Forum Thread

It didn't take long for Tayla to return to her home. She had just reached the ledge and was about to crawl into her home when the hairs on her neck suddenly rose up. Something was coming... Soon after, the air changed dramatically. She didn't have time to process what was happening because of the loud hum that shot through the streets seconds afterward.

Tayla's agonized scream was muffled by the sounds of the hum. She fought the urge to curl into a fetal position and cover her ears. Instead she forces herself through the crawlspace, the difference in sound was immediately noticable the moment she made it inside. Her ears were still ringing and her heart was still pounding as she lay on the floor, trying to process what was happening and where she was.

Faustus was also affected by the change. He roamed around the warehouse with his ears pinned back, stopping only for a second to swipe a paw over his ears before he took off running again. He was growling at nothing, targeting an enemy that wasn't there. At times, he would launch his front paws towards the air, as if to attack an invisible foe. It was apparent that something was wrong. Suddenly, Faustus stops, his breathing was still quickened as he lay on the ground, slowly glancing around in a disoriented state.

Where am I? What was I doing again? What's going on? What happened? All of these questions hit Tayla at once as she stares up the ceiling. She was suddenly aware of everything. The way her heart was beating, her panicked breathing, even the way her muscles twitched as she tried and failed to sit up. But after a few minutes of fighting, the sensation slowly passed. That's right, I was getting supplies. I'm home. I'm- her eyes widen suddenly, that's when it hits her. That hum... It had to be something... An attack maybe? Not trusting that it was safe to return back to the others, she scoots away from the entrance and rests against the wall, waiting until it would be safe to leave.

Darcy was crouched over a box when it happened. She froze, her fingers still wrapped around the lid. "Now, would you listen to that," she mused. "Looks like something's coming." Del had a stranger reaction. He took off from the box that he was perched on, having successfully pecked through the rotted top, and began flying around the warehouse. He landed on an outcropping above the entrance and cawed loudly. "Yes," Darcy said, a bit louder, standing up, "There's danger in the air." Her hand was slowly snaking towards her sword.

---

Razor finally filp the last lid to the Box see nothing there like the rest "well that was useless..." sighing, but was rudely interrupted by low yet subtle change in the air...though unaware of the loud hum blasting through.

Jerking his head harshly razor eye grasp towards faustus obviously noticing the abrupt change of attitude " well the cat going crazy!" He remark, but something was clearly off tayla wasn't next to them or in the room for that matter "wait a minute where tayla!?" They sprout with concern. Turning their attention toward the door, razor carefully walks towards it opening it ever-so-slightly with his broken sword just enough for him to peak out of, but only to be greeted with Corpses lacing the outside quickly shutting the door without hesitation "imma just...yeeeehhh" he murmur, obviously not helping his concerns with tayla as they clutch on their sword waiting for anything to move.

Diablo of course change to as they jump into one of the boxes curling up in a little ball, as they emit clearly distress loud screeches without hesitation.

---

Tempest had been just about to open a can of beans from his and his sister's surprisingly large storage of non-perishables; someday he knew they would run out and he wouldn't be able to find any more, but he was working on contingencies for when the inevitable, the time when he would have to take the plunge and move Breeze through the open to a safer location where they might stand some chance of being able to grow food for themselves. However, Angel's low growl, a mix between frightened and apprehensive, caused him to glance up and set the can down. Not three seconds later, a strange pulse seemed to rumble through the ruined apartment. Angel began to whine, and whispers of the collie's pain made their way into Tempest's head. The dog's ears where far more sensitive than his, and while he could tell Breeze, who had recoiled against the side of the mattress but was sitting up straight, eyes wide with fear, wasn't hurt by the noise, Angel most certainly was.

As Tempest slipped off the side of the mattress and onto his knees on the old wood floor, he got the sense that, despite the strange sense that something was right there in the room with the trio, they were somewhat sheltered from the full effects. The whole area was mostly deserted, but now it seemed that there were perhaps a few people hiding nearby, something the young man was able to perceive due to a few loud, agonized, human screams filtering in through the cracked walls. Clapping his hands over the canine's ears, which were normally perked upright but now remained pinned against the side of her skull, he felt immediate relief flow from her as the pain lessened. The collie let out a little whimper of relief as Breeze crawled across the ground to sit beside her brother.

"What's going on?" she said, raising her voice above the hum. "I don't know!" he called. "Can you take over? I'm going to take a look." Though a bit reluctant, Breeze obeyed, placing her hands just over his so he could move away without exposing Angel to the noise once more. "Be careful, please," his sister begged as he stood and moved to a chest of drawers right under one of the larger holes in the ceiling. The sound seemed instantly more powerful beneath the gap and his head began to ache, but nonetheless he clambered onto the dresser, climbing up through the hole that was just barely wide enough for him to fit through.

