#🌌 || return to alius orbis

[oflostinfound]

🌌 Return to Alius Orbis - Part 9 (End) 🌌

There was no looking back, no time to pause an reflect if this was a good idea or not. All they knew is they had to run. Run as fast as they could. Keeping a tight hold on their friend as they blur past the guard and into the human realm, there's not even time to take in the sights, to figure out where they landed this time.

They're followed, that much is obvious, a blur of yellow and blue followed closely by armored daemons. Two on foot, one further behind on a sort of bull-like creature with red eyes, scaled hide, and shaggy mane. Though the mounted daemon was quickly gaining ground, the creature opening is maw the moment it's past the other guards to shoot out a ball of poison at the two- which Hax only narrowly dodges.

|| 🔷 ||: ❝ Spirits-! ❞

|| 💛 ||: ❝ HOLD ON! ❞

A sharp skid to the left and a leap over a downed tree leaned against two still standing, and they gain some time. Just enough to delay the bull-rider as the acid shot from the beast's maw quickly eats through the wood. Making it brittle enough to smash through as it charges with it's head down.

❝ Halt! In the name of Duchess Agares I order you to halt! ❞

The command causes Hax to hiss, their left hand tensing up as their bracelet sparks. Yet they keep running, biting the inside of their cheek as they bob and weave between the trees of the unknown forest. They couldn't keep this up forever, this other daemon was more than determined, and this beast absolutely had their scent.

|| 💛 ||: ❝ Eath, cover your ears! ❞

|| 🔷 ||: ❝ Hax- ❞

|| 💛 ||: ❝ Just trust me! ❞

Eath's hands release from their shirt to press over her folded back ears, the smaller daemon burying her face in Hax's chest as they take a deep breath. Hoping, praying to the spirits between, that someone hears them.

|| 💛 ||: ❝ HELP! ANYONE! HELP US! ❞

[oflostinfound]

❝ You can run all you want, it wont save her. You'll have to come back at some point for the cure. ❞

The rider chuckles, causing Eath to curl up further in Marsha's arms, her ears drooping. The hand that's subconsciously curled into her shirt weak in how it was grasping the fabric. Hax's worried eyes scanning over their friend with a soft sigh,

|| 💛 ||: ❝ We'll find a way... ❞

The grumble, shooting a glare back at the rider as the nighthound releases him. The daemon scrambling to his feet, hand on his axe as he eyes the group. There was no way he was going to give up so easily, not when he had reinforcements on the way.

So in an act that was either brave, or foolish, he brandishes the axe and rushes at them. Letting out a yell as he swings it at Marsha-

Only to find the weapon suddenly flying into a portal in front of him. The rider himself halting suddenly, his grip on the weapon lost as he suddenly pulls his hands out of the opening.

When the portal closes he can see a small, outstretched, hand pointed at him. A single white goat-like eye peering out at him from where most of Eath's face was buried behind her other arm, the other eyes closed in pain.

|| 🔷 ||: ❝ Go... Away... ❞

All he can do is stand there and stare.

"If my dog want to maul you, you'd already be a goner." Victor & Charlie was a nighthound after all, notorious for their strength. When Marsha heard that there was two more, she groaned. "Let's get out of here."

Marsha whistled to V&C. "Release." At her command, both heads released the rider.

[oflostinfound]

🌌 Return to Alius Orbis - Part 7 🌌

Droplets fall from the top of the cavern, dripping into small pools of mineral rich waters. Sometimes onto little mounds of stalagmites, depending on how deep within the tunnels they are.

Not far past the entrance, an ear twitches as another droplet hits the ground. Followed closely by a hiss as pain shoots through the daemon's chest. She was lucky, had the arrow peirced her right side, her heart...

|| 💛 ||: " Easy.... Easy, just deep breaths... "

A shaky laugh, the tiny daemon's eyes drifting to her friend,

|| 🔷️ ||: " I don't have lungs. "

|| 💛 ||: " ... You know what I mean. "

As appealing as it would be to make light of the situation, the two were simply lucky a cave like this had been just off the path. Just out of sight of their pursuers.

