kiiblade

Sarah, Prompto and the Chocobos |EasilyAmused & Polarize|

Prompto did his best not to collide into the girl, but he couldn't correct his footing in time.
To the amazement of all present, Sarah managed to catch him, and in a hug no less.
"U-uh, yeah!" Prompto could scarcely get the words out. Over her head, he could see Ignis raising a skeptical brow while Noctis had a light smirk tugging at his lips. Nothing was said to embarrass him, but Prompto felt his cheeks redden.

"Sorry, I...uh...lost my footing." Laughing nervously, Prompto rubbed at his arm and managed a smile to thank the girl for the help and advice. For the rest of the journey, he took care to avoid anything that would cause him to stumble or fall.

"Higher ground would be ideal." Ignis agreed, eyeing the clearing. He appeared perfectly calm, his mind calculating the possibilities of how much space they would have to fight the creature. There were a few trees scattered about, along with plenty of rock formations varying in size. The air felt damp, and a thick fog hung close to the ground, making anything below their knees impossible to see.

"Get ready. He's here." Gladiolus motioned for Prompto to step aside. At any moment, the beast would show itself.

Prompto felt a bit of relief when Sarah went to higher ground. He didn't want her getting too close to Deadeye, and he felt she would be safer there. "You be careful too," he told the girl, giving her a thumbs up. "Remember, both eyes open! You got this."

Noctis's fingers twitched with anticipation. The closer they got, the more he could see. Scattered bones littered the ground, many resembling chocobos. Deadeye was nowhere in sight. The largest rock formation lie ahead of them. When Noctis looked closer, he saw that it was a mouth of a cave. The monster had to have been inside.

BOOM.

Or not.

Rather than reside inside of the cave as Noctis thought, Deadeye was perched atop the formation.
The jagged rocks did their work to hide him until his mighty form dropped down in the center of the clearing.
A whoosh of dirt and fog shot out around him, the ground quavering underneath his weight.
Saliva dripping from his mouth, Deadeye let out a mighty, angry roar before charging right for them.

A Land of Wonder and Nightmare

Oh wow! I had no idea they made noises like that! Kinda cute when you see it, but if I heard that in the woods I'd run for my life. Makes me wonder what (or who) he's screaming at. "Get off my lawn!"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bN4t9O3sGP0

I fell into the rabbit hole again. Have some cuteness.

A Land of Wonder and Nightmare

"Then you know where to find one?" Ghent perked up, his senses alert with anticipation. The whistle echoed into the darkness as he looked around, anxious for a tichari to answer the call. He didn't want to return empty handed. If Drust didn't kill him, Elayra would.
The call was soon answered. Ghent's breath caught in his throat when he spotted the burst of color, followed by one of the most incredible creatures he had ever seen. His imagination hadn't done it justice.
"Oh, wow..." Ghent didn't plan to speak, but his amazement escaped past his lips. He stared at the fox in wonder, marveling at its surreal, sleek -- and, undeniably cute -- appearance.
Ghent felt an undeniable urge to pet the tichari as Smaya had, at least until the crackling sound reached his ears. Thinking he would be electrocuted by its fur, he reluctantly kept his hands to himself.
Suddenly, the tichari looked right at him. Ghent swallowed, unnerved by its stare. New to interacting with a creature of Wonderland, he slowly raised his hand in a dazed sort of wave. The day just kept getting stranger.
"Huh? Oh, yeah. Right." Thanks to Smaya's reminder, Ghent lowered himself to a seated position. He hoped returning to the realm would prove less terrifying than leaving it.
"Hang tight, Margen. I need to focus us back." The sentence sounded weird to Ghent, even as he said it. He wondered if the concept of magic and ghosts would ever feel normal to him.
There was a long, heavy pause. Ghent wrapped the drawstring of his hoodie around his finger, reluctance visible on his face. He knew he needed to get back to Elayra, but he was afraid. He had every reason to fear a second round of being immobilized and emotionally tortured.
Smaya's voice put an end to his fears. Her offer was an offer to keep the souls of the dead at bay.
"You'd do that?" Ghent felt the pressure lift from his chest, his mind racing with possibilities. Aside from a Curse-ridden Drust, ghosts were his greatest concern. "Yes! Er...I mean...that would be great. I -- we -- would really appreciate it. Thank you, Smaya. Really."
Feeling an unusual sense of determination, Ghent closed his eyes and cleared his mind. His thoughts felt clearer, his worries less than before. He imagined the clearing just as he left it. The terrain, the trees, even the occasional dust motes.
With Smaya's help, he had hope they would make it out of Hollow Forest alive...but he couldn't help but fear what he may return to.

