07-03-2013, 09:01 PM
Today, the sky was absolutely beautiful, and it captivated little Flora, working away at her field. As soon as the golden sky caught the blade of her scythe, she hastily wiped her tools clean of dirt and plant matter and made her way to the nearby hills. Someone had told her that the lovely sunsets were caused by the recent cataclysm and a fight with a big, fiery dragon, but she doubted it. Why would ash and debris make the sky prettier?
Flora found herself lost in thought, as she was used to doing in long periods by herself, but paid enough mind to her surroundings to notice that she had reached one of the highest hills in the area- and one bordering the plague lands. Looking about for potential dangers, she only spied a few figures in the distance, whom Flora waved to. As they hastily changed direction upon seeing her, she belatedly realized that a skeletal form holding a scythe is likely not an enticing sight. Mildly embarrassed, though no one seemed to be there to see it, the undead woman sat herself down carefully on the desiccated clay soil and enjoyed the view.
An inhuman, rumbling wail erupted from somewhere nearby, snapping her to attention as the stars first became visible. Flora, briefly slipping on the silty hill, grabbed her scythe and stood in a makeshift battle stance. As the howling began again, the undead woman was better able to make out details of the sound: exhaustion, desperation, and a hint of adamant rage, now slightly muffled and hollow. Scanning the surroundings again, small blue ghost lights darting about frantically, she still saw nothing, and despite the call of common sense telling her to go back the way she came, she gingerly made her way down the clay slope. This new vantage point allowed her to see a previously obscured cave of some sort, with a hulking, yellowed and form throbbing within.
The thing must have noticed her, too, as it turned to face her with its massive, circular mouth and eyeless face. Flora's eyes widened as the massive worm ejected a half-digested bone from its maw and undulated toward her with a furious hunger. Her body instinctively attempting a futile hyperventilation, she did the first thing in mind, and slashed at the creature, which moved with surprising speed despite its bulk.
The worm recoiled only briefly upon her attack, inner mandibles being nicked, but it lunged at Flora again, a foul slime dripping from its mouth. Countering defensively, she thrust the length of the horizontal blade in front of her, grappling with the beast as it struggled to wrap its maw around her makeshift weapon without hurting itself. The sheer inertia of the creature slammed her back, forcing her heels deep into the soft soil, and causing her skeletal left hand to make an audible "Crack!"
Panic filled her mind as she could sense her arm faulter. It took all of her focus to make her body heed her will after her hardship some time ago, and she managed to push her fear out of her thoughts through sheer necessity. She held her scythe firm, though the massive worm found purchase on the tip of the implement. It's entire form curled back as it simultaneously knocked Flora's grip skyward, making itself parallel to the blade, and clamping down on it with full force.
The carrion worm, having just skewered itself on the makeshift weapon and writhed wildly in pain. Flora attempted to move away from the creature, but was only just able to free her feet from the clay mud before being knocked several feet away by the end of her own tool. She scrambled to her feet again as the creature flung it's head, and by extension, her scythe through the air. After watching the movements of the creature for a few of its side-to-side motion, she timed herself carefully and grabbed the scythe's handle with both hands.
The worm continued its erratic motions to dislodge the blade from itself and was successful- to a degree. Flora's unanticipated grip on the scythe caused it to pull the blade straight through itself, bisecting the latter half of its front form. The beast oozed a sickly ichor and wriggled weakly, as it lay on the filthy Plagued earth.
Again, the desperate, inhuman cry emanated from the cave.
Flora found herself lost in thought, as she was used to doing in long periods by herself, but paid enough mind to her surroundings to notice that she had reached one of the highest hills in the area- and one bordering the plague lands. Looking about for potential dangers, she only spied a few figures in the distance, whom Flora waved to. As they hastily changed direction upon seeing her, she belatedly realized that a skeletal form holding a scythe is likely not an enticing sight. Mildly embarrassed, though no one seemed to be there to see it, the undead woman sat herself down carefully on the desiccated clay soil and enjoyed the view.
An inhuman, rumbling wail erupted from somewhere nearby, snapping her to attention as the stars first became visible. Flora, briefly slipping on the silty hill, grabbed her scythe and stood in a makeshift battle stance. As the howling began again, the undead woman was better able to make out details of the sound: exhaustion, desperation, and a hint of adamant rage, now slightly muffled and hollow. Scanning the surroundings again, small blue ghost lights darting about frantically, she still saw nothing, and despite the call of common sense telling her to go back the way she came, she gingerly made her way down the clay slope. This new vantage point allowed her to see a previously obscured cave of some sort, with a hulking, yellowed and form throbbing within.
The thing must have noticed her, too, as it turned to face her with its massive, circular mouth and eyeless face. Flora's eyes widened as the massive worm ejected a half-digested bone from its maw and undulated toward her with a furious hunger. Her body instinctively attempting a futile hyperventilation, she did the first thing in mind, and slashed at the creature, which moved with surprising speed despite its bulk.
The worm recoiled only briefly upon her attack, inner mandibles being nicked, but it lunged at Flora again, a foul slime dripping from its mouth. Countering defensively, she thrust the length of the horizontal blade in front of her, grappling with the beast as it struggled to wrap its maw around her makeshift weapon without hurting itself. The sheer inertia of the creature slammed her back, forcing her heels deep into the soft soil, and causing her skeletal left hand to make an audible "Crack!"
Panic filled her mind as she could sense her arm faulter. It took all of her focus to make her body heed her will after her hardship some time ago, and she managed to push her fear out of her thoughts through sheer necessity. She held her scythe firm, though the massive worm found purchase on the tip of the implement. It's entire form curled back as it simultaneously knocked Flora's grip skyward, making itself parallel to the blade, and clamping down on it with full force.
The carrion worm, having just skewered itself on the makeshift weapon and writhed wildly in pain. Flora attempted to move away from the creature, but was only just able to free her feet from the clay mud before being knocked several feet away by the end of her own tool. She scrambled to her feet again as the creature flung it's head, and by extension, her scythe through the air. After watching the movements of the creature for a few of its side-to-side motion, she timed herself carefully and grabbed the scythe's handle with both hands.
The worm continued its erratic motions to dislodge the blade from itself and was successful- to a degree. Flora's unanticipated grip on the scythe caused it to pull the blade straight through itself, bisecting the latter half of its front form. The beast oozed a sickly ichor and wriggled weakly, as it lay on the filthy Plagued earth.
Again, the desperate, inhuman cry emanated from the cave.