A Chance meeting (Closed, Akanyara)

[Sir Lighter of Elsewhere]

A medium sized black cat slowly walked along the Great Wall, trying to find the right spot. The air felt nice and cool, and there a refreshing breeze that blew across the battlements. The cat fluffed his fur before sitting down, right in the middle of pathway. Several people passed, ignoring the cat. Somewhere, a monster roared as it ate a brave but foolish knight. Pathetic soldiers with their clubs and armor... I sincerely hope that the contact isn't like that. The cat waited for several more minutes before shifting into his human form. For a brief second, his true, solid black body was visible. A few of the soldiers doubled checked, surprised at the sudden appearance of a man. The man, dressed in a nice black suit with a matching fedora, winked at the soldiers before quickly dispatching them with a solid black saber. Suddenly, the weapon shrunk as he stuck it back into his jacket. "Can't have any witnesses... Why am I even here... How did I get here?" Mr. Black dropped to his knees, appearance flickering between human and black form. Black shifted back to cat form, and then flopped onto the ground, asleep, dreaming of Razortooth, being trapped in a mechanical device, fighting staff characters, and finally, his creation.

[Akanyara]

Wind buffeted pine trees softly beneath the gaze of two large eagles flying overhead. Snow littered the ground, not thick enough to hide the grass completely but just enough to dust the green of the ground below. Feathers fluttered in the breeze, and the powerful wings beat downward and up to keep altitude in the conditions. Spotting the wall they dipped their heads and folded their wings closer to their body, diving with great speed toward the rocky structure. About ten feet from the ground, golden light enveloped the larger of the birds and stretched the form out of proportion, shifting the being into a more human creature.

A young girl took form, wings still prominent on her back with a span of around 13 feet when spread completely as she pushed them outward to fly just over the ground until she touched it with her feet. Running a few feet after her landing from the power of the momentum, she came to a stop nearby a sleeping black cat. A soft smile lit her face and she fluttered her wings before tucking them securely at her back, watching her companion perch on a high rock just ahead. She knelt down and reached out her hand to stroke the cat letting her hand glide along its sides and back scratching between its ears gently.

[Sir Lighter of Elsewhere]

Black awoke as the girl rubbed his head. He tried to speak, but only a meow came out. Franticly, Black stood up and then looked down at his paws. He tried shifting, but found himself stuck in cat form. Instead of speaking, he tried reaching out with his mind, hoping to speak to the girl using his thoughts. Hello? Can you hear me? Who are you? Where are we? Black tried shifting again, but was somehow ripped back to cat form. Are you some kind of darkness hunter person? I think I'm a bit stuck... Black walked around, meowing to himself. Ok, I know what I need to do. But I need some help. And you can fly, correct? If you help me I'll give you a great reward. We need to kill a large monster. A Nightmare. I need to get at its heart, and then, I should get my powers back. But first, we must cross a rather dangerous stretch of land. There are lots of monsters, and it will take quite a while. But if you help me, I will grant you a favor. Are you in?

[Akanyara]

The girl shook her head as the cat appeared to grow frantic and then pushed herself up into the air when its thoughts entered her head. A monster? She narrowed her eyes, peering down at the animal suspiciously. Stuck, was he? The thought shoved itself into her mind between his frantic meows that he may be a human caught in that form. That seemed fitting. She had managed to pull that off once before and it was not pleasant. Birds didn't eat well.

She slowly lowered herself back to the ground and knelt in front of the cat, glaring downward cautiously, "I'll help you, but what kind of favor are we talking here?"

[Sir Lighter of Elsewhere]

Black gave a slight grin, happy that he'd found some help. Anything you want or need. I can find it, do it, or kill it. Just say the word. Black looked up at the flying girl, trying to get a close as possible. Can you fight? I still have some of my abilities, but I am, well, a cat. But, hm... there's an idea... Black grew from the size of a house cat to a large panther. This'll work.

[Akanyara]

The girl arched an eyebrow at his question and snarled angrily, "Of course I can fight. Do you think I'd have survived this far if I couldn't?" She glared down at him and stood, backing up as his size grew quite a bit bigger. She reached out with her mind to the eagle perched nearby, lifting a gloved arm just as the predator reached out for a place to land. The golden eyes looked down at the panther, glaring just as its master did. It let out a loud scream and took off into the air, circling overhead and waiting for them to start their journey.

Standing with crossed arms now, the girl looked fiercly down at this odd feline, "If I'm going to help you, you may want to be a bit more tactful. How far away is the place we're going. If it's a long way it might be easier for you to be small and have me just carry you there rather than fight it out."

[Sir Lighter of Elsewhere]

Black looked up at the eagle, thinking to himself. He reached out with his mind, and spoke to the eagle, hoping that he would be able to talk to it. Is she always this way, or is it that she just dislikes me? Black then spoke to the girl above.

