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| Stone dojo Posted by: James bluewolf at 11-29-2013 12:10 PM, Last Modified 12-01-2013 14:13 PM |
The wonders of technology truly make life an easy and enjoyable...Runes powered everything from our homes, our vehicles.......and our weapons. We had it all yet we fought and killed each other for more..and thus stronger and more unstable runic machinations were created. Great rune crafters slaved away in forges of aether and lore. Then technology gave civilizations its final gift of simplicity.......It destroyed it and thus civilizations was reduced to its most simplistic form and cultures. It a blink and out lash of energy and light the spark of life was nearly snuffed and our lands shattered and separated strewn across the sky as residual aether stain forced the very ground itself to become buoyant carrying the those spared to start again into the heavens. For a time life was that of struggle and tyranny, it wasn't long however till Civilization desperate to reclaim what it once had began ferverous attempts of uncovering and salvaging shards of the past life. Slowly it began to grow and expand once more still a shadow of its former glory...will it continue down the same road of ruin? Or will it blossom and grow from it mistakes.
That is a story only my son's son's son will tell....This are the stories of now. One born in the times of old would now find himself in broken lands and lives of the new
Dojo groaned and whined softly holding his head as he stumbled along the dimly lit tunnels of his awakening. “wha...wh....where am I” He spoke softly as dim and unaccustomed eyes struggle to adjust to the dim lighting. Where once was machinery and colleagues bright with the light of lamps and runic forges and loud with the sounds of hard working and pressured colleagues was not replaced with hard granite walls and emptiness. He didn’t even notice the cool crisp upon bare pelt as his lungs struggled to breath the stale air. Like a pup freshly born he was weak and confused by this existence.
“hurry just down here!” a voice called in the distant tunnels as the sound of many paws were heard upon earthy ground.
“I thought you said this was an untouched Isle how could there be someone down here!” called a separate feminine voice.
“you don't understand mistress he appeared from a rune...first he wasn’t there then a bright flash and boom!....nude and present!” the voices were now much closer and suddenly a beam of light struck dojo's face forcing the corgi to yelp and fall over covering his eyes dazed.
“Oh nude is right....have you no decency man, jumping out of nowhere and giving my poor workers a scare” spoke the feminine voice once more as dojo's sight slowly returned revealing a tall white jackal adorn in a leathery copper petty coat and simple trousers speaking to him.
“uuughhh....what are you going on about....where....where am I...who are you” the corgi spoke as he spied the small form of dachshund actually holding into the leg of the jackal viewing Dojo as if he were a demon or other fallen creature of sorts. The corgi slowly got to his feet staring up into the intimidating eyes of the jackaless piercingly looking down upon him, right paw upon a holstered pistol on her belt. His mind awash with thoughts and memories like tome torn and discard upon the floor pages scattering, he grasped his head once more whining in pain as faculties started to restore darkness taking him once more before gravity took its own toll causing the corgi to pass out upon the ground.
~~~~~~~
“we have to get out of here!.....” a familiar voice screamed at the borders of his hearing.
“Not yet I’ve almost finished it!” Dojo replied returning his gaze to the glowing rune covered ball floating in his paws energy swirling around and through his fingers lashing against the sphere shaping and writing words of lore and arcane upon its surface.
“we don't have time for this they are......” A crack and spray of crimson ceased what had only just begun as Dojo's gaze fell upon the wide eyed falling form of owner of the voice now wide eyed in shock, Time seemed to slow as crimson essence spattered upon the rune in his paws staining it. The flow of concentration and aether from the corgi became ragged as crimson dye seeped into the runes. Threads of aether began arcing through and around him as sphere hummed and oscillated and vibrated violently in its lofted perch in his paws. His clothing began to burn as his paws seemed to slowly glow and evaporate steadily creeping up his arms. He tried to shake himself free but even his breaths now loud and drawn out over scraps of eternity as his looked upon those whom fired upon him. The look of horror and fear shaping the features of their muzzles before he turned his gaze back to the sphere once more now a blur of motion and energy.
Then there was nothing
Dojo grumbled softly feeling the moisten sensation of damn cloth upon his nose and face. He awakened once more to feel of softness under him and warmth of blanket upon him. His first waking sights were that of a green eyed husky looking femme standing over him smiling tenderly.
“ah good someone’s coming around....we were worried there for a bit” she speaks softly re-moistening the cloth dabbing his head once more “oh those are some lovely green eyes you have....they look wise and old compared to how young you look” She laughs softly as she cleans his face with the cloth “what were you doing in that cave sugar...some mean pirate abandon you there?” she spoke once more that smile never leaving her face even as corgi paw tried to force her own away from him as he sat up. “oh oh oh not so fast now” she spoke helping him sit up “lets get some food in you first and maybe a bit of clothing too?” she blushed before turning to pick up a bowl from the table beside her.
