Gathering the shards of the Amouretta {Roleplay}

appleblizzard • 30 March 2015 at 12:05 PM

Okay so this roleplay is made by me and my sister @applefudge. It's based in Japan, in the Waring States Era. Oh and three other people can be in the modern day times when they find portals to the world and I will pick the most suitable characters for this. Thanx


Basically, 600 years ago from modern day now, the Feudal Era was swarming with demons and half-breeds, spiritual miko's and brave monks. Once, there lived a priestess/miko named Winter who was protecting a magical gemstone called the Amouretta. This gem had the ability to heal the sick and injured, resurrect the dead and increase one's power ten-fourth. All demons sought this magical gemstone but Winter was able to fight all of them away. That was before she met and fell in love with a half-demon. As time progressed, an evil demon began to get more powerful and eventually, the demon set a trap for the miko and half-demon which made them hate each other. Both of them "died" that day. Just before Winter died, she flung the Amouretta into a magical mirror carved into a Sacred Tree.
50 years later back in the modern times, a girl finds the Amouretta and she goes through the portal to the Feudal Era and meets the half-demon. When she frees him, an accident happens with the Amouretta and they are forced to work together in order to retrieve the gemstone. Along the way, they find many friends and also encounter many enemies.

__________________________________________________________________

applefudge • 1 April 2015 at 8:13 AM

Winter :

Quickly, the footsteps of the half-demon ran deeper into the forest and closer towards me. I breathed deeply, my right hand holding an antique sword with a black blade, full of my spiritual sealing spell whilst my left hand hung limply at my side, dripping with fresh blood. Yoake's claws had torn into the flesh of my shoulder earlier, where a deep wound was now. The sleeve of my Miko kimono was plastered with my crimson blood. I heard him now, very close and jumped out from behind the tree, piercing his chest with the black blade. Going through, the blade was forced into a tree, close beside the Sacred Tree. Blood oozed out of the wound, staining his Fire Fox Robe.

"Winter!" He cried out, dropping the Amouretta and reaching out towards me. " How could-? I thought-!"

Suddenly, the spiritual sealing spell took over and his body became limp, hanging of the sword. I dropped to my knees, a tear trickling down my cheek, my right arm resting on the wound in my left shoulder. Grabbing the Amouretta, I tossed it through the Sacred Mirror en-carved into the Sacred Tree. The cry of villagers sounded behind me and my Daughter along with ten village men surrounded me. Yumi, my Daughter, knelt beside me, crying and sobbing into my Kimono.

" Yumi," I said quickly to her. " I want you to burn my body and become the next Miko"

Right after my last word, I fell to the ground and darkness surrounded me ......
__________________________________________________
Around 600 Years later .......

appleblizzard • 1 April 2015 at 8:17 AM

Annelyia:

