M O O N L I G H T [SLAUGHTER]

[Echo Faust]

Darkness has long since shadowed the sky with it's omnipresence, the moon shining as brightly as it ever could; it's beams breaking through the branches of these woodworks, scattering bits and pieces of this vast wilderness with much needed light. Without the moon, this deep within the forest, you might as well be walking with your eyes shut for it wouldn't help if they were open. There are no landmarks you can use to know which way you are headed or where you are within this organic maze, no familiar turns or symbols for you to find your way back home. To make things even more lonely, there just isn't any signs of life out here for no animals can be heard scurrying through the bushes - no sounds coming from anything foreign. As dead as the night, the silence ringing as loudly as running waterfalls, anyone would know that there is something very strange about this painted picture.

What many do not know, for only few have seen, is that somewhere deep within this forest there is a small spring. Granted, there are many small bodies of water here and there that travelers have stumbled upon throughout the years. Running rivers and small ponds with life within them are not that strange of an occurrence here in this Minish wilderness, but this spring is something many possibly couldn't conjure up inside of their minds. It's water, as still as the empty night sky, is a perfect mirror that reflects all the light and imagery cast into it. There is no current to flood the reflection with ripples, no floating plant-life to occlude it's picture. All it is, all it seems to be, is a natural mirror made to shine back a picture into the eye's of those who happen to look into it.

It is there, in this unique occurrence within this place, that a female sits on a rock a foot or two away from the spring. With her head places within her hands, her hands wrapped around her cheeks gently, she gives a bored expression to the body of water in front of her. A listless gesture from a bored and brutal mind; so filled with subtle hate, the flowers around these parts might just wither up and die! Perhaps this sight, this female, is a much stranger sight than such a picture-esque spring sitting underneath the moon light. One could only fathom what a young girl like her, dressed the way she is, is doing out here all by herself! Had she run away from her house and home? Is she an insomniac just looking to pass the time? Could she just be a figment of whoever's imagination that crosses paths with this spring and it's denizen? Or perhaps this female, this lonesome creature, is the sickly feeling that has spread across the night.

[Slaughter]

This was not good. It appeared the little blonde belle travelling from her little hole she called home to who knows where, had gotten herself lost. And so here it was, her first huge mistake that would most probably cost her her life. She had let her stuborn demeanor outweigh all reason and denied the man she met ealier's offering to pay for a room at the nearest inn. And now it was dark, and she was in no place any eighteen year old damsel should be when darkness falls.

It appeared that she had taken the wrong path after leaving the village and had stumbled into what looked like a very deep forest. The trees and plant life were dense, and she was certain they just had to be filled with all sorts of creatures that she did not want to tangle with. Her dry, pink lips began to quiver and she could not stifle a low whimpering noise building up in the back of her throat. Her hand taveled to her katana, a rare treasure given to her by her father. It was the only form of protection he had left her with, and now it was time to fend for her own safety and put herself to the test.

"Come get me, you monsters. I'll rip your bloody eyelids off . . ." she whispered, trying desperately to build up adrenaline. Not that she needed it; she would spend all night trying to make her way out of this forest if she had to. Sure, she was just a dainty young woman, but even a creature as innocent looking as she can turn into a murder machine with a one track mind when their life is threatened. She scanned her surroundings as she she continued to move forward. The lack sleep hardly perturbed her at this point. There really wasn't much point in going to sleep if you know you'll never wake up from it.

It wasn't but a few moments later that the girl felt something brush up against her backside. Within milliseconds it began to tug fiercely at her dress.
"Hah-hah-Aaaaayiiiiiieeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!! In the name of the great Oocca Lord I won't be defeated!!" With that, Slaughter pulled her katana out from its sheath in a flourish and began hacking. She opened her eyes without even realizing she had closed them in the first place. "I'm not dead," she said quietly, breathing a sigh of relief.
Her victory high was of course cut short, after seeing that the culprit was only a tree branch that had snagged the back of her tattered dress.
She reflexively put a cupped hand to her mouth in a futile effort to mute herself, as if somehow it would reverse her prior shrieks.
Great! As if I wasn't noticable already wearing white garments. This can't be good!