Shackles of Revenge

Encouraged by the weather and promise of seeing her best friend, Lydia quickened her pace into a brisk walk. She didn't have anything planned for the day, but plans weren't necessary with Ava. They always found something do to, even if their options were somewhat limited in the confinements of Lion's Ridge.
Exactly ten minutes after she sent the text, Lydia arrived at Ava's spectacle of a house. She took a moment to admire the current setup. With a collection of lawn ornaments and decorations, the home was certainly unique, but a good kind of unique. Kind of like Ava.
"Hey, Ava!" Lydia approached her friend, amused by how differently they dressed. With her hoodie and jeans, she was better suited for autumn, whereas Ava was fully embracing the heat of summer with her attire.
"Okay, okay, lets get this over with," Lydia joked, spreading her arms to hug the redhead. She wasn't usually one for hugs, but she learned to make an exception for her best friend.
After a quick embrace, Lydia stepped back. Fixing the bill of her baseball cap, she blew a stray piece of hair out of her eyes. She made a mental note to trim her bangs again.
"So, what's on the agenda today?" Lydia would have been fine with hanging out at the house, but she had a feeling staying indoors wasn't an option. Not with Ava. "Want to head to the park or something?"

A Land of Wonder and Nightmare

Ghent responded with a slow, thoughtful nod. An introduction in return wasn't necessary; Smaya already seemed to know who -- or what -- he was. Her eyes conveyed unimaginable anguish, but answers too. He was sure of it.
The wheels were turning in his head. If the guardian of Hollow Forest was as powerful as he hoped, maybe she could point out the nearest Safe Zone. Hopefully via a route that didn't contain ghosts.
As if reading Ghent's thoughts, a group of spirits decided to gather into an audience all around him. Each face was distinctive, and worse than the next. One was missing an eye, a few had blades still embedded into them. They were a dismal, haunting sight...and they were closing in on him.
"Don't..." Ghent’s throat tightened. He staggered back, arms raised defensively in case he should need to protect himself. Their whispers mingled together in a mess of dialog, their words lost to him.
"Don't come any closer!" Voice shrill with panic, Ghent sought out Smaya through the crowd of dead. He wanted to ask for help, but he couldn't form the words. Thankfully, he didn't have to.
With another wave of her hand, the ghosts were gone, leaving behind a rather traumatized, speechless Ghent.
Still reeling, Ghent's focus switched to the flashes and flickers of color dancing across the endless gray around them. The form of a human took shape, one he recognized as Elayra. The silhouette didn't offer a good look at her face, but she seemed to be reacting to something. To someone.
In a flash, the image of Elayra was gone, the emptiness filled only by Smaya's words.
Welcome home. Ghent shook his head in denial. This wasn't home. This was the beginning of a never ending nightmare.
“I-I'm sorry, but I really have to go back.” Fearing what was going on in his absence, Ghent locked eyes with the woman. “I don't know how I got here, but I need to find a Safe Zone. Can you help us?”

Sarah, Prompto and the Chocobos |EasilyAmused & Polarize|

That's awesome! It's really important to like what you do. Makes life easier, I'm sure! How did that go for you? Or are you still doing that? :)

Apologizes for taking so long. We've been working on moving, so things have been pretty crazy here. Hope you're having a relaxing Saturday!

Sarah, Prompto and the Chocobos |EasilyAmused & Polarize|

"Whoa!" Prompto staggered back, startled by the size of Deadeye. They were given an accurate description of the beast, but to see him in person was a shock. Impulsively, he moved his hand back to retrieve his weapon, but Ignis intervened.

Acting immediately, Ignis had grabbed the blond by the arm and ushered the others behind the nearest rock. Deadeye continued toward, oblivious to the group of hunters tracking him. The sound of his heavy footsteps shook the earth beneath their feet.
"Not yet," Ignis explained, his voice low. He peered around the rock, then waved for the others to follow. They weren't in the right position to fight, so they continued onward.

Prompto found himself at the end of the line, but he didn't mind. Being in the back allowed him to keep an eye on the others, particularly Sarah, who he couldn't help but worry about. The female showed promise during shooting practice, but that was with empty cans. Taking down Deadeye would prove difficult for even the most skilled hunters.

