Void Rift (rp) - Intermission

“She’s in the middle of a training session right now.”


Fenira lets out a sigh of relief.
“I’m really glad you weren’t the shoot-first type.” She says, looking towards the guardians.

As the duo approaches the door, it opens to reveal a chimeric biped with half their face stripped to the bone.
“Ah, her eyes did not fail her... hello.” It says, eyeing Crystal in particular.
He can notice the cat hanging from the ceiling, still watching him.

“Best of luck, but try not to push it too much just before your wedding.”

 

"Oh, is the cat yours?"
Crystal looks at the cat again, not seeming to mind the inhabitant of the house.

 

"Yeah yeah."

I'll head to the door.
"See ya."

 

"Where?" I ask.


"We haven't seen your kind in our forest...ever. What are you?" The girl's father asks.

 

“Her soul’s bouncing around in the trees.”


“I am Fenira, the last stonegazer hydra. Lady Gaia granted me a second chance at life here on Earth, as my old home and former family were gassed and hunted until the bitter end.”

There’s a pained scream as you leave.
“H-hey! What the hell?!”
“Go back to the hellhole you came from and let yourself fester there a while.” Arga growls.

“Technically my daughter’s, but she just keeps it around for company.”

 

I run over to the trees, jumping into the thick of them once I get near.


"Are you searching for somewhere to stay?" The girl's mother asks.

 

“No don’t... okay...”


“Yes, but I’m wary of humans. I hear dragon scale is a black market commodity.”

 

I don't come out of the trees for a while, though Ihra can't help but be tempted to see what's happening from a closer viewpoint.


"We've kept this area free from humans for years now. Every time they try to come here, we drive them out. You're safe from them here." The girl's father says reassuringly.

 

Ihra gets closer, but not much.


“What about food? I don’t want to trouble your family as much as I fear I will.”

 

After a while, Artemis and I walk out of the forest holding hands; Artemis looking a bit shaken, but happy.


"You're free to ask any of us if you're in need of food, and as long as you only hunt for yourself, there's plenty of food in this forest." The mother says happily.

 

“I know we’re pressed for time, but...”


Fenira nods.
“I appreciate it, though is there a danger to burrowing here?”

 

"I'm ready." Artemis nods, confident.


The guardians shake their heads.

"Many creatures make their homes in burrows and caves here. There's no danger." The mother says, smiling.

 

“You sure?” Ihra asks, a bit skeptical.


“Alright. I strive not to do this outside of hunting, but if you need my aid and I’m asleep, cut off one of my heads. I’ll know what to do.”

 

Artemis looks a little offended.

"Yes. I am." Artemis says, hurt.


The guardian family exchanges glances.

"I'm...sure we won't need to do that." The father says.

 

“Sorry. Let’s... either hope I can reach Praecantatia this time or you have some way to do so.” Ihra says, trying to reach out to her.


“I take it I’ll need to find someone else to cut off my head once to get me started?” Fenira asks, ignoring the strangeness of the request.

 

Artemis seems to try too, but to no result.

A portal opens in front of Ihra, however.


"Are you...feeling ok? There are dangerous mushrooms in this forest that should not be eaten." The mother asks.

 

Ihra shrugs, glancing at the two of you.
“After you?”


“I’m a hydra. It’s a hydra thing. I’m used to having five heads. Every time one head is cut off, two grow back.” Fenira sighs.

 

I snicker as I leave the store.
"Hehe.. leason learned I hope."

 

Artemis and I step through, Praecantatia waiting on the other side.

"We don't have much time, but you need to step into these machines. They'll help you for this coming battle." Praecantatia says, signalling to three cryo-pod like machines.


"Oh...would you prefer to have multiple heads then?" The father asks.

 

Ihra doesn’t even question it, walking in to one of the machines.


“Yes, three is ideal but that often doesn’t last too long.”

A one-handed man who’s missing a third of their hair sprints out past you, but everyone else seems to be out for dinner.