[Echo Faust]

The sounds of screaming could be heard echoing throughout the forest, bouncing off of everything it could for as long as it could survive before disappearing underneath the deafening silence. The sounds of rustling could be heard all around, perhaps there are animals in this part of the woods; they didn't seem to take too kindly to being rudely awakened by such a loud noise - especially one from such a predator! Though, as quickly as the noises came, they vanished; the creatures having fled this area, trying to get far away from such a strange existence!

The hollow eyes of the female who sits by the sping slowly raise up and peer into the direction where the screaming once came. With those eyes hidden behind her bangs, her form lurched forward as if it can barely support her own wait, she decides not to make any movements towards the sounds of another for the time being; she thought, soon enough by the sounds of it, she'd have similar company to the likes of her. Psh, she couldn't help but think what sort of moron would be out here at a time like this! By the way that scream came out, she could only wonder what is going through the mind of that young female who shrieked like no other. It wouldn't matter, she guesses, it isn't like she'll have to worry about her own life for much longer. A hint of remorse ran through her, just a tiny hint though, the rest of her being consumed by a delighted feeling to know someone has met their untimely end to the hands of Mother Nature herself. One less person in this world that should exist, she thinks to herself; she's just a tad bit let down she herself couldn't have had the opportunity to scare the life out of the poor victim. Oh well, maybe next time! It isn't like she doesn't have all the time in the world or anything.

[Slaughter]

Slaughter did her best to stay composed as she trudged through the forest in the middle of the night. There was no denying she had awoken the life among the trees and the brush, and it was only a matter of time before something came chasing after her. This was no good! This was just no good at all! She had come all this way, and gone through all that labor burying her father and travelling from home, just to end up with him in the afterlife less than 48 hours later?! All of this was just too macabre for the young girl to bear. And so she did what any other young, scared young woman would do.

Run, baby pony!! Run!!!

"somebodyhelpmesomebodyhelpmesomebodyhelpme" she panted desperately as she sprinted through the forest, wincing as branches and twigs scratched her face and exposed shoulders and legs as she ran past. The minor lacerations were nothing when you had the fear of god (well, actually monsters, and the minish, and poes!) in you. She could feel tears beginning to well up behind her eyelids; she was exhausted and it seemed this forest could go on for miles. Every slight rumble or growl or crunch in the grass sent a chill down her spine and kept propelling her forward until finally she reached a spring. It wasn't much, but it was a clearing where she could at least see with the moonlight reflected on the water.

She immediately collapsed onto the ground, gasping for air. She closed her eyes tight, and began to mumble to herself, as if wishing it all away would make any difference.

[Echo Faust]

Through the brush and the trees came the blonde haired female like a bat out of hell, her dress and her skin all torn up to bits. Where Echo was sitting she could see the female in what little glory she had left in her, studying the other's demeanor before watching her collapse to the floor like a rock; she didn't say anything, she didn't move. Had the other one not seen her there by that spring? Perhaps all the adrenaline clouded her vision, perhaps the darkness did a good job at hiding one of it's own. Whatever the case may be, for it didn't matter, it would appear that Echo was wrong to assume that the forest got the one who had been screaming earlier for this had to be that one. Oh, poor thing, how she is going to wish she had been mauled alive by a creature by the time she realizes what it is she just stumbled upon.

Quietly, as silent as the world around her, Echo moves from the rock and over to the female gracefully almost as if she is floating just an inch above the ground (for, in reality, that is what she is doing). Toes gently bend to the ground, her feet placed by the other's head as her upper body leans forward to allow her to peer down into the face of her victim. With her head tilted to the side, hair hanging elegantly like a curtain to block the other's view from the outside world when her eyes decide to wake. A small smile curves on Echo's lips, her fingers laced behind her back as she quietly watches this one, anxiously awaiting what is to come next.

[Slaughter]

Slaughter let out a startled gasp upon acknowledging the other female, and was immediately back up on her feet. Her hands instintively reached for her weapon, but fell short at the very last moment. "I'm s-sorry," she said breathlessly, heart palpitating like a ticking time bomb. "I didn't realize there was somebody else h-here." The frenzied young female couldn't help but relax just a bit after giving the stranger a once over; this girl didn't look like she was any harm at all barely standing a few inches taller than Slaughter herself! "Are you lost too?" she asked, a genuine sense of empathy beginning to surface. She knew herself how scary it was to be alone out here, and this girl looked even more defenseless than she! Normally a precocious girl, Slaughter could help but feel helpless in such a situation such as this. She could only imagine how the other girl was feeling. Or perhaps the girl was from this area and wasn't lost at all. Perhaps she knew a way to get out! Either thought was slightly comforting, and she was at least glad not to be alone in that forest anymore. She couldn't help but smile a bit.