“Annelyia, wake up dear!” called mum from downstairs. Heaving myself out of bed, I took a short morning bath before sitting down beside my mirror. Taking a comb and straighteners, I attempted to straighten my natural white curly hair. However hard I tried, my hair always sprang back into delicate curls of unusual pure white locks which hung around my pale-skinned face. Giving up on that – I checked my eyes once more for the millionth time that week. Nope, the unusual colour I was born with was still there – dark blue around the pupil fading into ice blue and gradually fading to white. Grumbling like usual, I tied my curls into a side ponytail of locks leaving two curled tangles of hair rippling down my shoulders. I don’t look anything at all like the rest of my family. For instance, both my mum and Elaura, my little 8 year old sister, have chocolate brown hair and chestnut eyes, not to mention their tanned skin. Even grandpa hasn’t got my unusual eyes or abnormal hair colours. I sighed whilst putting on my school clothes: a plain white long-sleeved t-shirt with a pale blue tie, pleated skirt and jacket.
Not even eating any breakfast, I put on my shoes and grabbed my sky blue bag before heading outside. I wanted to be on time today, not to mention the fact that every morning up till Friday that I have failed to do this. I hoped that today I might be punctual.
“Annelyia, wait. Something’s sparkling by the Spiritual Tree. Beside the…beside the…the…” Elaura trailed off her last words barely understood. “Beside the…cursed mirror…” she breathed. I sighed but my heart was pounding. The cursed mirror was the name of a mirror embedded into the Spiritual Tree everyone believes to be the root of our peace in the world. They say that when you die, you become a new leaf on the tree and if you live a good life, you may become a flower. However, if not, you become a weed or a root. The mirror itself is said to be the connection to all of the sins and misfortune we have.
There is a legend that a young priestess sealed away something terrible beside the mirror many years ago, resulting in all of the sins to be drawn to it. Shaking all bad thoughts out of my head, I shakily edged towards the tree which indeed did have something glistening beside the mirror.
As I edged forward, I noticed how the mirror seemed to glow brighter as I approached. Picking up the shining thing, I realised that it was a necklace!
The chain was made of gold and between each three golden chains there was a purple bead. In the centre, there was a gemstone, one I hadn’t seen before. It was creamy coloured with touches of white, pink and yellow in places. The edges were smooth and I was so tempted at that moment that I decided to wear the necklace. Fastening it around my neck, I felt a heartbeat, one parallel to mine. I felt the smooth stone and stared at Elaura for a while, whose face showed me that she wanted to ask me something but thought better of it.
“Okay now that that’s settled, I really have to go.” I said checking my ice blue watch. “Oh, no! Alizane, Harati and Torali are probably waiting for me! I have to run, see ya when I see ya!”
With that, I ran towards our meeting place near the bus stop. We had agreed that it was the best place, seeing we all live near and if someone’s late, they can get the bus. Then I saw my three best friends waiting for me with smiles on their faces. Together, we walked to Winterson High School chatting about weekend plans. All of my friends are different. For example, Harati is a very childish, funny and cute girl. She has smooth brown hair which she always ties into twin tails. Her eyes are very dark and her skin is quite tanned. She laughs a lot and usually is the cause of laughter. Harati loves doodling, doesn’t understand love triangles and arguments mostly, but she is always so sweet and can always cheer you up. If she can’t no-one can!
Then there’s Alizane. She’s totally different to Harati. She’s hard-working, determined and stubborn when it comes to a problem or school – especially tests and homework. She’s the most punctual and intelligent girl from the whole year! I’m lucky she’s my friend; I can rely on her to take notes and catch up on my studies. Alizane has long blonde hair and ocean-blue eyes. She always has her hair into two braids showing just how mature she is. Even though Alizane seems like a stuck up rich girl, trust me she is so kind to nature and spends most of her time, no not doing homework, but playing with her bunnies or riding her horse Britney.
Last but not least there’s Torali. Torali is the laziest person I’ve met so far and if you say the words “work” or “hard” or “harder” you might as well drop dead. She’s a rebellious girl, full of energy to burn and besides, she is the strongest out of the girls AND boys. Don’t pick a fight or an argument with her – you just won’t win. I’m so glad I got on her good side the first day of school! We share a talent so she’s my friend. Besides, she sticks up for us and beats up mostly any strange looking fellow we meet she thinks is suspicious. Unlike Alizane and Harati, Torali has red hair that’s very short and her eyes are green. Very green. Unlike me, her hear is dyed. She dyed it long ago when she was very young. But even though it’s dyed, it looks pretty natural to me.
“So what do you think, Annelyia?” said Harati with a big smile on her face.
“Huh?” I asked suddenly realising that I hadn't been paying attention to the conversation.
Alizane frowned and said, “Annelyia? Is something wrong?”
I shook my head. Really, I was wondering about the gemstone in the necklace. It was pulsing. There was a second heart inside me now, the heart of the necklace. I wondered if this was normal. No, of course it wasn't. A second heart? No one had something like that. I’m gonna keep it a secret. For now at least.
“Something is wrong.” said Alizane. Trust the stubborn one to interfere. “You can tell us you know! We are your best friends after all!”
“It’s nothing! Trust me; I’m just…tired after yesterday is all. I was up half the night studying for next week’s test, I didn’t get a wink of sleep.” I said showing the three my fake smile I’ve been practicing so much lately. My mum has been unusually tense and there’s a large sense of mistrust between me and her right now.
Torali peered at me which made me tense up and be aware of her piercing stare. Her eyes rested on the gemstone. “Knew necklace, Annelyia?” she asked nodding at it. Alizane and Harati admired it while I smiled.
“It’s something I found in my garden beside the Spiritual Tree. I figured it was worth keeping.” I said. Not the whole truth but still. I wouldn’t completely lie to my best friends, right?
“It’s perfect. Are you sure you didn’t buy it? I think it’ll look totally beautiful with my new dress I bought last week.” said Alizane still enchanted by the colour of it.
Harati was giggling and poking at it like a cat scratches at a dangling ball or thread. Her expression was childish, smiling and very happy. I decided to let her play with it a bit longer while we walked to school.
Finally, we arrived outside school and the autumn breeze danced around us twirling our hair back and forth. I sighed. One last day of the week and I’m sleeping in till noon for two days!
As the bell rang and the wave of excited students subdued from the hallway, I grabbed my bag and stuffed my books into it before swinging it over one shoulder and walking outside. As I walked home alone, I thought about the school day. Every now and then, I’d feel a tug on the second heart and feel as though I should return home. Now that I was standing in my corridor, the pulsing was louder, clearer and harder to resist.
After unloading the contents of my bag onto my bed and sorting out the things I needed, I felt the tug on my heart again. This one was the strongest and I gave up resisting it. The gemstone’s pulsing took over my body and I found myself standing a few metres away from the Spiritual Tree. The mirror was glowing the same peachy colour that the gem was and it seemed to be calling me. You know that advice your mother gives you about not trusting something that moves and you can’t see where its brain is? I wasn’t listening to it. I walked up to the mirror until I was standing 50cm away. I gasped. My reflection…it wasn't me! This girl standing there was like me yet her features were different. Her eyes were lighter and her skin was darker. Her hair was longer and she had let it down. Her clothes were different too! She was wearing a white kimono with black trousers and she had a black bow in her hear. Gawking at her, I didn't realize how she reached out towards me and grabbed my arm, pulling me inside the mirror! Blinded by the light, I was pulled forward by the girl before I closed my eyes and she had stopped, letting my arm go. Opening my eyes, I found myself in the woods of my garden. What was that just now? Did I imagine that girl? Oh well, I should get back to my house.
I walked forward and halted all of a sudden. Widening my eyes, I noticed someone sitting down near the Spiritual Tree. Walking up to them, I saw that it was a boy…only he had terrible claws and wolf ears. He had silver long hair which was blowing in the wind and his eyes were closed peacefully. From his chest seethed blood from a wound and there sat a sword gleaming with a dark purple light.
“Um…hello? Who are you?” I asked him. He seemed as though he was sleeping. He wasn’t dead, that’s for sure. He didn’t reply. Oh well, I figured he was really tired or something. But…his ears were really tempting and I couldn’t resist – I had to touch them!

