forum Runner's Start (Private)

Started May 19, 2019 by Deleted user

tune

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"Like I said–corrupted by Dark magic. Let's go before they leave us." Tessa lightly pushed on Runner's back to get him moving.

He stumbled slightly, but made his way over to the portal, bending over to slide through the portal. "Yeah, that probably would be best, wouldn't it."

(Oh, now it's time to finally flesh out this world. Let's see how I do…)

Instantly, the sickeningly sweet smell of the demons inhabiting the dark world overwhelmed their senses. No light reached this world, for it was clouded by heavy black clouds of ashen mist. The rolling land was dead and littered with webs. Upon closer inspection, the webs were actually holding the cracked and decaying land together. Some pieces of earth shifted and cracked some more, but didn't fall thanks to the straining webs desperately holding on. Death hung in the air.

Giant flies flew overhead. Demons skittered across the ground. These demons had the upper body of a beautiful or handsome human, and the lower body of a hideous, bulbous spider of all kinds and species. They sneered and hissed and salivated as the group walked by. Arachne kept her head up high, occasionally growling and hissing at the demons that came too close.

Runner walked through this world with a raised eyebrow, studying the things that would supposedly rip him limb from limb. They don't look that scary.

Tessa snarled at a few that got too close to her for comfort. "Don't let their looks fool you. That's to draw in their prey. The real monsters show once they have you trapped in their web."

Runner seemed to ignore her, nearly bumping shoulders with a red head. As soon as they got close, she flared her sharp, needle-like teeth that were more like crocodiles than humans.

Arachne roared and charged the redhead. They got into a squabble, and the redheaded demon scrambled away with a slight limp. "That's for disobeying my orders," the queen scoffed, heading to the middle of the group.

"It wasn't that big of deal," he said, tilting his head at the woman's response. "If she would've tried, she wouldn't have been able to do much."

"It's a matter of principle, boy," Arachne said over her shoulder. "I gave them a direct order to leave you lot alone, and she disobeyed. I am Queen here, and they are the subjects. There are consequences to disobedience."

He frowned. Diplomacy and authority were not his strong suits. "Huh. So, everyone here's out for our flesh at the moment?"

"Quite likely, yes." Arachne turned to look at him, her eight ruby red eyes bright despite the gloomy atmosphere. "It's kill or be killed here. How do you think I earned my throne?"

"Your dashing good looks?" he offered weakly, shrugging. "Asking politely? Diplomatic maneuvering?"

"She slaughtered the last queen–who slaughtered the one before her, and so on and so forth," Tessa said flatly.

"Eh," Runner said, shrugging. "I was close enough." I wonder when they'll start answering our questions.

Tessa smirked. "Yes, oh so close."

Arachne led the group to a towering castle made of black bones.

"Great devour," he pointed out sarcastically. "Vlad the Impaler would be so proud of this."

Tessa rolled her eyes. The other women chose to ignore him as they opened the great double doors and headed inside the castle. The group entered the vast main hall.

Runner spun around as they walked, taking in the what was probably the biggest room he's ever been in. "It looks a lot homey'er on the inside, I'll admit it."

"Don't be fooled, boy. This castle is built of the bones of its previous masters," Arachne said. The group stopped in the middle of the room, and Rhianon turned to face Tessa and Runner. "You may now ask your questions," she said after the boom of the large doors closing echoed through the hall.

Runner raised his hand, and didn't even bother to wait to be called on. "Who are you, how are you related to me, and why were we attacked by a horde of demons?"

Rhianon sighed and pushed off her hood.
Perhaps the most striking feature was her eyes. Instead of the typical white sclera and black pupil, hers were reversed. Her irises were also black with a white ring around them to separate them from the sclera. The black whorls continued up her sharp-edged face, highlighting her prominent cheekbones and angular bone structure. Her silky hair was as long as she was tall, and was black with natural streaks of white. The fingers that had pushed back the heavy flap of cloth bore clawed full finger rings with decorative chains. Looped around her head was a chain headpiece with real gems. Elegant earrings dangled from her delicately pointed ears that poked through her hair, betraying her Fae heritage.

"Everything will be alright, my son," Rhianon said, kneeling in front of her son as he tied his shoes. His chin quivered as he stopped mid-loop and looked up at those inverted eyes that everyone else found unnerving. 9 year old Runner just found it sad.
"W-Why do I have to go?" he asked, sniffling pitifully.
"Because bad people are coming," she said, taking one of his hands in her's. "They want to hurt you. And if your around me, they will succeed."
"Will I ever see you again?" A single tear ran down his cheek, which his mother wiped away.
"As soon as you turn 17, I will find you," she promised, planting a last kiss on his head before lightly guiding him to the portal she opened.

Hundreds of emotions balled up inside of Runner's throat, making it nearly impossible to speak. Anger she made him leave, sadness from the same, and intense relief that she was back. "M-mom." he managed to choke out. "Y-you're a little late."

Tessa raised a brow and stepped back a bit, eyes darting between Rhianon and Runner. Arachne pulled Tessa to the side and suggested giving them some space. They soon disappeared down one of the many halls.

Rhianon looked sadly at Runner. "I'm sorry," she whispered.