Up ahead, Noctis and Gladiolus compared battle plans. Thanks to Ignis, they had a general idea of what they would do, but that didn't stop them from coming up with additional ideas. Prompto could hear bits of conversation, but he offered nothing of his own. He was too busy worrying.

"S-so...what eye am I aiming for again?" Prompto ducked to avoid an overhead branch. The further into the lair they traveled, the thicker the foliage became. Deadeye had flattened a considerable amount of plant life, and his tracks left a visible, indented path.

"The right," Ignis responded, his tone calm. He was in the middle of the group, eyes ever watchful. "Don't trip. The ground is rather uneven."

Too late. Prompto tripped.

Instinctively, the blond reached to stabilize himself before he hit the ground. Unfortunately, Sarah was closest, so he toppled into her, who -- unless she was able to keep upright -- would topple into Ignis, who would crash into Gladiolus, who would ultimately crash into Noctis in a domino-like effect.

A Land of Wonder and Nightmare

Ghent trusted Elayra. He didn't know why, but he did, and her promise made his daunting task a little easier.
After a wait that threatened to feel agonizingly long, Ghent reconsidered his decision to wing it. Wonderland's version of a fox may have been different. If Elayra described what a tichari looked like, perhaps he could better imagine the creature. It was worth a try, at any rate. The image he conjured obviously wasn't working.
At least, that's what he thought.
Before Ghent got a chance to ask for a description, he was hit by something. It wasn't an object or a thought, it was a smell. A horrible smell, reminiscent of some road-kill he had the misfortune of coming across back in the city.
Resisting against the urge to gag, Ghent's eyes shot open to find the culprit.
Aside from the curious looking tendrils, there wasn't much to see. Either everything around him had changed, or the ghostly wisps were blocking his vision to what was really there.
Holding his breath, Ghent continued to wait, but with the hope that the tendrils would magically gather to form a tichari.
No such luck. Instead, the tendrils hung around, unnerving him with their too-close presence.
This isn't working. Exhaling, Ghent's skin prickled with goosebumps. He wanted to turn to see if Elayra was still with him, but he was unable. To his horror, he lost the ability to move.
"Hey, Elayra?" Ghent's heart flip-flopped. Desperate to prove his body wrong, he struggled to stand, his fears multiplying when the reality of the situation sank in. For reasons unknown, he was paralyzed, and Elayra was gone.
"Elayra?!" Ghent's panic melded into a sensation of rage, then back to fear again. The feelings he unwillingly harbored were overwhelming, clashing and fighting for dominance. Through emotion alone, he experienced what the victims before him felt, and it was more than he could take.
With no other options immediately available to him, Ghent strained to move, his breaths panicked and uneven. No matter how much he tried to focus on moving, he couldn’t budge, and he couldn't remember a single focus word.
Finally, Ghent gave up.
The tendrils seemed to take pleasure in the defeat of their victim. They sped up, colliding like the emotions tearing him apart. Ghent didn't know whether to scream out in anger or break down crying. It wouldn’t make a difference in the end. No one was there to hear.
But someone was there. Someone who offered a single word to put an end to his nightmare.
Everything seemed to go quiet. A blanket of calm fell over Ghent. He looked to see who he had to thank for the assist, and was rendered speechless at the sight of the approaching figure. The mysterious woman had an unearthly beauty about her, to the point where she didn't seem real.
Ghent wasn't sure if the woman was an illusion or a ghost. He stammered out the beginnings of a request, but he didn't have to finish. With a wave of her hand, the woman granted him mobility again.
"Don't get me wrong...I-I appreciate the help, but..." Ghent began to stand, struck by sadness in the woman's green eyes. It was a haunting kind of sorrow, one that carried over into her voice. His heart sank with the realization that she have been a victim of Hollow Forest.
Remembering himself, he took a breath and straightened. His legs felt wobbly, but he couldn’t have been more grateful to be on his feet. "Who are you?"

Shackles of Revenge

Full Name: Lydia Norah Prescott

Nickname(s): Liddy, Princess

Age: Seventeen

Appearance: Standing at 5'0", Lydia is petite in build. She has a heart-shaped face, a turned-up nose, and brown, wide-set eyes. Although it isn't the most practical for a hunter, she keeps her hair long, the length stopping just past her shoulders. Her hair is brown naturally, and she has a white stripe on the left-hand side, an oddity she was born with. 
Lydia is prone to rashes and acne. She's self-conscious of her appearance, so she tries to conceal the worst of the blemishes through the power of makeup. Although she's fascinated by makeup, she doesn't always have the most success with it. When in doubt, she turns to her best friend, Ava, for her advice and expertise. 