snowlily • 1 April 2015 at 8:19 AM

“Girl! What are you doing there? Get away from the Ookami Hanyou named Yoake!” yelled someone behind me.
I looked around to see a young boy wearing a plain dull blue kimono and holding a kusarigarma, a chain-sickle. He had short brown hair and blue eyes but they were cold and his stare gave me the creeps. What did I do to deserve being sliced in half? I just checked on the…wait Ookami Hanyou?! He was a wolf half-demon? Now it made sense.
“I asked you what you were doing, girl!” called the boy again walking towards me flinging the kusarigarma into the tree beside me and the Yoake Hanyou person. I flinched and edged away but the boy grabbed my arm and tied me up then forcing me to walk to the nearest village, just past the forest. I was brought to the village and the boy left me when a young woman approached me. She had fair skin, long black hair and sky blue eyes. She wore a white kimono and red trousers.
“Who are you? Someone told me you were found near the Hanyou in the forest of the Spiritual Tree. Your name, girl?” she asked. Her voice was neither welcoming nor angry, just a little confused and questioning.
“My name is Annelyia and I was pulled in here by a woman through the cursed mirror beside this Hanyou you talk about.” I said. “I demand that you release me, I didn’t do anything – I swear!”
The priestess then knelt down beside me and peered closely at my face when an expression of amazement and disbelief appeared on her face. “Winter…” she said. “Come Annelyia, we must discuss something.”
With that, she untied me and led me to a house where she sat down and asked me to explain everything to her.
“Well, I was walking to school like usual in the morning when my sister Elaura told me something was shining in front of the cursed mirror in our garden. I went to check on it and I found a necklace with a strange gem on it.” I began to explain sipping my tea which the priestesses Yumi, as she called herself, brew for me.
“A necklace, you say? Do you have it now?” she asked perking up. I nodded and reached into my school shirt where the gem pulsed calmly. Taking it out, I took off the necklace and handed it to Yumi who admired it with wide eyes. “So yeah, the gemstone kept pulsing really hardly and when I got home, I couldn’t resist the heart of it anymore. It took me to the Spiritual Tree we have back home and the cursed mirror had a young lady in it. She looked somewhat similar to me only her hair was greyer and her skin wasn’t white but fair. She wore similar clothes to yours but her trousers were black. I’m not sure who she was but she reached out and grabbed my hand, pulling me through the mirror.
When I opened my eyes again, I was in the forest. I came across the boy accidentally; I wanted to return home when I found him. Beside him in the big clearing covered with flowers was my house but it disappeared once I went through the mirror.”
Priestess Yumi looked at me and said slowly and carefully, “So you mean there was a house on that clearing? And Winter pulled you through?”
“Who’s Winter? The lady you mean? Do you know her?” I asked.
Yumi closed her eyes for a moment before saying, “Yes. She was my mother. She died when I was only 7. You resemble my mother like no other person I have met before. And only she had the ability to cross to the other world through the mirror. Before my mother died, she tossed the Amouretta through the mirror in the Spiritual Tree and then told me to burn her body and to place the ashes into a small shrine in the forest.”
“Wait a minute, what about my house? Where is this village anyway? If half-demons and demons are running around, I’m not even sure!” I cried.
“There was never a house there.” the priestess said flatly. Smoothing her voice, she added, “But I have a theory. I have a feeling that the mirror you were pulled through allowed you to time travel, dear. What year is it at your house?”
Once telling her our modern day time, she told me that it was true – I had time travelled 600 years into the past! As I digested the information, I realised that darkness had fallen over the village and I had forgotten the way to the mirror. “A demonic aura is approaching.” suddenly said Priestess Yumi and she ran outside crying to all the villagers. I followed her only to see a large millipede demon coming straight at me.
I screamed and dodged as the female demon crashed into the ground beside me. “Run, child!” yelled Yumi grabbing a spear and hurling it at the demon. I didn’t wait for another yell, I ran straight away from it but the demon arose and followed me in mid-air, flying in a snake-like fashion.
“Someone’s going to save me right?” I thought. “Anyone at all?!”
I ran up a hill straight towards the forest as the demon yelled at me to give her the Amouretta gemstone. As she crashed into the ground two metres away from me, I was sent flying towards the Spiritual Tree.
“Why are you wasting your time, Winter?” sneered a voice above me. I looked up to see the wolf-boy from earlier awake and jeering at me, a sly smile playing on his face, his clawed hands in two fists at his sides.
"You’re alive?” I asked bewildered. He neither got up, nor drew the sword out of his chest but plainly sat in one position giving me the creeps as he smiled eerily.
“Why are you taking so long to kill the insect Winter? Or is it too much for you? Just kill it like you killed me.” He said once more.
“That’s it! I’ve had just about enough of you!” I cried standing up off the floor and walking two steps towards him. Pointing to myself, I yelled, “Winter, Winter, Winter! Whoever she is she isn’t me because my name is-“
“It’s coming.”
I screamed as the millipede appeared behind me. “Give me the Amouretta!” it boomed loudly. Villagers including the priestess arrived with spears, arrows and swords to help. I was relieved! But the spears worked only for a while. The millipede grabbed hold of me as I screamed and the villagers started to shoot at her again. She used one of her hands to take the necklace off of my neck and dropped both me and the gemstone.
“Hey! Winter give me that gemstone!” the Ookami Hanyou yelled at me.
I frowned and yelled back at him, stamping my foot, “You idiot! I’m not winter! I’m Annelyia! And yeah like I’d give it to you!”
He frowned as the millipede dropped down and fastened her long body around the spiritual tree, trapping the Hanyou and me onto it. Then she lowered herself and swallowed the gemstone with had come right off the chain. Instantly, her pale skin began to change to bright green and her eyes turned red. I grabbed the red robe of the boy in fear as the body tightened around us.
“Hey, can you pull out this sword?” he asked not taking his eyes off the demon who was still transforming.
“Huh?” I asked looking up to see the sword sitting in his wounded chest.
“I asked if you could pull out the sword, stupid!” he said angrier this time.
The priestess shook her head frustrated and yelled loudly, “Ney, don’t free the Yoake! You mustn’t free him!”
“You wretched woman! Do you want to be killed by that thing? If you couldn’t beat it before, you won’t be able to now that it’s stronger! At least with me you have a chance!” he yelled at Yumi. “And what about you?” he asked quieter to me. “Do you want to die, Winter, here with me?”
I didn’t know what to do. I was frozen. I didn’t want to betray the villagers but I didn’t want to die either. Given the choice, I choose to live! I grabbed the sword and pulled at it hard. Instead of coming out, the whole thing disappeared into thin air! Whispers rang among the villagers and I looked at the boy. He leapt up, cutting all of the millipede’s body around the tree away and I was forced onto the grass floor.
He clicked his claws and smiled mocking the insect demon that was now fully transformed. With one swipe of his claws, the demon was blasted apart right in front of my very eyes. Smiling with his fangs, he stood pretty cool whilst demon pieces fell from the sky around him. I grabbed the Amouretta from the ground and walked over to Yumi who smiled as though relieved.
“Hey, Winter!” yelled the boy again.
“Right that’s it!” I shouted back. Walking up to him, I furrowed my eyebrows and yelled, “Winter, Winter, Winter! This Winter girl, I’m not her, okay? I’m Annelyia Frost. An-ne-ly-ia!”
“You’re no Anney-whatsit person, only Winter could have that disgusting scent! I’d know it anywhere, and that’s definitely-“ he stopped abruptly and sniffed at me while I crossed my arms. “You’re not her.”
“I know! I’m Annelyia!”
“Oh well, no matter. Now hand over the gem, girl.” he said as though changing his tune was easy enough as grinning.
“She won’t, and you can’t make her.” said Yumi striding towards us and shielding me from him. He grinned and clicked his fingers. I ran towards the villagers, but tripping over a rock, I found out I was lucky. The boy had swiped at my head as I fell.
“He’s really going to kill me for this?!” I thought looking at the Amouretta. Jumping fifty feet into the air, he landed beside me and stared at me closing and opening his fists as he grinned menacingly. Yumi and the villagers shot spears at him but he broke them by shielding himself using his kimono.
“Hand it over, or you’ll end up with a scratched back!” he said calmly. I had no choice – I ran away from the forest, and he pursued until I came to a bridge over a river. I dropped the stone and it rolled to the middle, between me and the wolf-boy. Priestess Yumi ran after me and thrust something onto the neck of Yoake. It was a strange necklace.
“They’re beads of subjugation! Say a word, one to tie his spirit!” she yelled at me. He approached the gem and bent down as I thought hard.