Eyes drift back to the arrow lodged in her shoulder, brows furrowing in worry. It's almost glass-like, filled with a swirling green and purple light that dimly illuminates the area. The pulsing of the light slow but steadily increasing as the danger draws near. They'd put a decent amount of distance between them, but it wouldn't be long until they were found.

|| 💛 ||: " I can't lie... this is bad. "

Hax sighs, running a hand through their hair, all the while Eath stares up at them with wide eyes.

|| 💛 ||: " I need to take the arrow out, but if I do... "

They grit their teeth,

|| 💛 ||: " Dammit dammit DAMMIT! I knew this was a bad idea! "

|| 🔷️ ||: " I'm sorry- "

She murmurs, her gaze drifting to the floor. Her friend expression softening from their rage to worry- sadness, even.

|| 💛 ||: " No I... I didn't mean... You were right, we needed to know, but this... "

They gesture to the arrow, the pulsing light have gotten faster,

|| 🔷️ ||: : " How bad? "

|| 💛 ||: " ... If we don't remove it, they can track you. If we do, it'll eventually petrify you until they can find and retrieve you. "

A shaky sigh leaves Hax, while Eath's ears simply fold back. A soft noise leaving her after a long moment of silence.

|| 🔷️ ||: " How far away is the next ingress? "

|| 💛 ||: " I don't know, maybe a day? We just need to head towards the family farm and sneak through- "

|| 🔷️ ||: " And how long until I'd...? "

|| 💛 ||: " A week. It's a slow process to give time to turn yourself in for a cure... "

Another long pause, the glow of the arrow illuminating white eyes, changing their color as she nods quietly,

|| 🔷️ ||: " Remove it, and take me home. "

[oflostinfound]

🌌 Return to Alius Orbis - Part 6 🌌

" Intruders spotted at the southwestern wall alert the capt- ACK! "

The other daemon's call is cut short as Hax lunges at him, clawed hands wrapping around his throat. Pinned to the ground under them, fists landing hit after hit to his nose and cheeks, he doesn't last long before his conciousness is taken from him.

Growls sound out through gritted teeth, the daemon balling their fists together for one final strike down on the bridge of his nose. Only to be stopped, suddenly, by a strangled,

|| 🔷️ ||: " Don't- "

They're frozen in place, bloodshot eyes shooting over to their friend, lying on her side on the ground. In an instant, they're back over next to her, their hands hovering over the arrow still lodged in her shoulder.

They have to think fast. The recruit's message had gotten out, and they could hear the approaching reinforcments.

Scooping her into their arms, they take off back in the direction they came.

|| 💛 ||: " Hold on, I'll get you back home- "

|| 🔷️ ||: " No- "

|| 💛 ||: " What? "

That almost makes them stop running, almost. The sounds of approaching guards keeping them from halting altogether. The small daemon in their arms weakly grasping at her friend's shirt.

|| 🔷️ ||: " They could- follow us... "

She hisses, softly, and Hax adjusts her gently in their arms. Minding the arrow still stuck in her shoulder.

|| 💛 ||: " Well we can't stay here-! "

|| 🔷️ ||: " We need to find- another way. Please. "

A heavy sigh, Hax's eyes darting around the area before they begrudgingly take a turn between the trees. She was right, they were being followed now, leading them right to the ingress would only invite more trouble.

They had to find another way home.

[oflostinfound]

🌌 Return to Alius Orbis - Part 5 🌌

Wide eyes peer over the bolder she hid behind, the lavender glow of the moon and star crystals reflecting in her eyes. Before her, a large kingdom sprawled out in an arid valley.

|| 🔷️ ||: " So this ingress opens near Agares's Kingdom, that means dad... "

|| 💛 ||: " Eath get down! "

They hiss grabbing the small daemon by the shoulder as a beast flies by. A four winged drake of sorts, a daemon riding on its back- a guard on patrol.

|| 🔷️ ||: " Sorry- sorry. "

She pins her back against the rock, ears folding back,

|| 🔷️ ||: " Dutchess Agares. Of all of the Seventy-Two, why her? Why can't it be the knight or a president- "

|| 💛 ||: " Hey, hey, it'll be okay- "

|| 🔷️ ||: " You dont know that! Agares can command runaways to come back with the flick of her wrist! Hax, what are we!? "

|| 💛 ||: " ... Runaways. "