Walking would be better for me... I need to be able to spot the NIghtmare right away. And when we do find one, We need the element of surprise. Meaning I piss it off while you ambush it. Air support. That same tactic almost worked against me a about a year ago... So many angels... Oh well. Now, you still haven't told me your name. I am Mr. Black, the King of Shadows, and the Master of Darkness. I was a Reaper, the end of all things. But now, I have been restored to what I once was... I am an agent of the law. Not quite staff, but still an agent. And now, I am a kitty cat. Enough about me, who are you?

[Akanyara]

The eagle screeched in response to the cat responding with vague images to answer that she was generally a kind person, but she'd had a rough go of it lately. It let the connection drop away and resumed its circling overhead without distraction.

As the man's voice entered her head again, the girl met his gaze, nodding as he told her what the plan was and vaguely wondering what exactly this Nightmare thing was. Soon he was introducing himself and asking her to do the same. Her voice was softer this time, calm and musical without the snappy ferocity to sharpen it, "My name is Sentranicia, Sentra to those who I give permission such as yourself. Friend to the deserving, enemy to those who make me one. I was born this way because a couple of scientists couldn't keep their hands to themselves. That's all you need to know for now."

[Sir Lighter of Elsewhere]

Black leaped off the wall, flattening his form into a solid flat wing. He glided down the to the ground hundreds of feet below. Coming Sentra? A few feet above the ground Black shifted back to a panther.

Hm... Seems I just can't shift back to my normal form... Hm. Well, I have a temporary gift for you. Here, take this. Black dropped a large piece of black matter, in the shape of a saber. Here, take this, it's any melee weapon you could want. I just want it back later. And no, this is not your favor. The cat walked away, tail swishing.

So, scientists fooling around? I know all about that... I was created in a lab, as a shadowy spawn of evil designed to track and punish. I was just a weapon of the staff. I am just a tool... And that's all I will ever be. No matter what I try to do, I end up fighting and killing. Well, that's my bit.

[Akanyara]

Sentra watched Black float to the ground and morph back to a cat and raised her eyebrow suspiciously. She stepped up to the edge of the wall and looked down, gestured to her eagle, and dove headfirst over the side. She shot downward like a bullet until about thirty feet from the ground. There, she opened her wings to catch the wind and slow her descent. Pulling her feet under her, she landed softly on the ground, flexing her shoulder to hold the eagle as it took it's place.

Fluttering her feathers she listened to the cat again, taking the saber gently and fastening it into her belt securely. The weight was barely felt on her hip, and she walked after him briskly, folding her wings back to their place. Once more, Black's voice found her ears and she gave a cynical grin at his story. At his last words she started in, "I was infused with avian DNA when I was still an embryo inside my mother. I have feather light bones, a faster heart rate, and the gut structure of any bird, and of course the wings. My mother couldn't birth me and survive, I was too strangely formed for her body, and I tore her apart bit by bit from the inside. She died right after my birth. I never knew her. I was raised to be a weapon too, until I escaped."

[Sir Lighter of Elsewhere]

Taken aback, Mr. Black watched as the woman pick up the blade. Most couldn't touch the weapon, but she could. He wondered if she could make the weapon shift forms. If so, she had a valuable tool resting on her hip. If not, it was just a sword, nothing more.

Black reached out again, continuing the conversation. I didn't escape. They released me. I was finished, but not complete. And at least you had a mother. I was the first Black. And I will be the last. I suppose that you could call my programmers my parents... but they were all bastards. They tried making me evil. 'Intimidating' they said. But a friend fixed me. And now, I have a spiffy new form, a human one. But I can't seem to reach it... The cat walked for a while, until finding a deer. He stalked it for a few minutes, and then at the opportune moment, he pounced, killing the deer. He dragged it away, and then proceeded to rip it apart, gnawing on a bone. He sliced off a large piece of meat with his razor sharp claw, placing it on top of the bloody deer.

Om nom nom nom... there's some food, should you want it... I'm sure that my blade can shift into tome kind of fire starter... try two rough blades. Ah, To Build a Fire. Oh, by the way, it can split into two different weapons. Just so you know...

Black ate for a little while longer, studying the bloody deer.
Eating... Hm. This is a lot of fun. No cooking... usually that stops me from eating... So, granted you have mommy issues, but why are you so... angry? I mean, I've dealt with Ice men who are warmer than you. Ever meet Sturm? He's one angry, ice cold son-of-a-bitch. He tried assassinating ME. Mr. Black sounded indignant as he spoke the last bit, as if it surprised him. He blinked his solid black eyes. He looked over his entire, black body with a perplexed look. It seemed as if the graphical designers had just made one color texture. His fur, eyes, ears, and claws blended into each other, giving him a sleek and smooth appearance. So, What's it like on the outside? I became truly self-aware a little while ago. And I learned that this isn't he real world. So, what's the outside like?

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[Akanyara]

Sentra watched carefully as the black panther stalked the deer, scenting its blood gathered inside the hollow of the throat, watching the easy calm with which it grazed. The young deer never even had a chance. With silent swiftness, Black lunged forward, a single blow stopping the flow of lifeblood to the rest of the body, killing it almost instantly. The power in Black's shoulders was clear as he dragged the animal back toward her, ripping through the fur and flesh to the meat hidden deep within.