appleblizzard • 1 April 2015 at 8:21 AM

“Um…er…um…down, boy!” I shouted. The beads glowed a pink tinge before Yoake was forced onto the floor of the bridge.
“What do you know, it worked!” I said approaching the gem. Picking it up, I placed it back into the frame of the necklace and felt once more the heart beating calmly beside mine.
Yoake got up and stared at the beads, a look of hatred spreading across his face. “What are these?! Woman, you’ll pay for this! I’ll go and finish you know, you hag!”
“The word, Annelyia.” said Yumi.
“Down, boy.” I said calmly. Thrashed onto the bridge another time, the half-demon cracked the floor and was thrown into the river which washed him up onto the shore. I stared in disbelief. For one day, it was an awful lot to think about.
Back at the village, I sat inside the Priestess’ house whilst she cooked some soup for us. Yoake came along too only he sat with his back to us and tapped his foot whilst lying down and twitching his ears every now and then.
“The Amouretta stone has the power to enhance the strength that one demon has. With just a tiny fragment, the gemstone will increase the abilities of a demon stabilising its victory.” explained Yumi pouring soup into a bowl for me and her. She then grabbed another bowl and passed it to Yoake who refused to turn around and accept it.
“If Yoake is a demon too, why is he here?” I asked.
“The beads around his neck secure our safety, and your word does a lot of damage.” Yumi said placing the bowl beside him.
“I don’t get it. It seems to me, you’re strong enough already. I mean, you killed that demon and tried to kill me. Why do you want the gem?” I asked him.
“Ah.” said Yumi sipping her soup. “But Yoake is only a half-demon, right? He seeks the Amouretta to turn into a full demon. The gem can do that or change him into human but he wouldn’t do anything like the thought of that.”
Yoake struck his fist into the wall, punching a hole in it. “I’m tired of you, woman! Your talking like you know me. Who are you anyway?!”
“So ye do not remember.” Yumi said. I did wonder who Yumi was to him. “I’m Winter’s daughter Yumi; the priestess of this village.”
“Hah! You’re her daughter, are you? Winter never married, you brat! You liar!” he said. I cocked my head frowning. It was true but…
“60 years have passed, Yoake. Once my mother sealed you to that tree, she lived but she was fatally ill. She had me and taught me about her powers, you and her past. She passed away twenty five years ago.” said Yumi turning away and picking at the fire.
Yoake relaxed a little and closed his eyes, regaining the lounging position he had less than five minutes ago. “Good. I’m rid of that hag.”
“Do not get your hopes up, Yoake Hanyou.” said Yumi suddenly staring at me. “Annelyia here is the reincarnation of my dear mother, I am certain of it.”
He didn’t stir and Yumi carried on. “It’s not just her remarkably similar looks that show it, her being able to pass through the mirror and find the gem in the first place is enough proof. Admit it, you said out loud that you thought she was Winter.”
Yoake growled and got up, shot me a cold stare and walked hurriedly out of the room. “What’s his problem?” I asked.
“Well, you are the reincarnation of Winter, the woman that thrust a sword into Yoake’s chest sealing him away. You can’t blame him for his feelings.” said Yumi laying down a pillow and a blanket for me to sleep on. I lay down and watched as Yumi fell asleep. I couldn’t help but wonder what mum and Elaura were doing right now. Oh well, I was tired and sleep is the best cure for a tired me.
I awoke and screamed. I was in an unfamiliar house which smelt pretty bad. I remembered what happened yesterday but this wasn’t the house I recalled falling asleep in! Some men walked up to me and yanked at my skirt and hair. Suddenly, a large shadow loomed over me from behind. I shrank in fear as I turned around and saw a giant of a man standing with a sword raised high.
“The gemstone – give it to me, girl!” he said loudly. The soldiers pushed me forward and kept me still as I squirmed and the man raised his sword higher. Bringing it down, he hit the man on my left and cut his arm! I gasped. The man slayed many of his men in his attempt to kill me; I hoisted one of the soldiers up and led him over to the others who cowered in fear.
“The gemstone, girl! Give it to me!” he said again. I looked at my necklace letting the man be carried by his friends.
“Go, get out of here!” I cried at them looking at the swaying giant before me. As the men hurried out, I threw the gem out of the broken door. But the giant raised his sword again. I was doomed. In one sweep, he would finish me off and no one would care. As he brought the sword swishing down, I closed my eyes, using one of my arms as a shield. Suddenly, I heard a loud snap as if the metal had been broken. Opening my eyes, I saw Yoake leaping in front of me, the sword cut in half.
“Yoake!” I gasped relieved.
“The gem!” he shouted at me.
“Gem?!” I asked remembering where it was and realising why Yoake had really come.
The half-demon groaned. “Please don’t tell me you actually said that just now, human?”
“I’m Annelyia!” I said. The man stood up again and charged towards us when Yoake slashed it into pieces with his claws. A giant blue bird was perched inside the man with five red gleaming eyes and four legs. Chirping, it flew out of the door where I had thrown the gem to. Running out with Yoake shortly behind me, we saw the blue bird swallow the gem and take off as its feathers began to stretch and its eyes and wings multiplied. In terror, I froze; not even realising what was going on, I thought about a weapon, any weapon at all and a bow and arrow appeared out of thin air.
“Come on!” said Yoake. He knelt down and looked at me as if telling me to get on. I wasn’t sure but his face made it clear that I had no choice. Either that or I wouldn’t be coming along at all. Cautiously, I sat on his back and he leapt up into the air. Grabbing his robe, I held on tightly. “Shoot the bird.” said Yoake leaping after it. I doubted that I could do it but I took my aim and shot. I missed. Oh well.
“You idiot! Winter was skilled at fighting!” yelled Yoake. I got off his back as he came down and eyed him with a frustrated glance. It was hard enough, considering that I had never handled a bow but shooting whilst riding a half-demon was too much.
“If you’re so smart, go and kill it!” I said. A cry issued from the direction that the bird had flown off to. I ran towards the scream only to see a girl being dragged into the river whilst villagers huddled beside the water terrified. My bow disappeared as I ran towards the river bank. Yoake appeared and cut the demon into pieces. The little girl was drowning in the water, parts of demon swimming around her. Without a second to loose, I dived after her and swam towards the shore where her mother hugged her closely.
“Thank you so much!” she cried. Soaked in water and cold I heard an angry shout from behind me on the other side of the bank.
“Oi! Get the gemstone, you idiot! Save the Amouretta!” hissed Yoake.
“Hmph!”I said turning around, away from him. Growling, Yoake looked at the water where something was bubbling. With shock, I saw the demon reassemble itself before taking off again. I looked around me, determined to kill it with something.
“May I borrow these?” I asked a villager pointing to his bow and arrows. He nodded handing me the weapons. Taking my aim, I shot despite the remarks of Yoake. Closing my eyes I pleaded, wanting the arrow to hit. Something deep inside me awoke, a magic sensation rushed through my body, filling it to the brim with suspense and mystery. Every inch of me was concentrating on that one arrow, the arrow that would retrieve the gemstone. I sank to my knees now, willingly letting this feeling sap away all the strength I had. Opening my eyes to the sounds of gasps, I looked up. Silver and ice blue swirls were flying from around me to the arrow which I guided to the creature with my eyes. It was hard now, even to keep my eyes open. I carried on even though my sagging body now lay on the hard floor. Quivering, willing the arrow to fly on, I saw a burst of pink light surround the area and millions of rays spread around the world. Using the last of my energy, I forced myself to look at the demon. I had hit. The demon was gone, split into pieces and the pink light issuing from it glowed with a tinge of the blue escaping from me jaggedly now, matching my rasping breaths. My triumph didn’t last long as the ground became my ceiling and my world was black…

