Zvezdana go, not like this, but right now it was best for her friends mental state if they were separated.

"I'll be leaving the Qe'Dreki, by the way. You'll "dead" and they...well, they weren't doing us any good anyway. Overthrowing Cassander will have to wait, I have more important things to take care of now." she said, her voice calming slightly. She had a plan, she just hoped she could safely pull it off. Perhaps by returning to her family for a short time she could get some form of clemency going.

[Zvezdana Venora]

"You'll make them believe you. Of that I am sure. You are too stubborn for it not to work." Zvezdana wondered if Vivian was right. Was there an immortal that could help them? Of course, the fact that she could control dogs made it sting. Was Zvezdana truly a dog? Some overgrown mutt with two heads? She grimaced at the thought. She may be a bitch, but she wasn't that kind of bitch. No, she would not entertain the idea. She would not go east. Not if Vivian planned to go that way. "Pursue your leads in the east then. I shall head south, maybe to Rharne, to start. Maybe someone down south can help me."

Zvezdana couldn't help but agonize over the fact that Vivian was crying over her. She reached up, wiping away a tear she had missed. They were friends, but deep down, Zvezdana felt affection for the woman. For someone so noble to stand next to her; it was endearing. Slowly, Zvezdana found herself leaning forward onto her toes, raising up just enough to get close to Vivian's face from the side. How the woman took her next action, she would not know. Zvezdana did not even know why she was compelled to do this, but it felt right. Gently, Zvezdana placed a light kiss on Vivian's left cheek. It was quick, no longer than a trill, before she rolled back onto her heels. Just as quickly as the kiss had been placed Zvezdana stepped away. It was time for her to go.

"Thank you, Vivian. For everything."