InsaneJournal

Monday: September 10, 2007
Who: Theora, Adam, and Loki
When: Mid-Morning
Where: Temple grounds on Tol'Hith
What: Attack of the manticore!

Theora had spent several days confined in the temple without any food or drink. Though Elves did not need sustenance on the level that humans did her recent meditations had left her weaker than usual. She was nearing the end of her sabbatical and her spiritual energies were almost completely renewed, but that usually meant that her physical state was at its lowest. She needed a break and slowly rose to her feet to exit the temple's innermost room. Slow, steady steps were taken toward the outside where fresh air and a cool breeze would be waiting for her. Theora looked forward to it and a smile spread across her features when her eyes met the rays of the setting sun.

It was not often that Theora was distracted enough or tired enough to not be aware of her surroundings, but she was fatigued and her mind was not quick to sense the danger that approached. A manticore had been waiting patiently just outside of the temple, its bloodthirsty teeth bared and ready when the priestess emerged. It was rare for creatures to venture toward the holy soil, but this manticore had dared to step forth if only for the chance to snack upon the lovely bones of the Elven priestess. It leapt forward, a roar emanating from its throat as it prepared to sink its teeth and claws into Theora's supple flesh.

Had Theora waited a moment longer she would have certainly been devoured by the ferocious beast. But as it were the Elven priestess caught sight of the beast just as it sailed through the air toward her. Theora jumped back several feet and landed in a crouch out of the manticore's reach. She was lucky she had enough energy to do that, but Theora was not sure if she would have the strength to do more. The beast eyed her hungrily, its salivating tongue licked its lips and it almost smirked as it stared the priestess down. It was anticipating the kill and the taste of its next meal. Theora could sense its intentions and she wondered if she would be able to fend off such a dangerous creature.

"I do not wish to harm you," she said to it out loud. "But I will not hesitate to use force in order to defend myself."

The manticore crouched, ready to pounce at the weak Elf. Theora was not anything if not realistic and she knew that she did not currently have the strength or the stamina to save her own life. There was only one option left to the priestess and at the moment that the manticore made another attack, Theora surrounded herself within a protective shield. The manticore bounced off the invisible force but continued to claw at it angrily. Theora did not know how much longer her shield would hold, she only hoped that her saviors would come along to save her before it was too late.

Adam stumbled upon the scene on the temple's grounds just in time. He had been taking a short walk around the area, believing it to be safe enough to venture off from the priestess' side as long as it was only within the nearby area. The elemental had scoured the surroundings for vicious animals, but it seemed he had not been correct in his judgment that Theora would be safe without him waiting outside the temple. The beast that had approached the priestess as if she were any other snack for it to feed upon was none other than a manticore, one of the deadliest creatures on Tol'hith.

Shedding his human form, Adam shifted into his elemental body. All of his limbs transformed, altering into earth — sand, dirt, whatever the name of it, he was the earthen soil like that beneath his feet. He feared not a manticore, especially not in this form. Adam was stronger this way, and he could no doubt endure a fight with a manticore, a hybrid beast with the deformed human-like head. Surrounding the beast with his form like a thick, suffocating sheet of sand, Adam wrangled the beast to the ground and struggled with it. However, it was not as easy as that, and the elemental felt himself constantly slashed at by the animal's claws. It did not hurt him, but it rendered him mostly useless. His hold on the animal would not stay.

There was no other choice but to tear free from the beast. Adam rolled away, taking on his human form again, and jumping quickly to his feet. His clothing and hair were greatly disheveled, a visible sign of his tussle with the manticore. It wasn't over yet, though. The beast roared at him and charged. Adam did the first thing that came to mind to stall the beast, summoning forth thick, sturdy vines from the earth to coil around the manticore's limbs and cause it to tumble to the ground. Adam gritted his teeth, increasing the size of the vines and tightening their winding coils. A harsh wail entered the air, human-like in its nature, as the animal howled in pain.

Should he kill the animal? Adam had very little chance of encountering death caused by his own hands in his life so far. Though he had always believed when the moment came he could perform the necessary task, he found himself wavering as the beast cried out in pain much like a human. It was a dangerous creature, though, and it had tried to hurt Theora. Adam's fingers, stretched out and taut with tension and the power thrumming through his veins, clenched into his hands with force, the vines answering his movements and tightening a deathly grip around the beast. Bones cracked in each limb as the manticore cried out in one last harrowing wail. Finally, another snap came as its neck broke. The wails stopped. The creature ceased moving.

Releasing a heavy sigh, Adam relaxed his body. The vines fell away from the manticore, vanishing back into the earth at the beast's feet. The animal was dead, and Adam realized it was the first time he had ever actually killed anything so big. His gaze raised to Theora. "Are you all right?" Adam inquired, paying no mind to the pain in his arms, hands, and fingers from the force he used on the manticore in order to kill it. He swallowed, feeling a hollow ache inside of his stomach somewhere. "I feel . . . strange," Adam continued slowly, not liking the new feeling in the pit of his stomach.