snowlily • 1 April 2015 at 8:22 AM

Opening my eyes, I felt rigid and the bright fire light flooded around me. Every inch of me ached and the sensation of magic was gone. I felt chocked. My head spun, my vision blurry, I made out the fuzzy figure of Yumi putting something cold on my head. To my right, I made out Yoake’s wolf-pose figure peering at me.
“She’s awake.” he said sitting back. Yumi nodded and poked the fire again. She didn’t say anything about what had happened nor did she ask me anything.
I opened my mouth and tried to ask what had happened but horror filled my eyes as I lifted a trembling hand to my throat. Everything hurt and my voice wasn’t there – I wasn’t able to speak! I raised my feeble hand and poked Yumi who turned and looked at me questioningly. Pointing at my throat, I let my hand go and stared frightened at Yumi.
“Ah…you’re voice?” she asked. Barely noticeable, I nodded shortly and she shook her head. “It’s to be expected. After your first time using telekinesis, I’m surprised that you can even move a finger. You were truly amazing there by the river bank. Only I found this. Yoake, you might want to look.” she held up a shining stone barely bigger than a fingernail. The wolf half-demon turned and stared. My vision cleared a bit and I was able to make out a glowing shard of peachy-pink.
“That’s not-!” cried Yoake fully turned around now, staring in disbelief at the shard.
“Yes it is indeed. A shard of the Amouretta.” said Yumi. Instead of the panic that rose in me and Yoake, Yumi took this situation calmly and seemed unconcerned that the most powerful gemstone was in pieces. “That light you saw earlier. It was the gemstone shattering. It has been spread around the world and you must get it back whole before damage is made.”
Glaring at me, Yoake howled in anger, “What in the name of demons did you do to the gem?!”
“Calm down, Yoake!” Yumi replied. “Annelyia did everything in her power to stop the demon from fully transforming. She gave up all of her strength to guide that arrow. She-“
“I didn’t know…what I was doing. It just came to me…I had no idea…I’m sorry Yoake. I didn’t think, only…acted…sorry…hard…trying to help…my…fault.” I croaked through rasped breaths. My voice came out jagged and uncontrolled. My voice was different and weak.
“Don’t apologise.” said Yoake. “I just have to go and get the gem back again, no problem!”
“Ah…but you are not capable on your own, wolf. Yoake, you must join forces with Annelyia. Only she is able to feel the presence of the gemstone whilst only you have enough strength to retrieve it. You must work as a team.” said Yumi. I thought about this.
“Hah!” said Yoake. “I won’t join with her – she’s Winter’s reincarnation, don’t forget. I ain’t wanting anything to do with her. After all, she’s the girl who killed me with her sword, don’t forget!”
“Shut up.” I said weakly getting up. Every inch of my body resisted, pleaded to stay and lie and rest. “Shut up!” I stumbled forward and shot a cold look at Yoake and feebly walked out of the hut. My legs protested, every step made my head spin, my knees wobble and heart tug. I crawled up the hill and sat under an apple tree leaning against the bark which rubbed my sore back. A movement behind me rustled the leaves but I remained still unable to move much anymore. Turning my head a fraction of an inch, I saw that it was Yoake.
“You shouldn’t go off like that. The priestess sent me after you.” he said. I turned away, closing my eyes. That’s all he came for. Why that selfish, ignorant, little-! I groaned as a wave of pain shot through my head. Opening my eyes again, I found Yoake sitting down in his wolf pose staring at the grass.
“How are you feeling?” he asked slowly. He neither looked up nor looked at me when he talked.
“…terrible…” my voice was disappearing again. “…I feel really weak…”
“Oh.” said Yoake. I tilted my head towards him just to see him in the corner of my eye. The breeze danced around us and I shivered, hugging myself to be warmer. Yoake looked sideways at me, then removed his robe of the fire rat and placed it around me.
“Huh?” I gasped looking at him fully now.
He stood up, looking at the village. “You have to get back, the woman wants you.”
I nodded and tried to get up only to stumble and grasp the tree beside me for support. I took a few steps letting go of the tree and came close to the dip of the hill. Tripping over my own feet, I started to fall, only to be caught by Yoake’s outstretched hands. I limply fell but regained posture and tried to let go only he wouldn’t. He grabbed my hand and pulled me over his shoulder onto his back. Sighing he ran to the village and set me down outside the house.
“Thank you.” I whispered. Yoake turned away with a short “Keh!” and jumped onto the roof. I walked inside and lay down onto the ready-made bed beside a sleeping Yumi. I had no trouble getting to sleep as my aching body relaxed and soothed. The dreams took me in and soon enough I was dreaming…