“i'm fine...just tell me where I-erf!” his speech was interrupted by the force entry of soup laden spoon into his maw as the husky shushed him softly.
“your on the thornless rose sugar....your safe trust me” she said as she ladled another spoon of thick soup into his muzzle regardless of the sour glare she was receiving from the corgi. “I'm Dallas....you've already met captain Cecile...you collapsed in when they found you....heavens what were you doing in there”
“I don't even know myself lady....I'm still trying to figure that out” He grunted and growled at the spoon trying to intrude again. “and dammit I'm not a pup stop feeding me!' He spoke taking both bowl and spoon from her continuing to eat, He was starved and wouldn’t dare to deny himself food by fluffing his pride. “all I know is one moment armed men are storming my workshop killing my assistant and the next time stumbling about in a care....starve....freaking....nakkid” He growls holding his head “I feel like I've drank a barrel of brew and chased it with a 50 year whiskey” he continued between mouthfuls barely looking up as the door opened and the familiar face of the Jackal peeked in.
“He didn’t die did he?....I would be very cross if you let him die in my bed Dallas....spooks and creeps are born from such thoughts” the ivory muzzle spoke before Cecile entered hand upon hip tail twitching a curious sway. “oh good he's quite alive......hungry too it seems” she added before tossing a bundle of clothing onto his blanket covered legs. “some of my lads were generous to offer you some of their cloths....mostly the fennecs and small kin would fit someone of your....stature so I hope they do fit..” she offered a sly smirk “really can't have our new guest wandering the corridors nude with his bits exposed to the elements and.......peering eyes can we now” She stopped and blinked at him as he watched her back spooning and devouring the soup in manner like that of wild beast fearing its prey about to be stolen, Those deep and thoughtful green eyes staring into her own crimson ones.
he looked at her then where he gaze was falling upon his lower half and both gazes met each other once more. The Jackal went to speak but was briskly cut off “NO lady...I DON'T know where my cloths are and why i'm currently nude” he huffed and guzzled the bowl before setting it now empty upon his lap. “I still wish to know the reason of that as well” he added before grabbing pants tugging them under the covers wiggling and rolling about tugging them on. “is the war over?” he queried before sliding from the bed looking between the quizzical look of both females.
“the war between who?.....” the jackal spoke softly
“what you mean between who.....THE war.....who else would it be between?!” Dojo spoke annoyed as he wiggled and tugged a small tunic on leaving the two femmes staring at each other before turning back to him.
“well the continents are always scuffling and harassing each other as the controlling lords bicker of resources and runes but that has been so since.....well...forever since I’ve lived....and my father has served as regent of volias as was his own father did” Cecile chimed softly returning gaze upon Dojo.
“what of the riftships...did they orbit?” the corgi speaks panic starting to stain his voice
“riftship....whats a riftship...and orbit wheres that far lands?” The jackal responded as ivory paw sets a pair of glasses upon her muzzle shielding crimson eyes as Dojo's expression became one of confusion and pain. He began to falter and sway as he once again whined holding his head tears welling in eyes until the paws of Dallas fell upon his shoulders easing him back onto the bed.
“I don't understand....nothing is piecing together the way it should” he looked around slowly towards the open window “sounds scents....even the flow of aether are all foreign to me.......how long was I there” he speaks softly weak and strained as darkness once again takes him.
He yelped softly as the sudden sound of cannon fire and shaking tossed him from the bed waking him once more while also dumping him upon the floor square on his muzzle. The screams and yells of panic heard all around him before the wall behind him shatters as a ball of iron skipped by him careening into the opposing wall. The corgi could only gasp as the now missing outer wall gave him his first look of the new world of clouds and speckled land masses high above a sea of blue. A view that was quickly replaced with the entry of a screaming and howling hyena through the hole. The pirate grins menacingly as he drew sharpened steel in blade form and loomed towards Dojo forcing the corgi to back pedal away yipping softly as furred back soon met solid wall. Suddenly the pirate charged sword held high aiming to cleave upon its decent. Dojo braced and whined before a high pitched yap accompanied a loud bang followed by yelp of pain and wet sound of moist impact against something firm.
“c'mon c'mon lets move before more come!” spoke a higher pitched mail voice before Dojo felt a small hand on his wrist. His reopening meeting the slightly lower level gaze of a silver eyed fennec holding a smoking sawed off shotgun I one paw. “well?....you coming or not!?” it spoke once more leading Dojo from the room as soft whimpers catch his ear and causing him to turn his head catching a parting glimpse of the dying hyena clutching a grievous chest wound with both hands slowly slumping down against the bed staining its sheets with blood exposing more solid crimson matter on the wall behind.
