((No idea, why I struggled so much with this one. Not really happy, but I sure as hell couldn't wait any longer, could I
))
When she leaves the beach and the rest of their little group behind Viss feels strange. Over the last few month she had gotten used to always traveling in a group, of having the others at her back that heading out all on her own leaves her with a feeling of emptiness and even a tiny bit of fear.
At least Tessa was by her side and Viss rests a hand on the dinosaurs flank, the rough hide warm and reassuring beneath her touch.
And at the moment she can really use all the reassurance she can get, since the scene before her is nothing like she would have imagined it.
She still remembers the time when she had awoken in the peaceful grove of Melora's domain. With the godess gone, there was nothing in the least peaceful about this place. Viss thinks back to her time in the gigantic city of the Esperians, how she had hated the strict confinements they had put upon nature. How wrong it had felt. It this time, if someone had described to her a place where nature would roam free and unbound she would have thought it paradise, and she would have been terribly wrong.
There was nothing right about what was going on. Viss was surprised to realize that even her trip to the Abyss hadn't make her feel this queasy. Sure the place had been awful all around but that was how it should be. But the fact that something that should be so familiar to her, now felt more alien than the home turf of demons was what made it even worse.
For a moment she considers unleashing a burst of flames unto this abomination and just burn it all down. But she stops herself. Not only had she no idea where Curai was at the moment, for the elf was nowhere to be seen nearby and she didn't want to accidentally hurt him or worse, she also had no idea what horrors might still lurk, once she entered deeper into that green hell. Better she reserved her strength for when she might really need it.
She took a deep breath and swallowed her doubts. No choice but to move forward. Come on girl, let's see if we can find the old man. Tessa growled in agreement and together they dove into the rioting forest.
Movement wasn't easy. Viss had already stumbled and fallen over suddenly appearing roots more often than she cared for. Tessa was back in her pocket shrunk and turned into a figurine. For once the T-Rex had not protested, they hadn't even gone ten paces before it was clear that the path was not made for her large figure. Viss herself was having trouble moving forward and keeping oriented. With her surroundings changing constantly she had no way of telling whether or not she was running in circles or not.
She had tried climbing on of the higher trees hoping to maybe get an overview from its top, but as soon as she had so much as set foot on it's branches the plant had started shaking violently and thrown her off. She hadn't tried another time. It didn't help that ever since the fight in the observatory her balance was off. During the fight she hadn't paid attention when a good portion of her tail had gotten chopped off, but now as she tried to balance and tip toe her way to an area that was giving its best effort to hold her back she realized how much she had relied on her tail during every movement.
With a loud curse she falls once again. Lying on the muddy floor she spots a group of rabbits hopping by a few yards away. Struck by a sudden idea she sits up and looks around the tree tops until she spots what she is looking for. A blackbird is sitting on one of the branches nearby she reaches out to it, calling it down to her.
The bird ignores her.
Frowning Viss reaches out once more, putting a little more power in her call. Still the bird doesn't fly down to her but it does turn it's head and eyes Viss contemptibly. Before she can call it again, the creature opens its beak. Would you stop that and piss of already?
Mouth gaping Viss doesn't believe her ears. She has been talking to birds since she can remember, it had been one of the first things Curai had taught her. Never in her life had she met one that was this rude. A little arrogant or lazy, maybe, but not outright hostile.
She starts to say something, but the bird cuts her off. Save your breath lady. I'm sick of people like you thinking they can just call and we just have to obey meekly and do whatever it is you want us to do. Well guess what. I'm not playing anymore. Whatever it is you want done, do it yourself!
With that the bird tured its head away once more, leaving Viss baffled on the forest floor. After a few moments of shock she spots another bird, but before she can even start to call out, it already spoke. No use in asking me either, lady. I totally agree with the guy over there. No help from me.
Confused and even more concerned than she had already been, Viss has no other option but continue her random search through the forest.
Hours had past and she still hadn't found so much as a scent of her father. She was exhausted, covered in sweat and blood from various minor scratches. Worst of all, the rude blackbird had decided to follow her along, making crude remarks and laughing mockingly whenever she fell. At one point she had snapped and shot an arrow at the creature but in her anger had missed, earning her even more laughter.
She had been about to give up. In fact had she stumbled out of the forest by sheer coincident at that point she wouldn't have gotten back in. One had to admit when one was out their depths after all, hadn't they?
She had sunk down against the trunk of a tree to rest a moment, only to be bombarded with a volley of rotted fruit when she finally caught it. It was so faint that for a moment she believed it to be a product of her exhausted imagination, but no, now that she concentrated it grew stronger. Between all the scents of the forest, there it was, just barely, the scent that was probably the one that she was most familiar with. One she hadn't smelled in a long long time.
With new purpose Viss gets to her feet again. Following the scent isn't easy, too much it resembles the fragrance of the forest around her, but giving up was not an option anymore.
Another twenty minutes of clumsy walking finally brings her to a clearing in the forest. The scent has grown stronger with every step she took for the last few minutes. But when she looks around the clearing Curai is nowhere to be seen. Instead at its center is a small dome of plants. Roots and branches intertwined with liana and tendrils form a circular structure, pulsing with corrupted energy.
There is not a single moment of doubt in Viss' mind that Curai is in the center of the dome. Fear washes through her once more. Had she come to late. Before her inner eye pictures of the old elf, strangled and choked by plants flash and without a moment hesitation, she sets upon tearing down the plants, first with her bare hands, than transforming into various creatures with sharp claws and teeth.
Layer after layer she peels away the plants, not even sure whether or not she is making any progress. She can see the plants she has torn growing back even as she tore of another branch and she doubles her efforts.
Finally, she rips out a particular sturdy and thick branch and before her opens a gap. Ferociously she tears at it even harder and finally is able to produce a hole big enough that she is able to turn into a mouse and squeeze though.
Half imagining to find some gruesome scene inside the dome, Viss is startled by sight that is presented to her. Right in the middle of the dome is Curai, his eyes closed, a peaceful expression on his face, he is sitting with his legs crossed, humming quietly. Only when Viss turns herself back into her normal self he opens one of the eyes, smiling.
Child! What a nice surprise. What brings you here?
Exhausted Viss sinks to a sitting position herself, absolutely disarmed by the elf's calmness.
Only the end of the world, father. Only the end of the world. Still panting she goes into a detailed explanation of the recent events. Curai listens patiently his expression never changing.
... and if I'm honest. I'm not even sure that there is anything we can do against any of this. How can I fight an enemy that I don't even understand, whose pure existence shouldn't be. And besides, look was his influence has done to this place. Viss seems to shrink in her sitting position, her shoulders hanging low. I just don't think we can win this one, she finishes.
Curai still smiles at her.
Come child, let us mediate.
Meditate? Father, haven't you heard what I just said? The astral sea is being taken over by a mad, soulless, machine god that has already enslaved most of the other gods out there and you want us to mediate?
Oh, I heard you child. Now, sit straight, close your eyes, and concentrate on your breathing. Or have you forgotten everything I thought you? No? Good. Now do as I tell you and afterward, we will see what can be done about this machine god of yours.
Viss opens her mouth to protest, but the old elf had already closed his eyes and started humming again. Remembering that it was of no use to argue with him when he was like that, she does as she is told.
