For Thine Is; Part One

[animusmods]

Characters: anyone outside of the Tower
Setting: outside
Format: any
Summary: You have been transported out of the Tower, and you must return quickly.
Warnings: psychological horror

It's pitch black here, though the ground is made of dirt and the Tower gleaming in the distance provides at least a sign that light exists somewhere. It's completely silent. It feels as if things might jump out at you--but that's probably your imagination.

Comments

[keybearer]

[Like Zelda, Riku's wireframe covers a faint, flickering image of who he is. Who he should be. And while his knowledge of what lay ouside the tower was limited, and the fact that they're risking death out here hasn't quite sank in, the pressure, the bubbling feeling inside's left him with a perpetual grimace stuck to his face. It feels as if the wireframe's squeezing him. Constricting him. Like at any minute, it'll burst at the seams...

But despite the building pressure, he manages to keep a straight face. Chin up and shoulders squared, he pulls his face into a more neutral expression. He nods, eying the tower, for once shimmering with a faint glimmer of hope...

How ironic.]

I think I'm all right. Could be a whole lot worse, anyway.

[His eyes narrow, and he kicks at a small, puny pebble.]

So what do we do know? Move as a herd?

[There's certainly strength in numbers, but what if someone gets left behind?]

[sageprincess]

['Could be a whole lot worse.' Zelda supposes that's true; any injuries they've sustained from being thrown through the fabric of reality are mostly minor in scale, and the lack of anything to be seen in their immediate vicinity can be viewed as downright peaceful in comparison to dealing with the monsters that roam the Tower at night.

Those consolations aren't very comforting, though. Zelda crosses her arms, brows furrowed into an expression of concentration.]

It is difficult to think of what else we can do. I do not like the idea of everyone running off on their own, even if time is of the essence.

[keybearer]

[Riku understands. Just because there aren't monsters crawling out of the woodwork doesn't mean they're home free. Who's to say what the terrain's like up ahead? Heck, who's to say there won't be some other kind of threat? Just because a place looks deserted doesn't mean it is.

One of his hands snaps into a fist, and he nods.]

We can't afford to soak in the scenery. I just hope the others understand that, otherwise we might get dragged down.

[He doesn't want to be so pessimistic, but stopping to pick up stragglers is sure to add an extra weight on their shoulders, even if it is the right thing.]

[sageprincess]

[She lifts a hand, resting a few fingers on the exposed silver metal of her collar. It feels like it should give her a static shock, but the sensation remains an internal thing, and she's not sure if she should be thankful for that or not.]

If everyone else is feeling the same dreadful tingling in their collars as I am, I would hope it is an easy enough concept to comprehend. Thankfully, there seem to be quite a few of us here that do not necessarily rely on magic or supernatural abilities for their strength.

[So even if it does come to that, with any luck they won't be slowed down too much. Who knows how long their wireframe bodies will last out here?]

[keybearer]

And even some of us who do use magic can still hold our own. Can't speak for everyone, but if it comes to people needing to sleep, I could probably carry someone for a while.

[Sure, this isn't his real body, and he lacks his real muscles, but at least his wireframe body reflects it. And the fact is, while they do need to hurry, they should probably avoid running themselves into the ground. It's a tough balance to strike, especially with such a huge group.]

I just wish I knew what was happening. This feeling's like nothing I've ever experienced before...

[sageprincess]

[Zelda nods, the gesture slightly exaggerated to make certain it comes across in the darkness. Riku's name is mentally filed away for future reference in case she sees someone starting to lag behind.

As for what's going on, well... the best she can offer are theories.]

... These bodies were likely never intended to leave the controlled environment of the Tower. Or perhaps our souls are reacting negatively to being exposed to a world not their own. It is difficult to say for certain for now, but regardless the end result is one I do not intend to experience first hand.

[She has fought too hard and come too far to die now.]