The area that was once the second floor of the apartment building now served as the ceiling, though the rubble from the collapse, a result of the building's faulty and cheap construction, made it so there was only perhaps ten square feet of usable space. Around the sides, enough wall was left for the area to be slightly sheltered, perfect for Tempest to occasionally check his surroundings without having to risk being noticed by any passerby. Despite the protection, however, the young man's head was throbbing as he sat on the side of the hole, his ears warning him to not proceed any further. Not being one to give up easily, he did his best to cover his ears, and while that no longer seemed to do much, he managed to work up the confidence to crawl to the wall and stand up, just for a second.

The noise was agony, drowning out any thoughts aside from one; pure terror. Hordes of the creatures swarmed below, slow and menacing. The creatures that had caused all of this destruction. The creatures that had killed his mother. The creatures that might now be coming to kill him and Breeze. He couldn't look much longer; his head felt as if it might explode. Dropping back to his knees and gasping for breath, he tried to contain his fear by reassuring himself of their supplies; he'd been counting on being able to scavenge more, which had been foolish of him, but he was confident they could last for quite awhile on what they had now. That was provided the monsters didn't try to come inside; he doubted the walls would hold up.

Scrabbling back to the hole, he dropped back down, disorientation making him far more clumsy than usual. He landed on his side atop the dresser, then rolled off and somehow managed to land on his feet. Despite the noise's increased effects on her, Angel sprung up and darted to him, Breeze standing as well. The young man stumbled forwards, away from the crack in the ceiling, then sunk down to a sitting position on the mattress, trying to catch his breath as the collie laid her chin on his knee, whining and wagging her tail. "What happened?!" Breeze asked, sounding terrified. The first thing to come to Tempest's mind wasn't often the link between himself and Angel, but it worked both ways, and he could tell the collie's reaction to what he'd just felt must have scared his sister. Forcing a smile, he tried to reassure her. "I'm fine, it's alright. We're just probably going to want to stay inside for the foreseeable future."

---

Darcy's hand froze, and she turned around, turning on her heel, her foot slapping down against the earthy ground. "Well," she mused. "Looks like we have a little situation on her hand." She walked over to the entrance, hands clasped together. "I think that something is going on." Darcy looked up, and Del swooped down, passing over Razor's head and grasping onto Darcy's shoulder. "You know, I think it best we stay inside," she said calmly.

---

The once empty streets were now filled with bodies and creatures. Tayla knew this without needing to see it. The smell of death was thick in the air and the sounds of heavy footsteps sounded from the ground below.. She would be safe from the creatures, just so long as she stayed quiet and stayed indoors. I hope the others are okay...

A short time passes and Tayla is certain that the creatures are gone. How long could she stay here? Not very long, her food and water supplies were already low. If she brought it back to her new allies it would only really last them two days at best. Maybe she should stay behind. No, I can't leave them... Faustus is also with them. Tayla sighs and curses her newfound weakness.

She takes a moment to quietly grab her crossbow, the necklace, and a bag filled with food and water before quietly moving towards the entrance. To her relief, the streets were clear of any creature. For how long though, was a mystery.

She leaps onto the ground and takes off running. She doesn't care that she is making any noise, if there were creatures nearby, her best chance of survival would be to get back before one spotted her.

Adrenaline fuels her, making her move fast. Soon she can see the warehouse ahead. Thirty steps... I got this Twenty-nine, twenty-eight, twenty-seven... A sudden loud clicking nearly makes her freeze in place. She fights that urge but can't resist looking over her shoulder to see a two legged creature standing behind her. She curses outloud and bolts for the entrance. Fifteen steps now come on! Heavy footsteps sound behind her as the creature desperately tries to reach her. She doesn't dare look back to see how close it is.

Eight steps... She spots Darcy by the door and nearly barrels the poor girl over as she practically throws herself through the opening. She doesn't have time to apologise as she scoots away from the door, just in time to avoid the bladed tentacles clawing the air where she stood just moments ago.

"G-get away from the door!" She orders. She slowly rises to her feet and struggles to catch her breath. The run must've taken a toll on her. She coughs into a clenched fist and watches as the creature tries and fails to grab them. Suddenly, it stops. The clicking sound returns and it races away from the warehouse, seemingly towards it's next prey.

Darcy stumbled away from Tayla, and the tentacles triggered the first real sign of emotion from her, shock and fear, eyes wide. "Monster," she gasped. She fell to the ground, before scrambling to her feet, letting out a high, piercing whistle. Del had already taken off the moment that the bladed tentacles came through, and he flapped down, landing on the floor in front of her, his beady eyes blinking. "Oh good," she said dully. "You're here. I suggest we close the door soon, despite the statement you just uttered."