[Echo Faust]

The other's initial reaction is exactly what Echo was expecting, yet the sudden sense of empathy and care that came from the other female completely took her for a spin. She supposes that the other's actions aren't that out of the blue, for it is normal for any creature to be kind to it's own - especially if they're in the same situation and likeliness and whatever else have you. Though, as the words spilled out of the other female, Echo didn't put a word in edge wise. All she did, once the other female stood up on their feet, is take a couple of steps back and look at the other with the same crooked smile on her lips.

Underneath the shade of the trees, far from the light the moon is casting down on the other female and the limited area around her, the only thing that kept her figure showing is the placement of those bright eyes that shine through and pierce the night. Endlessly looking into the other female, wandering up and down the other's frame every other moment when they weren't looking deep into the other's soul through their eyes. Echo isn't trying to intimidate the other with such an ugly look, she just couldn't help but take in the moment of having her game run right into her lap; it isn't everyday that she can decide to be lethargic and still have time to do what she does best!

[Slaughter]

Slaughter was just a bit put off when the girl did not answer her. Perhaps she did not hear her, but it was more likely that she was ignoring her. It was important to note, however, that she did not seem very friendly-- which was not a good sign. "Sorry for bothering you then." Although such words are typically accompanied by motions to leave, Slaughter wasn't exactly in a hurry to go back into the pitch black forest. Besides, this girl hardly looked like she could put up a fight in her frilly little dress, so even if she did attack her, Slaughter was sure she could take her if she proved to be malicious. Or at least put up more of a fight than she could against a swarm of Minish critters. But Slaughter couldn't let her true feelings show; she could not show her fear.

Daddy always said to smile even if you have tears in your eyes.

So she resumed a comfortable position on the ground once more and procedeed to pull out a tiny satchel she had attached to her waist, carefully situated by her katana. She began to dig inside the delicate little thing, until she found what she was looking for: bandages. It would be best to tend to her wounds and prepare herself in the moon's light if she had to go back into the forest.

[Echo Faust]

Echo silently watches the other with the expression on her face unchanging; it didn't help that where she stood, far from the light of the moon, the only thing that vibrantly shined out from her form are those pearly white teeth of hers that seem so inhumanly sharp. Those eyes of hers watch the other bandage herself carefully, focusing on all the little drops of blood running down the other's delicate form; she couldn't help but feel something course through her, the idea of having such content within you is completely overwhelming her. How nice it must be to be filled with such life, how delicious it could be to rip her inside out and drink from the pool of blood collected in her chest cavity as if it were something sacred. The idea of the other's ribs protruding out with such a large pool of blood residing within like some sort of gothic goblet almost brought the girl to cackle; she somehow holds it in.

Echo didn't notice how close she is to the mirror-esque spring of water just off to her side; she didn't realize that if the other had paid just a bit more attention, if she should so stumble upon the sight, that Echo's body didn't reflect in the pool of water - that it didn't exist in it at all!

[Slaughter]

The silence was weird, but moreso excruciatingly awkward.

Slaughter saw the strange looking girl peering at her through her peripheral vision, and while erratic, it wasn't necessarily threatening behavior, so she simply continued doing what she was doing. She wished so much that the girl was not here and that she could take just a small nap--she was absolutely exhausted! But perhaps this was a blessing in disguise. It wouldn't have been a good idea to let her guard down in this forest to begin with, who knows what could pop out in the dead of night! In fact, it would probably be best if Slaughter left sooner rather than later. Sure, this girl might look fraile and weak, but one could never be too sure what with all of this shape shifters and deceptive monsters this world was teeming with.
Just the thought made a nervous tingle run down her spine, and she began to wrap her legs more quickly. Never before had she felt so helpless, so lost. Here she was risking her life simply because she didn't know what else to do with it. She could not stay put where she once was forever, but she had no idea where to go. This was crazy, it was torturous; perhaps if she died it would be the best thing for her.

She shook her head, desperately trying to expel the bad thoughts from her head. She could not, no matter what, keep thinking this way. She had to make it through!