Theora released herself from the protective shield and immediately moved to Adam's side. She knelt beside him and placed one hand on his shoulder while the other hand simply held onto his hand. "Adam..." she said quietly as she focused the last of her energies in order to heal him and ease his mind and heart. "I am fine, thanks to you. I am sorry that I was so careless." Theora's eyes reflected the sadness she felt. Some of it was for the fallen manticore, but most of it was for Adam who had just slain the beast and by his reaction he did not take it very well.

Theora did her best to assuage the hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach just by exuding her own serene aura. "You did what had to be done," she said calmly. "You did not slay the beast for sport, but for our very lives." Her hand reached up to his face to cradle it gently. "You must not let the hollow feeling inside consume you. You are good and pure, Adam. Do not forget that." Theora's green eyes were pleading with him hoping he would understand. "The manticore was crazed and it was his time to move on from this world. We shall bury it here on temple ground and give it a proper sending. I believe that will help you to move on."

Adam felt the power of Theora's healing pass through him, soothing the hurts that had not left physical marks but nonetheless left aches and pains beneath the surface of his skin. Invisible gashes, they had been, slicing into his skin. He shook his head. "No, Theora, you were not careless," he said weakly. "I was, for wandering off and leaving you alone. I should have remained outside of the temple, but I left."

Her next words comforted his heart, though, for he had slain the beast in order to protect her, not because of sport or fun. As her hand cradled his face, Adam turned to look at the priestess. There was a sad expression upon his face, but her green eyes were soothing to behold. Adam allowed the graceful Elf to hinder the strange hollow ache with her kindness and serenity. His eyes strayed to the ground, though, staring at his knees as he fought out the thoughts inside of his head and the new, unpleasant feelings they brought with them. "I will not forget that," he said softly, his words clearly imbued with his strong resolve. He nodded his head. "I would like that," Adam told her, gazing back at Theora.

The somber moment was interrupted by a sudden rustle of the bushes, and out of them burst the muse with his sword brandished in his right hand. "I 'ave come to slay the beast!" Loki exclaimed, swishing his blade expertly through the air to demonstrate his talents. "Where is it? Lead me to the monster!" Before Adam could answer him, though, Loki spotted the dead manticore and his jaw dropped. His eyes fixed themselves petulantly on the elemental. "Adam! Not again!" Loki shouted, throwing his sword down. "I told ya not to kill anymore beasts without me! Can't you ever learn to wait, for bloody sakes?"

Adam's eyes were wide and confused. He looked down at his lap sadly. "I am sorry, Loki."

"Bloody right, you're sorry!"

Turning his eyes towards Theora, Adam sought for help from the Elf to answer the distressed muse and calm Loki down before Adam felt even more worse about what had happened just moments before.

Theora smiled sweetly at Adam and stroked his cheek with her thumb just as Loki came upon the scene with sword held at the ready. The elf could not help but smile at the Muse and his reaction. Her hand slipped from Adam's face and she slowly (and a bit wobbly) rose to her feet to speak with her other protector. "Loki, time was of the essence. Adam did what he had to otherwise the manticore would have killed us both." She took a step forward and stumbled slightly, grabbing a hold of Loki for support. "You are a brave warrior regardless and I thank you. You will soon get your chance to slay a large beast."

Just as the words left Theora's mouth there was a rustling in the nearby bushes. The priestess looked toward the sound and was prepared for another attack by a fierce creature. But the only thing that emerged from the shrubbery was a small rabbit, nose wiggling quickly as it began to eat the green grass at its feet. The Elven priestess couldn't help but giggle at the scene and she wondered if her companions would find amusement in it as she did.

Loki lowered his head, feeling despondent and a little regretful of his quick words. "I'm sorry, Theora," he said sadly, much like a little child. The priestess stumbled then, worrying Loki immediately and he took her carefully by the arms to steady her. The muse couldn't help but smile at her words. They were so kind. Theora's words were always kind. "Thank you, Miss Theora!" Enveloping the elf in a hug, Loki swayed slightly with back and forth motion. He had known her for a long time now, having met her at the school, and she was always someone that he looked up to.

Just then, a bunny hopped out of the rustling bushes. Loki's head had snapped quickly towards the direction of the sound in alarm, but he sighed in relief the second he saw the small rabbit. The muse let out a hearty chuckle, and scooped Theora up into his arms. "I'll carry you, Miss Theora," he said adamantly. Well, he had to help in some way. "You need some rest. Inn't that right, Adam?"

Adam nodded in reply, getting to his feet as well and following the pair as they walked back inside to the safety of the temple.