Eyeing the carcass, a grumble grew in her own belly. She realized she had not eaten recently, and suddenly hunger was gnawing at her stomach. She bent over, clutching at her abdomen as it rumbled again and then crouched on the ground, looking straight ahead. Black said something about starting a fire by shifting the weapon, but that would take much too long. She felt the coldness in her stomach as her insides began to deteriorate from the starvation. She needed food now. The lighting on her body changed, turning her more into a shadow than an actual being. Her form began to bend and quiver, pulling itself inward and down until the form of a young raven stood eyeing the cat and the carcass.

Hopping over to the meat he had cut for her, she fluttered her wings and pecked at the food, barely able to stand at all. She jumped down and tore open the belly of the deer, pulling strips of meat into her beak quickly and tossing them back down her gullet. This would satisfy her until she could get some real food. Besides, if they were in danger of some other creature finding them, a dead deer was more than enough evidence without the firepit to tell them that any creature other than a panther had killed the deer.

Once she'd had her fill she listened to Black again, narrowing her golden eyes at him, "I am not angry, I am cautious. Cautious and mistrustful. As for what it's like on the outside...cold. Cold and filled with shadows that it's too dangerous to hide in. This world is safer than that if you ask me. There's no pain here...But I'm not a dark figure like I'm appearing right now. There are good parts to that world. Family and friends to get you through the tough stuff. Pleasures I've only heard about and pleasures I've delighted in a bit myself. Not all of it is bad. Getting through the hard things...that's just what makes the good so much sweeter a reward."

[Sir Lighter of Elsewhere]

Black jumped slightly as the woman shifted into a Raven.

Quoth the Raven, "Nevermore." I guess the raven was Lenore... The big cat ate another small piece of meat before stopping.

You look like you need it more.
Is there - is there balm in Gilead? - tell me - tell me, I implore!'
We have quite the zoo forming here. And I suppose that there is balm in Gilead... how ever obscure... 'tis a pleasure I will never know.

"And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon's that is dreaming,
And the lamp-light o'er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;
And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor
Shall be lifted - nevermore!"

Black sighed as he recited the bit of poetry, thinking about real life, and the wonders of humans. He had every advantage over the pathetic beasts, but he couldn't help but envy the happiness in them. Even the most pathetic had some degree of happiness. As he remembered, it was even written in one of their important documents. Black licked his fur, exposing his black fangs and tongue. You look hungry... I suppose that would be an understatement. When was the last time you ate?

Black sounded genuinely concerned as he spoke. The poor creature seemed to be in an ever deteriorating situation. Black pondered about Sentra's motivation of joining him on his quest. Instead of pointlessly wasting time, Black decided to be bold.

So, honestly now... why did you join up with me? A little lack cat in on a big wall, seemingly not with a shilling to his name? Black's slight British accent flared as he spoke. He continued licking his non-existent fur, merely as a formality. He laid down, exposing his stomach and stretching, throughly enjoying himself.

There are some things you just cannot do while wearing a suit.

Black sat up and rolled his shoulders a few times, exploring the different big cat muscles. He flicked his ear a few times, and tried roaring. The muffled noise sounded more like a raccoon dying than a big cat announcing his presence. Embarrassed, he turned away and flopped to the ground. Trying to take the attention away from his massive failure of a roar, he spoke again.

So tell, saintly raven, art thou craven or is audacity a favored trait of yours? For I have no use for those who shy away from valor, but the dauntless have my eternal gratitude.

[Akanyara]

Sentra grinned as Black recited the poetry, lowering her body down to a more comfortable position with her feet hidden beneath her black feathers. He leaned his head back to lick his fur, and she caught a glimpse of his fangs and tongue. Black was not only his name, it would appear, but his formation. This man was made of shadows, formed by the darkness in the hearts of those who had created him this way. She shook her head sadly, but it came across as more an answer to his next question, "It has been a few weeks I suppose...I mean, a few scraps here and there to keep me running, but not a real meal like this."

Sentra raised her brow at his question, or what brow the raven had, "Because the little black cat asked for my help, and I had the ability to give it. What more reason could I need?" She giggled a little at his accent. It was cute, in a way, a big black panther with a british accent. He stretched again and she hopped down from atop the deer, her stomach fully satisfied. She watched him for a while as he explored the form he had taken, stifling a snicker at his roar...or lack thereof.

"You really like that poem, don't you? I'm not a coward, if that was to be meant as a serious question. You might be surprised at what a young, avian hybrid is capable of."

[Sir Lighter of Elsewhere]

Mr. Black gave an indignant look, turning his nose up. I do like that poem, but that last little bit is mine and mine alone. It has never graced the air before now. Black gave a grin, showing his large black teeth again.

I am a very serious cat, and I do not take matters of valor lightly. I am glad to hear that you can fight. Now, on to more important matters. Do you need sleep, or should we move on? I can go either way. Mr. Black sat up, and looked straight at Sentra, waiting.