[Echo Faust]

Suddenly, without warning, Echo would appear behind the other female just off to the side. Leaning forward, her lips part to speak an eerily whisper into the other's mind. "You look lost, little girl." she speaks without an inch of care, her words strung along as if she is telling some sort of sick joke. She couldn't help but take in the sweat dripping down the other's face; how the back of her neck is drenched in it. Oh, how the butterflies in her pseudo-stomach began to act up at the sight of this. Let's not forget how her memory, the little that isn't draped in a cloud of madness, reflects on the smell of blood; oh, she can only simply conjure up an idea of the wonderful scent coming from this poor little girl in front of her.

Rearing back so that her upper body is in an upright position once more, she tilts her head to the side dramatically as a single eye peeps out behind her bangs. The smile on her face isn't as twisted as it was before, for now it is simply a frail thin line; opposite in nature of the tone of voice that had slithered out of her throat.

[Slaughter]

"Hmph! I'm not lost at all! Everything is wonderful . . ." she trailed off. Of course, everything was not wonderful. She couldn't keep the bad thoughts out of her head, but at least she could stop them from reaching her mouth.

She told everybody she encountered that everything was okay, but everything was terrible. The worst part was that she knew it was not going to get better any time soon. She didn't want to have to start like this; she wished she could just go back home, go back to the way everything used to be.

Slaughter shifted in her sitting position to face the strange looking girl, not slowing her pace as she continued to wrap her legs. This girl's demeanor was not normal. She supposed that was to be expected of somebody that you met in a forest, but still. It was making Slaughter feel uneasy, and worse, testing her patience. "And I'm not little-- you're little."

[Echo Faust]

The look on Echo's face cannot be described in words, for the other's childish retort simply filled her up with an emotion she has not felt in such a long time; she didn't even know what it was that had suddenly became her! The lips on her face twist, her hands fly up in the air and she cackles so loudly that the other should be worried that anything or anyone around would come to the source of that noise for a delicious treat! However, after this short outburst, she recomposes herself and those eyes of hers set on the female once more. Oh, if only she could reach out and shove the girl for being so god damned funny. Oh, poor thing, if only! "You're clever, so very clever!" she speaks in a sing-along voice, stepping off to the side to circle around the female, as if she were looking to buy her as if she were a horse or something! "So colourful and so full of life, how nice it must be to feel so alive and young!" she continues, stopping behind the female once more to study the other's back. "You shouldn't be out here all by yourself, you know. There's some really dangerous creatures running around these parts..."

[Slaughter]

Slaughter simply cocked an eyebrow at the girl as she exploded in a string of maniacal giggles. She didn't think it was that funny. "Right," she drawled out slowly and sarcastically, not amused one bit by this woman, but instead becoming increasingly agitated. "I'm not afraid of any of those so-called 'dangerous' creatures. They're no match for me." Sure, it might seem somewhat comical to see a young thing standing at less than five feet tall uttering such words, but plain and simple this girl was a firecracker. She would yield to nobody, and sacrifice anything even if it meant her own demise. This purple haired apparition had no idea what she was getting herself into. And so she ignored the rest of her mocking remarks and concentrated on finishing up her bandaging. When she was done, she patted both legs and sprang back up into a standing position.

"And are you insinuating that you are one of these creatures?" She pointed a finger at the girl, feeling a surge of adrenaline building up inside of her. "Because if that's the case, then I'll have to take care of you prematurely." She could feel her mentality itself transforming as she let one hand slither carefully towards her sword, nothing would stop her from getting out of this place.

[Echo Faust]

The sudden audacity that the other female created out of seemingly thin air caught Echo by surprise! "I'm sure you're use to that happening to you." Echo replies in a calm and collected manner, her facial expressions unchanging; the other's sudden change in demeanor must not have taken her by that much surprise if she could still pull off such a low-blow retort with such finesse! Oh, how she couldn't help but praise herself for having such a good comeback! If only a person could high-five themselves without looking like a moron! What a wonderful, wonderful world that would be!

Taking a step back as her eyes slowly move to the side to look out into the wilderness, as if she had spotted something, she remains where she is as she slowly gives a lazy shrug of her shoulders. "You shouldn't assume things, it's really bad to do so."

[Slaughter]

Slaughter narrowed her eyes, not really catching on to the other girl's so-called retort, but not wanting to say anything about it either. Let her build herself up, this girl was beginning to seem like nothing more than an absolute clown! Not a threat at all. However, Slaughter's temper was still flaring, and she could not seem to come down from that rush she herself had perpetuated, so she wasn't going back down now.