The small girl places a hand on her pendant. If she had lungs, she would be hyperventilating, her eyes wide and wild as she thinks,

|| 🔷️ ||: " Spirits- Spirits Spirits! How did I not notice an ingress so close until now!? We've been in danger this whole time, been so close to being found- "

|| 💛 ||: " Hey, hey! "

Hax snaps, grabbing their friend by the shoulders and making her look them in the eye, tears streaming down Eath's cheeks

|| 💛 ||: " Look at me, we are not going to be discovered, okay? That ingress is abandoned, and they're hard to find. The twists and turns we had to take to find it on Earth, they're not going to repeat those steps. "

They sigh,

|| 💛 ||: " We just have to stay vigilant. They dont know we're here. They haven't crossed over before, and I doubt Agares is going to come over herself. Just breathe. We'll be okay. "

A wide-eyed stare is the only response they get, for a moment, before she rushes forward to hug them. Earning a light "oof!" from the taller daemon before they'd return the hug.

|| 💛 ||: " Okay, let's head back. The sooner were back home, the better. "

She pulls back from the hug, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand,

|| 🔷️ ||: " Yeah, lets go- AH-! "

|| 💛 ||: " EATH! "

She lurches forward, suddenly, eyes wide as a hand presses to the left side of her chest. Looking down to find a crystal arrow tip sticking out, and blood covering her hand,

|| 🔷️ ||: " H... Hax? "

[oflostinfound]

|| 💛 ||: ❝ That- That is a catoblepas. In short, a bull with armor, that spits acid, and a big problem for us. ❞

The rider on the back of the bull tugs on the reins, sneering down at the other two daemons and human as he points the hilt of a weapon at the group. Eath shaking as she stares, wide-eyed, at the rider. Hax hissing softly in response to having the weapon pointed at them.

❝ By the order of the Kingdom of Agares, you two will come with me. ❞

He pauses, pointing the hilt at the human,

❝ And you, human, will stay out of my way, unless you want to join them. These two are wanted criminals. ❞

Hax leans over to Finn, their current voice lowering,

|| 💛 ||: ❝ Yeah, I don't think those are going to do it, Finn. ❞

☄️ Finn reaches out a hand to gently rest on Eath’s arm. “Is she okay?”

The hero didn’t receive an answer, as he moves to push them away from the path of the attack - not that he needed to - falling to the forest floor next to them with a high-pitched scream.

“Holy moly! What the heck was that?!”

“I... didn’t bring any swords with me. I was meditating! But I’ve got these?” He raises his fists, as if that’ll be reassuring in the slightest. 🦋

[oflostinfound]

🌌 Return to Alius Orbis - Part 2 🌌

|| 🔷️ ||: " I don't know, could a lake actually be an ingress? It's not like the one we arrived through... "

|| 💛 ||: " Maybe not the lake, but the structure in the middle? Absolutely.... "

|| 🔷️ ||: " Will you be okay? "

|| 💛 ||: " No, but I'm not backing out now. I'll close my eyes, just let me know when we're back on land. "

[oflostinfound]

🌌 Return to Alius Orbis - Part 1 🌌

|| 💛 ||: ❝ Eath are you crazy? You may as well make a bunch of signs pointing directly to where you are! ❞

|| 🔷 ||: ❝ But I have to know, I need to. The fact that your father was able to find you, find this forest, means there has to be an Ingress nearby. A portal. I need to know how close... and where it leads. ❞

|| 💛 ||: ❝ And what if they see you? What if you get captured- or killed! What then? Who will-- ❞

|| 🔷 ||: ❝ It's been hundreds of years, five hundred. If they wanted me dead, or didn't think I was already, they would've kept looking for me.

I know it's risky but... ❞

|| 💛 ||: ❝ ... I can't stop you... can I?

Fuck me, let me get Somnus to watch Taygete. ❞

|| 🔷 ||: ❝ Not even a little bit, but you don't have to come with me- ❞

|| 💛 ||: ❝ Shut up, you know I do. Your my best friend, practically my little sister, and I promised your papa I would take care of you. I'm going with you, and we're both coming back together, all right? Promise? ❞

|| 🔷 ||: ❝ Together. Promise. ❞

[oflostinfound]

Stepping out from the curtains of the forest. Her pace even and yet the glass figure is always a couple feet ahead of the pursuing deamens. Firm in her fingers if needed is her cane.