---

"Right" Tayla replies. She hesitates before moving towards the door. But fortunately, the creature seemed to be long gone. Or at least, it was far enough away that she could shut the door without any issues. After shutting the door, Tayla releases a breath that she didn't even realize was held and turns to glance between Darcy and Razor. "Did you two find anything?" She asks.

In the darkest corners of the warehouse are some glowing eyes. Before Tayla can react something erupts from the darkness. Faustus leaps onto Tayla, his weight making her crash to the floor again. "Someone's happy to see me!" She says with a surprised chuckle. "I'm okay, I promise!" She tells Faustus, gently pushing the large feline off of her and standing back up again. She glances away from the two, suddenly embarrassed, but now ready to listen to their answer.

"Well, let's see," Darcy said, holding up her arm. Del flew up to it, and she walked over to one of the boxes, the one that Del had pecked through. She bent down in front of it and dug through it. "Looks like it was full of cans at one point. They left a couple, whoever rummaged through it. Perhaps that was why it was so easy for Del to poke through it." She picked up the cans, and made a face. "Urgh. Dirt-covered." She set the cans down. "The box I went through was empty."

---

The low howling of the winds swallowed up the natural noise, blanketing the surrounding area with a buzzing white noise. Perhaps it was that kind of monotony that led Rikka to sleep under the stars with the sky as a blanket and the earth as a pillow. Calliope was curled as a secondary heat source, thick and rotting fur blocking out the worst of the cold. With only outcroppings and ruins to seek shelter in, Rikka quite liked the ever changing ground that provided a spot to rest on, the slight change in pace each day the only way to differentiate the previous day from the next. But this habit would only be the undoing of the pair as a low wail cut through the screeching gales. It struck true, leaving Rikka writhing on the cool dirt, nimble fingers gouging crimson lines into the dried grass. Choking on half formed screams of agony as Rikka's head threatened to rend in two, weak legs slipped as Rikka attempted to stand up knees scrapping on the harsh ground. With a concerned bray, Calliope gently nudged Rikka up just as the first of the monsters broke over the horizon. Suddenly Rikka didn't think that it was the wind that made swallowing hard and gave an uncomfortably dry mouth. "Run." Came the croaked out command and the two were off, limbs pounding against the ground to make their escape.

Rikka was fast. One had to be, working as a runner and a part-time saviour of the wounded. Sneakered feet pushed Rikka forward, disorientation making brown eyes swim unfocused and clumsy as multiple times lithe fingers had to scrabble against the loose dirt to keep Rikka moving forward. But luck was always a trait that evaded Rikka as the solid surface that kept the pair of them grounded vanished, leaving the survivor fumbling and spinning, head a mess of fear and confusion. A hard knock to Rikka's chin was enough to reel in the wandering mind, pain and adrenaline sharpening it until Rikka was painfully aware of the pain radiating up one leg. Scrambling up to continue running, it was futile as Rikka collapsed again, ankle unable to hold up the weight on a damned life saved too many times to be worth anything anymore.

The first of the monsters descended upon Rikka and for the first time she was at peace. He was going to be okay. They had lived for much too long after all.

A bleat had Rikka flicking out the whip, the frayed leather holding enough force to slap away the monster as another one was sent flying. Beside it Calliope ground to a stop, judgement clear in those milky dead eyes of the deamon. It would be funny, probably, except it wasn't and Rikka hastily clambered onto the goat's back lest Calliope decided to simply throw Rikka and carry the injured survivor like a sack of potatoes. Sometimes Rikka was glad that the two didn't need to speak to understand each other and this would be one of those times. Once Rikka's legs wrapped around the hollowed bones, Calliope was off running towards what was left of London. There would be shelter there and Rikka could only hope.

---

"I think that pretty clear..." razor glaze at Del then Darcy's as she walks to the door reminded of the dead body he saw "I don't think that's a good id-" he suggest, before interrupted by tayla barreling through the door as Darcy's scampers away not to get pummeled by them "that one way to use a door!" they chuckled a bit, seemly unfazed by the creature unable to make out anything mostly only seeing a flash of blurred color only if they had a little bit more time to register.

Razor watch faustus pummeled onto tayla truly relieved that they're safe and sound before shifting attention "Oh right-the boxes" they hum, as they walk over the Box they have already open only to see practically nothing but Diablo in one of them "does Diablo count?" They snickered jokingly. Beginning to lighly tap the Box with their sword "you can come on out girly" razor suggest, as Diablo crawl out letting out a small hiss at then before seeing tayla happily, grunting on over as they begin to jog circles around them.

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