Distinguishing Marks: TBD

Clothes Wear: Lydia loves fashion, even if her wallet suffers the consequences. She doesn't limit herself to one style, but she does gravitate toward gothic and preppy outfits. Her current wardrobe contains a lot of black and muted tones, but her nails and jewelry often provide a splash of color.

Accessories: Silver studded earrings, a gift from her crush. She never seems to take them out, even while sleeping. She is rarely seen without a crossbody bag, and she often pairs her outfits with a hair accessory.

Weapons: TBD

Personality: As her parents can attest, Lydia has grown to become a bit of a diva in her teenage years. It isn't uncommon for her to burst into tears and throw herself on the nearest surface, Disney Princess Style. She holds a lot of resentment toward her parents due to their lifestyle, and their inflexibility surrounding it.
Despite the occasional emotional outburst, Lydia is friendly and kindhearted, but she isn't as outgoing as she once was. She became introverted due to her own misgivings about her place in society, and she shies away from social situations as a result. Her obsession with her own status has resulted in an almost constant feeling of unrest and dissatisfaction.

Major Positive Traits: Creative. Compassionate. Practical. Outspoken. Perseverant.

Major Negative Traits: Emotional. Sensitive. Stubborn. Pessimistic. Vain. Impressionable.

Physical Abilities: Lydia has dabbled in a handful of various classes throughout the duration of her education. Although she begged for ballet classes initially, her mother had other plans. Gymnastics, archery, and swimming classes took precedence instead. Thanks to these programs, Lydia is flexible, agile, and has a steady hand while shooting.

Physical Weaknesses: Strength. Or lack thereof. If you need help lifting something, she probably isn't the best person to ask. Don't expect her to be capable of reaching for things in high places, either.

Mental Weaknesses: She struggles with her own self-worth and has the tendency to overthink.

Fears: Lydia constantly stresses about the present, as well as the future. She worries that she may never get the chance at a “normal” life, and she fears for the safety of her family due to their less-than-safe profession. After an encounter with a negligent swimming instructor, Lydia also developed a fear of drowning. She also hates the dark and needs to sleep with a nightlight at all times.

Ticks and Tags: Ticks: She tugs at her hair when she's frustrated. She puffs out her cheeks she's angry, almost like a little kid. She developed a skin picking disorder (dermatillomania) in her early teens, so she picks at her own skin a lot, especially when she's stressed, upset, or over-stimulated. Which...is pretty often.

Family: Parents: Gavin and Allison Prescott

Other: Lydia loves flowers, jewelry, and thrifting for trinkets and knick-knacks. She currently boasts an impressive collection of broaches (over 120 of them) and ceramic animals (her favorites are fawns and doves).

Bio: 

---

Other Important Characters:

Jason Bennett

Name: Jason "Jace" Bennett

Age: 18

Appearance: Jason is tall, well-built, and fairly muscular from years of training and hunting. His hair is dark and styled like a mullet, with sections hanging in front of his steely blue eyes. He has a multitude of scars, the most noticeable ones are on his upper arms, which he won't hesitate to point out in case you've overlooked them.

Clothes wear: Seldom seen without his worn out leather jacket. Most days, he wears plain t-shirts, muscle shirts, and black faded jeans. Always wears combat boots, even in summer. He wears fingerless gloves a lot.

Personality: Like his father, Jason is a skilled hunter and he knows it. He welcomes a good challenge, and will only turn down a hunting job if he deems it too easy. Despite being "110% dedicated" to hunting, he still manages to have plenty of 'friends' (who he sees as fans) and often takes the lead of whatever situation he's in. He seems like a nice guy at first, but the more you get to know him, the less you're bound to like him.
In the hunting world, his overconfidence may be his downfall.

Shackles of Revenge

Thanks again for your help with my many questions, and for the wonderful suggestion that Lydia meet up with Ava. Made it so much easier to end my reply. If you need me to have Lydia arrive at Ava's so it's easier for your reply, I can edit it. I just want to make sure I left it open enough for your response. ^^

...My brain hurts from rereading my post so many times. I've probably overlooked something, so if you notice any mistakes, let me know and I shall fix them. :D