The golden snake head tongue flicks. Happy to simply be present amongst her fingers as she stood out in front.

“Bare witness.” The being of glass placed a hand out in front.

Only seen between those she’s forsaking. In place of the blackened voids in her eyes slide a part of glazed pupils. The slot of a paralyzing gaze as a corpse sight stares at the guards.

And all three of them will see any guilt that lays on their souls. To witness any blatant sin resting in either of their souls.

And she only wishes that this is all she needs to do. -❄️

Heavy footfalls keep pace as they run through the forest, away from their pursuers. Yet from how they fall Eath can tell... Hax was getting tired. Their cry for help unanswered for the moment, or so they thought.

Her ear flicks as the beings voice echos out behind them, and she tugs on their shirt,

|| 🔷 ||: ❝ Stop. ❞

|| 💛 ||: ❝ What? ❞

|| 🔷 ||: ❝ Trust me- ❞

Slowing their pace, they slowly come to a halt. The tall daemon turning their gaze back to see... a glass-like figure standing behind them. An arm outstretched in the direction they came, the guards who were chasing them breaking through the trees- only to stop before her. Eyes wide, glazed over and solid black, as if entranced.

Then, after moments of quiet come and go, they all scream. Not at once, but one after the other they realized their misgivings and wrongdoings. To know, truly, all they'd done wrong in their life, laid bare before them.

Eath's eyes blink, her pupils glazing over while as her eyes start to glow subtly,

|| 🔷 ||: ❝ She's here. ❞

Hax's brows furrow, their own bright red eyes shifting between their friend and the strange being of glass before them. If Eath trusted her... they would have to too, at least enough not to keep running. The fact that she's stopped the guards in their place too... certainly helped.

So they step forward, cradling Eath in their arms as they hesitantly call out,

|| 💛 ||: ❝ Hey, whoever you are... Thanks. ❞

[oflostinfound]

|| 🔷 ||: ❝ Nn.. ❞

The crystals are slow growing but that doesn't mean they don't hurt. Though mostly they're draining her energy, it's only a matter of days before they cover her completely.

|| 💛 ||: ❝ Hang on. We'll figure this out. ❞

They have to find a cure, and fast.

[oflostinfound]

🌌 Return to Alius Orbis - Part 8 🌌

|| 🔷 ||: ❝ It... It stings. ❞

The daemon mutters weakly into her friend's chest as she's carried, the soft glow of the crystals forming on her skin reflecting in half lidded, tired, eyes. The injury, where the arrow had pierced her left shoulder and chest had healed, but at a cost.

|| 💛 ||: ❝ I know. Just a little longer, okay? ❞

Her friend carrying her bites their lip, air huffing out their nose as they keep eyes forward on the path. A tunnel-like focus on their goal, to get her home, and to find help.

They'd long lost their pursuers, the royal guard of Agares, but there was still an urgency to their steps. If they didn't get her home, then there wasn't a chance she'd make it. Spirits knew that if she was found, crystalized or otherwise, they would hesitate to destroy her.

Footfalls come to a sudden stop when they reach a proper road, ducking down behind some brush and gently setting their friend upon the dry grass. Gesturing for her to keep quiet while they per over their cover.

Before them, a gateway. An ingress as they often called it. This one far less abandoned, watched. They knew where this one could lead. It was how they got to the human realm all those years ago, without Eath. Seems they decided to increase the patrols on it even since their jailbreak.

A huff, the daemon squinting as they eye the soldiers, the farmers talking with them, asking to change the location for a better grazing field for their animals. Earth-grass fed cattle were in high demand, and the true sun was always nice on cold-blooded skin.

Brows furrow, watching as the guard accepts the paperwork and turns to the panel to adjust the ingress's settings- within reason. They could only move the exit point so far.

|| 💛 ||: ❝ Hold on tight, We're going to have to make another break for it. ❞

Arms scoop under their friend and she hisses. turning her gaze up towards her friend as she grips their shirt and mutters,

|| 🔷 ||: ❝ Together. We promised. No leaving this time. ❞

|| 💛 ||: ❝ Promise. ❞

With that, and as the ingress swirls with royal magics, they run.