“the hell is happening!?” yelled dojo as the fennec lead him along the corridors of the ship occasionally passing a fallen and bleeding friend or pirate. The pair occasionally stopping as the fennec grabs an item from a outstretched paw or to yank a friend out of the line of fire...or plaster an unfriendly one with a blast of his shotgun.
“pirates....Competition....Pissed off local with his buddies I don't know!?” the fennec huffed and kept leading dojo along.
“This happens a lot then?” the corgi crys yelping as he ducks a thrown blade and covers his ears as shotgun barrel is braced over his muzzle and trigger pulled followed by a wet gurgle and wheeze of the blade owners life ending.
“pirates?.....yeah! All the time!” the fennec yiped dragging the corgi into a alchove covering his muzzle as 3 pirates thump past them slowly peering out when they go by. “normally we outrun them the thorn is a fast one......the look out feel asleep I think so they snuck up on us using some sort of device to muffle their engines..” He finishes before once again pulling Dojo along till they enter the small seemingly mixed workshop engine room. The kitsune slamming his shotgun down and sliding into a work bench immediately pulling out a large brass casing filling it with random pouches before flailing a paw “Mallet.....FAST!” He yelps loudly before another loud crash rips through the room ending with a loud spit and hiss of runic conduits as another large iron ball impacts the drive engine.
“where is it!” yelled the corgi as he rummaged loudly through drawers and tool racks before finding it said mallet dangling from a small bed post. “here” he yells hurling it across the room to the catching fennec whom proceeds to hammer and crimp a large slug into the shell before hefting the large munition over his shoulder.
“grab my gun and follow me!...shells are in the drawer in the bedside table!” the fennec screams over the loud scream of wounded engine before running out the door leaving Dojo little time to retrieve shells and gun before charging out after.
“what the hell is that thing!” he crys chasing after the encumbered fennec down the smokey halls “and where are we going!?”
“the Kitchen!......this is for Dallas hurry your....” a yelp is heard as the fennec rounds a corner and soon is seen backing up as a grinning wolf follows after him holding a revolver “uuuuuuuggh alittle help here pleeease?” the fennec squeaks quickly looking to dojo.
The corgi trills a whistle before raising the shotgun single paw grinning “HI!” he speaks before pulling the trigger and getting knocked on his ass by the kick of the shotgun loosing the pirates arm from his shoulder with a howling screaming leaving the fennec standing there perked eared and panicked muzzle staring at the clean slug dent in the side of the case.
“you almost killed me with that shot....who the hell taught you to fire a shotgun with one paw....use BOT H PAWS!!” the fennec squeaked taking a few breaths before kicking the whimpering stub clutching pirate in the ribs a few times....”cmon were almost there!”
Both would continue a short way before barreling into the ships kitchen yelping softly as 2 daggers nearly pin their ears to the door a huffing and grubby looking dallas glaring at them “the hell took you so long!....they're all over the place!” she cried out before pointing to several beaten and butchered forms laying on various places in her kitchen.
“the hell you mean what took me so long women you know the captain says we can't keep these things prepped!....and I know they blooming put a ball through my precious engine” He squeaked and snarled back dropping the shell butt first on the floor as their argument continued for a few moments while the femme husky started tearing this object from that and that odd bobble from this jar clicking and twisting them together forming a quite large and nasty looking rifle before grunting and loading the large shell into it.
“right Cmon then I gotta bone to pick to with those pricks for ruining my new paint pattern!” the husky having gone from kind and sweet to lipped curled and quite menacing in appearance shouldering the large rifle and stomping off out the door of the galley the fennec following in tow beckoning for the corgi to follow.
“why is that thing kept in pieces!....” dojo yelled as he followed the duo blinking as the fennec laughed.
“its....a.....Tad illegal” The fennec replied pointing to Dallas “we can't have her playing with it willynilly”
Dallas snorted and kicked open the door onto the deck where majority of the ships crew stood fighting off the encroaching pirates. The captain cecile currently standing revolvers drawn slow dedicated aiming between each shot, a bleeding caramel wolf standing at her one side with a sparking runic charged prod and a black dingo standing at her other using a large axe to defend and occasionally mortally cleave a offending attacker. “oh....so good of you to finally Join us up here....took your jolly time getting ready did you!” Screamed the wolfess pushing the hair from her eyes before snapping her aim and lodging another lump of heated lead into the throat of a pirate getting to close.
“So where does that thing mount!?” the corgi yells looking around yipping softly unleashing another shell upon a charing fox causing it to screech and stumble overboard falling the extensive expanse towards the ocean below. “I don't see a rig for it anywhere”
The fennec laughs shakes his head drawing a small luger pegging another victim in the hip as they try to charge towards dallas whom finishes the poor sod with crushing blow to the head with the the butt end of the gun. “that is the mount right there!” He yips before darting off to deal with other intruders.”stay close to dallas and make sure no one bothers her!”