In a flourish, she pulled her katana out from its sheath. "It's hardly making an assumption. If you don't want people to think such things about you, perhaps you should try being a bit more friendly. It doesn't exactly require the utmost intelligence, which you obviously, are lacking."

I'll kill her, Slaughter thought, not letting any other thoughts break her steadfast determination to get through the forest. "What are your intentions?" she asked, now pointing her sleek silver blade at the girl. "What are you doing out here all by yourself? You surely are not helpless, which can only mean that you are up to no good." It didn't much matter to Slaughter what the mischievous creature was up to, unless however, it involved her. She didn't want to take off in the night only to regret not taking care of her sooner rather than later.

[Echo Faust]

The other's words, the drawing of their precious little sword, only let Echo freeze in her place for a moment before a hollow grin plasters itself on her face. Completely ignoring the other's monologue, she takes a step forward as her arm outstretches towards the other's blade. "What're you going to do? Kill me?" she whispers, her eyes focused on the other's own, as if trying to peer through those windows and into Augusta's very soul!

She advances slowly with another step, closing the gap between the two of them - between her and the sword. She is still just out of arm's reach, but a few more steps would close the gap completely! What is Echo's intention, just what is it is she trying to do!? Who could say for sure? Possibly Echo herself didn't know, and perhaps she is simply going with the blows. What did an apparition have to live for besides haunting and scaring? What else could a ghost do besides be a martyr and completely suck up everything and everyone around them into their own little pit of despair? Or, just maybe, perhaps Echo isn't like the others; maybe she did have a plan, and maybe she was just about to do something to the other clueless girl!

[Slaughter]

The shock of what Slaughter was dealing with was beginning to set in now. "W-what are you?" she muttered, taking multiple steps back. It wasn't fair! This thing was not intimidated by her at all! She could feel the anger beginning to overwhelm her once more. If anybody was clueless, it was this phantom standing in front of her.

It's not fair! It's not fair! It's not fair!

She was so little, and this world was so big. But as the saying goes, all the darkness in the world cannot put out the light of even one small candle. She would teach this female to be afraid, she would redeem herself in the name of her father, and most importantly she would she this venture to the end!

Suddenly, Slaughter felt a twitching in her back and one single-- rather broken looking wing-- protruded from her shoulder blade.
"...umf!"

How embarrassing...

She tried to ignore it and continued to point her blade at the strange woman.

[Echo Faust]

The other's fear beginning to show, her utter despair, is feeding the sort of sick shit that Echo gets off to. The grin on her face only grows and grows as if she were a snake that could dislocate her jaw or something to make it as big as it needed to be! As she encroaches on the fragile frame before her, as she is just about to make contact with Augusta, the other lets out a quiet moan as something sprouts out of her back. Aw, que lindo. "So soon? I haven't even touched you yet..." came her mocking response to the other's supernatural existence sprouting out of her back in a deathly coo, Echo unsure of just what it is she is dealing with in front of her! Though, no matter who or what Augusta happened to be, this surely was a great find indeed!

It is at this point that her feet do not bother moving along the ground anymore, her form simply floating an inch above it as she moves closer and closer to the other! There isn't any point in hiding just what sort of creature she just so happens to be, no point in letting the other think she is dealing with anything like her own kind.

[Slaughter]

"T-touched me?" The girl stuttered-- she didn't understand what was going on here. She didn't get just what this creature wanted with her. At least she had a better idea of what kind of creature she was, though. She had heard about this woman's kind from her father. The undead, creatures that for some reason don't pass from this world and into another after the life is taken from them. Slaughter began to bite her lip in curiosity, so many inquiries suddenly bombarding her thought process.
Why was this girl still here? How was she killed? What must it be like? Were her deductions even correct?

"You're dead," she asked, but it came out sounding much more like a statement of fact than a question. It seemed she had answered her own query; she didn't even really have to ask, it was obvious, even to somebody who had never encountered one of her kind before.
But as soon as the realization hit her, a short giggle escaped her parted lips. It was then followed by several more. "You're just a remnant of the life you used to be! Haha! You're harmless! You can't do anything!!! At least nothing but run around and scare the living daylights out of innocent people. What a laugh."