Yoake:

As the human girl fell asleep, I stayed outside. Looking up at the sky, I sighed heavily and thought about Winter. She had betrayed me out of nowhere, struck me down with her sword and abandoned me. Why had she? The door rustled in the wind and I jumped down from the roof. Walking inside, I sat down beside Annelyia.
“Annelyia looks a lot like Winter. She’s almost identical to Winter. No wonder I had them confused at first.” I thought. I frowned and Annelyia awoke with a start. There was terror in her eyes but when she looked at me, she turned away and didn’t talk. I looked away.
“Why are you up?” I heard her soft voice say from the shadows. “Don’t you sleep, half-demon?”
“My name is Yoake!” I gritted my teeth, growling.
“And mine is Annelyia!” she shouted back rising up from her bed and glaring at me. Her strength seemed to be returning. Good.
“Anyway, I don’t want to sleep.” I retorted back. Her posture changed and she turned away. “You go to bed, we’re starting tomorrow.”
“Huh?”
“The gemstone shard hunt?!” I said. I looked at her feeble posture and added, “Unless you don’t want to with that condition.”
“No!” she said quickly. Panting, she said, “I…want to help…I have to…”
I stared at her. She didn’t have much strength. She wasn’t much, but she was trying to participate. She wasn’t all useless. I looked away. “Okay.” I agreed.
I looked back at her but she was already back to sleep again, smiling peacefully. I gave a faint smile before walking back out of the house and lying on the cold grass.
Something told me that Annelyia wasn’t as bad as Winter. But I couldn’t trust her – I had made that mistake when I met Winter. I truly trusted her and she betrayed me! I had no idea why. I didn’t die hating her, but I couldn’t return to the way I trusted her before. Maybe this human girl was different…maybe…

Chapter 2 – Yami the Darkness of the Night

Annelyia:

I awoke with the rising of the sun feeling great. My mind was set and my energy had restored which gave me strength. I got up leaving the bed made and headed out of the house. Yumi was still asleep so I decided to go and find something to eat elsewhere. I walked to the river and took off my clothes, sinking deep into the water. I came out and put on the clothes that Yumi had given me yesterday; they were identical to Winter’s. I let my hair down and kept it that way only to dry it off. I felt someone’s presence in the shadows and I turned around suddenly, only to find Yoake the half-demon there.
He stopped in his tracks, his violet eyes stared at me with a mixture of terror and confusion. There was something else, something I couldn’t grasp about the way he had looked at me that time. Then, he shook his head drastically and blinked a few times.
“Human girl, that’s you, right?” he asked.
I flamed up, frustrated and gave Yoake a cold look whilst I said through gritted teeth: “I’m Annelyia! Get. It. RIGHT!”
“Yeah, yeah whatever.” he said looking away and sitting on a rock. “Get undressed.”
I grabbed a strong rock and flung it at his head. “You pervert!”
“I didn’t mean get naked, idiot!” he flung back at me. “I mean get dressed back into your weird clothes!”
“Why? Cause I remind you of Winter?!” I shot. He huffed and turned away not replying. Boy, even Harati has more sense than this guy.
“You’re a problem here, you know.” he said.
“Is that so? Well, then you won’t mind me leaving?” I said raising an eyebrow. He turned his back on me and I seethed. I walked over to my pile of clothes and started to pick them up.
“Where’re you off to all of a sudden?” asked Yoake turning in my direction.
“I’m going home.” I said folding my clothes over one arm and walking in the direction of the forest. “Goodbye, Yoake.”
“Hey, wait!” he yelled.
“My name isn’t hey.” I said.
“Oi! Get back here!” Yoake shouted.
“It isn’t Oi either.” I said carrying on walking.
“Will you just wait and hear me out already?!”
I turned around and looked expectantly at Yoake. “Well? What do you want? To try and stop me?”
“No, give me the shard of the gemstone you have.” he said stretching out a hand. I reached into my pocket and withdrew a black pouch containing the shard.
“This?” I said. He nodded exaggeratedly and I closed my eyes and said, “Down boy.” Thrashed onto the ground, Yoake growled whilst I carried on walking, playing with the pouch.
“Why you!” came Yoake’s muffled voice from behind.
“My name isn’t you.” I said one last time before walking into the forest away from the river. “Why, that arrogant, ignorant half-demon! He hasn’t called me by my name once! It’s hey or you or oi. So immature!” I thought. Suddenly, the forest darkened and I saw flickering lights floating. They were like light bulbs only very small and instead of a warm glow, they emmited a buzzing sound and lightning was cooped up inside of them. “What are those?” I thought.
I carried on walking in the light of the lightning and came to the mirror. This time, I saw myself not the Winter that was there. Of course, I did look like her now.