“Um...Ok?” Dojo mumbled softly watching the husky shift her weight suddenly to straight kick a pirate in the jaw sending them thumping against a rail. “like she really needs it.....” mutters keeping pace with her splaying ears as the husky drops the large weapon into firing position with a death head grin upon her lips.
“you might wanna cover your ear sugar......she roars!” squeals the husky before jamming the trigger hard the rifle sparking and ocilating with energy before the following forcewave sends the husky stumbling back a few steps. The pirate's ship on the other hand suffers a far worse fate as the screaming projectile collides and detonates causing the ship to splitter and creak before secondary explosions of engines and gunpowder stores shatter and split the ship in several places. Dallas grins and giggles softly wrenching the bolt of the rifle back catching the smoking shell in her paw kissing and blowing on it softly “you never cease to amaze me babe” she turns and winks at the corgi sitting wide eye in shock in amazement beside her.
The remaining pirates wounded and alive aboard the thorn quickly drop their arms and surrender upon seeing their precious ship so thoroughly dispatched, The smell of urine and fear staining both eyes and britches as knees where brought down to decks all across the limping and wounded thornless rose.
A sharp pat upon his shoulder and a ruffle of his head fur from Cecile wakes dojo from his stupor “the rose may be thornless....the really danger lays within it...No?” the Jackal speaks grinning wide before clutching a wound on her flank and coughing a bit of blood slouching against the wall of the deck, Her spectacles falling from her muzzle before she passes out onto the floor breathing heavy.
“so how about something stiff and burning in the throat then” comes the familiar voice of the fennec engineer as the shotgun is taken from him by its proper owner making the corgi blink softly then smile softly.
“you better have a damn good bottle of whisky there......I never did catch your name” He spoke before offering his paw in shake to the almost same stature fennec whom briskly claps his own paw around it shaking and squeezing it.
“copper....call me copper” the fennec replys before taking a small comical bow “as for the drink?....I think this might be a good time to break out my private stash”
The ship suddenly shook and rocked jaring everyone from their celebrations “oh shit the engine!......Dojo come help me!” copper screeched before barreling down the closest set of stairs his agile form darting along the halls taking turns by short skittering wall runs barely slowing his pace as dojo struggled to keep up. Upon arrival both would find engine room ablaze runic arcs licking along the walls from jolting from the cracked open runic causing the large glass ball cracked and pulsing with energy, the fennec standing horrified like a deer in the headlights as arcs jolt all around him.
“its....its....going to blow!” He yelped before charging towards dojo trying to tackle him out the door but found himself caught and pushed aside as the corgi pushed past him. To coppers awe and amazement Dojo slaps both paws onto the decaying room growling and planting his feet as the runic energy arcs and sparks across his arms and fur.
“get me glass!...I don't care...drinking glasses windows just get me it!” He yells as the energy jacob ladders frighteningly across his teeth as he speaks. He barks and yelps wincing as an arc strikes his nose “NOW!”.
The fennecs yips and runs off relaying commands to various companions and with minutes returns carrying bobbles, Spectacles, shards of broken window even a large ornate figuring “OK now what!” he yells across to the increasingly illuminating and sparking corgi.
“throw them here quickly!” dojo yells before short claws dig into the runes hold wrenching the crack ridden sphere free keeping his form pressed against the ships engine like a conduit of a circuit as the fennec began hurling clear objects his way each one caught and smashed against metallic engine behind him. The shards would swirl and orbit his paw before he slowly brought them together growling as the light from the glass sphere starting to become blinding. The shards starting to shatter to dust and get drawn into the cracks while aether rediverted by the corgi begins to repair and fill in missing symbols of runes. His pads begin to crack and shrivel like leather left to dry for to long pieces start to flake away as rune screams in his paws before finally stabilizing allowing the corgi to jam it back into place causing the engine to scream painfully as he once again clapped his paws over it “We need to land.....NOW!”
Copper blinked and nodded pushing the shutter of his communication tube open “we need to land.....find somewhere fast....No im serious take her down!” he screamed before the ship suddenly lurched as the wheel man took it into a steep decent before pulling up just in time to do a belly grinding landing upon ground skidding and screeching as it plowed a swaff in the dirt and snapped trees like twigs. Once all had stopped dojo smiled weakly and slowly slumped down against the powering down drive shivering softly as he looked at his burnt and cracked paws. “I have no idea how you did that.....but you just saved all of us” Copper spoke as the fennec sauntered over tearing his shirt and slowly binding the injured paws with the stripes.
Dojo laughed and shook his head softly bowing his head tired slowly drifting to sleep murmuring softly.
“what....you've never met a rune crafter before”...... |
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