appleblizzard • 1 April 2015 at 8:23 AM

“Well, well, well. Isn’t that convenient. A priestess in the forest of Yoake. Now that’s news to me.” came a sharp voice from the shadows. The light bulbs whizzed around the figure to show a young girl. Her hair was black and her skin was irregularly strange. She had blue skin with white stars covering it and her eyes seemed to be the moon. I stared dumbfounded for a while at the girl who stood on lightning and smiled in a very unfriendly way.
“So you can see the lightning? My, that ruins a few of my plans. But no matter, I can work around that. After all, seeing isn’t nearly enough.” she cooed. Flicking her hand towards me, she sent five lightning bulbs flying towards me.
Panic rising in me, I tried to calm down and concentrate but they flew straight at me and crashed, sending me back into the mirror. It shone around me and I passed through the white galaxy light to find myself sprawled on the floor in front of the mirror. I rubbed my head reaching for the shard of the gemstone. It wasn’t there! I checked the floor and realised that my school clothes were gone too! I stared at the mirror before running away towards my house.
“Annelyia!” yelled Elaura tears in her eyes. Mum ran and hugged me also crying. I cried to and hugged them back. I was home, finally home! I looked back to the mirror but no one pursued and the mirror was normal. I sighed; at long last, I was home and able to have a bath, eat well and sleep in a bed!

Yoake:

“I’m going home. Goodbye, Yoake.” I remembered Annelyia’s voice clear in my head. “Urgh trust that girl to run off like that. Oh well. I have no use in her.” I thought as I leaped back towards the village. Suddenly, the darkness wrapped around me and I skidded to a halt. Yumi was lying on the ground, a deep wound on her arm and fuzzy bonds of light tying her up. I looked up, sensing someone’s presence in the air. With a fast swoosh, a knife dropped missing me by a few inches. Turning around, I saw the village girls handing in the air with knives and weapons all pointed at me. Growling, I dodged their attacks, swiping my own ones in their place.
“Don’t…hurt…the…girls!” gasped Yumi. I turned to see her still lying. “They’re…possessed!”
I growled, and knocked out the nearest ones before grabbing Yumi and jumping on the tree tops. The girls didn’t follow us but remained hanging in the air behind us. I lay Yumi down on the grass in an enclosed area cut off from the forest. Leaving her to rest, I let my nose search for the human girl. I found her scent near the Spiritual Tree. Her strange clothes were lying beside it as if dropped and there was an electrical buzz in the air. I looked up at the mirror and saw it shine.
“Through here, was it?” I asked out loud reaching out and walking straight through…

Annelyia:

I sat down beside my table and ate the food. For some reason, I felt down. I didn’t eat as much. I was worried about the others and that girl really freaked me out. Then again, what about Yoake and Yumi and the other villagers? Oh man, I’m so cruel leaving them! But it’s not like I had the choice with that attack. I was still aching with the hit and I hadn’t been able to recover completely. No matter. My face in one hand and my food in the other, I ate in silence.
“I can’t wait to see Alizane, Harati and Torali again!” I said smiling. My family stared at me. “What?” I asked raising an eyebrow. Hearing the door open behind me, I turned around and gasped.
Standing in the doorway, looking quite annoyed and impatient as ever was Yoake, his ears twitching, his fists clenched. “Who told you that you could leave?!”
“Um…well…er…” I stuttered.
“Good. We’re going back.” he answered striding over, grabbing me painfully by the arm and moving back.
“Wait! I’m not coming and you can’t make me!” I shouted.
“Wait a minute!” said mum. Both me and Yoake looked at her. She walked over and touched the ears of Yoake. I giggled but I knew it was wrong. I saw a ray of the lightning on his robe move.
“Hey, did you see that? Where did you find it?” I asked.
“Huh? I don’t see nothing. What do you mean?” he asked staring at where I was. I lifted the lightning bolt off of his robe but it zapped me. Scorched, my hands burned up whilst everyone gasped. But I knew Yoake could see it know because he stamped on it, letting the light go out. I sighed in realief, then doubled back. “Yoake, how did you get here?!” I stammered wide eyed.
“Huh? I came through the mirror of course. That’s how you come here. But why?” he said confused. I ran outside. If my predictions were correct, then the bolts followed him through to this world to mine! I halted in the forest, staring transfixed at the mirror. Yoake joined me clueless as ever. There they were, buzzing and flashing straight at us. I didn’t let my family near, they wouldn’t survive the bolts. Many of the rays attacked us but I dodged them. Yoake blindly jumped around and in the end, he was caught up in a tangle of bright lightning threads. I found one that was glowing more than the rest. It was the one that all of them followed.
“Yoake, cut this one!” I said pointing to the thread.
“Which one?!” he shouted back thrashing around with his claws. He couldn’t see it. There wasn’t another choice. I summoned up some of my magic and emitted a blue light which inched the lightning down a notch. I grabbed it cautiously but even that didn’t help. The electricity ran up my body and I let a gasp of pain come out. Baring my teeth, I brought the thread towards Yoake. The pain struck my insides and tied around my hands.
“What’s happening?!” shouted Yoake. I closed my eyes, tears falling down my cheeks whilst I shook. I emitted the blue light which curled itself around the lightning. “I see it!”
He swiped at the thread and the shooting bolts around him died out, the thread cute in my hands. The electricity wasn’t in me though I was having an aftershock. I felt the bolts as I dropped to my knees and cried silently. Shaking, I let the magic die away. “Wha-what’s wrong?” asked Yoake.
“Never…mind…me. We have…to get…back…” I breathed looking at the mirror. I stood up quivering slightly and faced the cursed mirror. If I didn’t do something about that girl back in the forest, everyone I cared about would be in danger. Something heavy fell onto my shoulders. I looked at myself and saw that the red kimono of Yoake was on me.
“It’s made from the fur of the fire rat. It’ll protect you from most attacks; not sure about the last one though.” said Yoake not looking at me.
“Thank you.” I replied looking back at the mirror.
“Yeah well if you weren’t as weak as any other human you wouldn’t need it. Plus you’re so weird looking.” said Yoake.
“Hey, you’re one to talk, wolf boy!” I said back.
“Whatever, let’s go.” He grabbed my arm and pulled me forward, the bright galaxy surrounding us before we were back on the other side. The electrical buzzing was in the air and from what I could see Yoake was able to hear them too. The lightnings were all close together and led in one direction. Yoake bent down again looking expectantly at me. I nodded then got onto his back as he took off. I tightened my arms around his neck and shook a little.
“That way.” I said pointing forward. Yoake jumped ever the trees and landed on a cliff like place where he carried on running. As we came to the edge of the cliff, many lightning bolts came hurling at us in all directions.
“On your right! No your left!” I cried as Yoake tried to dodge them.
“Make up your mind already!” he retorted.
“Shut up! They’re all around us!” panicking, I tightened the grip on Yoake’s shoulder in fear. “Trust your instincts on this one!”
“Wha-“he started to shout but a strand of lightning weaved itself around his hand, pulling him away and I was flung backwards away onto the hard grass. “What the-“
A laughing female’s voice echoed around us and with a flash of her lightning bulbs, appeared the girl demon from earlier. Her skin covered with stars and the moon eyes fixed on Yoake, she hurled four more treads at him, tightening their grip on his body and hanging him in mid-air. “Do you like my threads, half-demon Yoake?”
“Who are you, creepy woman?!” yelled Yoake’s frustrated voice from up above. I got up and closed my eyes shut, waiting for some weapon to appear. When I opened them again, a bow and arrows kit glowed on the floor beside me.

applefudge • 8 April 2015 at 2:25 PM

Kuma:

That scent - there was no mistaking it. Running towards a clearing, I halted and chuckled at how accurate my sense of smell was. There was a female demon, my younger brother pathetically tied up by threads of lightning and...wait a minute... the girl who accompanied him was human!

" Kuma, join the party, you wimpy wolf!" growled Yoake struggling with the thread.
" You're just in time. I can finish this witch and you straight after!"
" Aw, look" cooed the demon." Another wolfy! You two resemble one another!"
" Who are you, woman?" I yelled at her as she tightened the threads around Yoake.
" Oh, I am sorry. I didn't introduce myself, did I now?" Bowing, she chuckled.
" I am Yami, the thread master of lightning!"
Looking up, she whizzed her arm round to defend herself as an arrow surrounded by ice blue light whizzed from behind us.
" You! Yami! Let. Yoake. GO!" she yelled, the girl with delicate white curls and beautiful eyes. She was determined, her bow and arrow ready for fire.
Yami laughed." Ha! Aw, she wants you back, wolfy!"
Yoake turned his head with difficulty and howled at the girl.
" You idiot! I told you to hide, didn't I!?"
" Enough talking," side Yami." More screaming!"
Raising an arm, she sent at least 10 lightning threads to the human girl, chuckling with pleasure. Growling, I used my claws to slash the threads surrounding my brother and then looked over at the human girl in shock. The threads wrapped themselves around her like snakes and her beautiful face became terrified. Frozen, I only stared at her as she emitted gasps of pain. As the human girl shot her arrow I could see it was aiming right at my body so I ran for my life. It came closer as I stopped to breath. The arrow nearly hit me but I bent over so the arrow went flying over to my younger brother and untied him from the bolts. He was glad that he was free but had no manners to say thank-you to the human girl.
" WHY YOU!," yelled Yami from up ahead. She reached out with her fierce threads of bolt heading to the human girl. I wasn't going to let her kill that beautiful young human girl. I rushed over to where my pathetic brother was making sure his claws were OK and I leaped up to the girl, made sure she was OK and I took her out of the place the black bolts were aiming for. As I took her out of the place she said she was very thankful for my saving. Then I heard Yoake grumble:
"Hey Kuma Give that girl back!"
" Aww, You care about her Yoake!"
" Just give her back now!" He yelled even more louder than he said ever before. I took the girls hand and shoved her over to my red faced brother.
" Well may I join the gathering of the Amouretta?" I questioned Yoake.
But as soon as Yoake opened his mouth the girl said :
" Yes, of course you can"................

snowlily • 8 April 2015 at 3:09 PM

Yoake:

"Hey Kuma Give that girl back!" I yelled.

"Aw, You care about her Yoake?" teased Kuma.

"Just give her back now!" I yelled even louder. Kuma took the girls hand and shoved her over to me. Catching her, I checked to make sure she was alright.

"Well may I join the gathering of the Amouretta?" Kuma questioned me.

I opened my mouth to speak but Annelyia reached me first. "Yes, of course you can."

"Yeah, sure he can!" I said sarcastically. "When Mars freezes over!"

"Yoake, don't." said Annelyia. There was something in her eyes that stopped me from retorting.

"He ain't helping." I muttered.

Annelyia sighed and said to my brother, "Join the hunt but not now."