[oflostinfound]

🌌 Return to Alius Orbis - Part 4 🌌

|| 🔷️ ||: " I forgot how large the Moon-Crystal is compared to the human world's real moon... "

|| 💛 ||: " I think that's because it's closer. "

|| 💛 ||: " Anyway, we should get moving. We dont want to stay here too long. "

|| 🔷️ ||: " Yeah... "

[oflostinfound]

🌌 Return to Alius Orbis - Part 3 🌌

|| 🔷️ ||: " Hax... we're here. "

|| 💛 ||: " We sure are... "

|| 🔷️ ||: " It's so quiet here... is this a forgotten ingress? It has to be, right? "

|| 💛 ||: " That or we were expected... Stay low, we cant afford for you to get caught, okay? "

[oflostinfound]

Night and Day in Alius Orbis

I say Alius Orbis is a lot darker than Earth due to the false sun and moon. I dont think I've specified how dark it gets or how light.

The lightest point in the day is equivalent to dawn or dusk in the human realm.

Dawn and dusk in Alius Orbis is like a usual night time with some moonlight (half moon?)

Nightfall is near pitch black, depending on where you are. The stars above glimmer and the moon shines, but not enough to break the shadows. Torches or other forms of light are necessary for travel. ESPECIALLY if you're human or can not see in the dark.

The various species of Daemons have adapted to the low light over the centuries. Most if not all of them have some form of darkvision or way to navigate in the darkness.

Of course, in the case of Eath and Hax, this does / did affect their travel to the human realm. They had to spend weeks adjusting to true daylight. And if they go back, there will be an adjustment period back to their "normal" vision. Not as long as Alius Orbis -> Human Realm, but still an adjustment.

[oflostinfound]

The rider wasn't weak by any means, but this dog had managed to gain an advantage on him while Hax had him pinned down. A whoosh of air leaving the daemon as the dog lays atop him, tilting his head a far back as he could as the jaws of one of the heads wrap around his neck.

❝ I'll talk to the dog trying to maul me any way I want you- ❞

The daemon hisses, eyes narrowing up at Marsha, sparing a glance at the small daemon in her arms who was trying to hide her face from the rider.

Suddenly a boot comes down on one of his hands. The rider crying out in pain as Hax grinds down on his hand.

|| 💛 ||: ❝ I don't think that was his usual ride. ❞

Hax spits, staring at the tree that was splintered by the bull-like creature,

|| 💛 ||: ❝ He took someone's cattle to chase us, bastard. ❞

❝ Anything to catch a pair of criminals. ❞

Hax simply hisses at him when he says that. Grinding down their foot on his hand for a moment more before walking over to Marsha and Eath,

|| 💛 ||: ❝ I'd love to stay and wail on him for busting up my nose, but there were two more of them and they're not that far behind. ❞

Marsha finally noticed the crystals on Eath's skin. Then she looked at the daemon her two-headed dog was trying to hold down. Although they were the runt of their liter, Victor & Charlie had grown to be big and strong. Getting them off was going to more difficult than simply kicking them repeatedly.

And unlike this guy's steed...V&C was trained.

"Victor...Charlie...Hold."

At her command, the two-headed dog laid right on top of the daemon. One of the heads, Charlie, wrapped his mouth around the daemon's neck, but he doesn't clamp down.

Marsha walks up to the daemon rider, Eath still in her arms. "Not so tough without your ride, hm? Don't talk to my dogs like that."

[oflostinfound]

Being scooped into her girlfriend's arms would normally make her blush like mad. Yet with how she was shaking, and the close call as the tree she was propped up against was splintered by the force of the bull-like creature running into it, being carried by Marsha was the very last thing on her mind.

|| 🔷 ||: ❝ T-Thank you- ❞

She stutters, weakly, hissing a bit as she's moved. If Marsha hadn't seen the crystals growing on her skin, around a former arrow wound, she would certainly see them now.

Luckily, it seemed like the bull was untrained in the ways of battle. The stead running off into the forest with not even a hint of returning for it's rider.

As the two headed dog bites down on the rider's arm Hax's grip around his throat is able to tighten. The daemon using their legs to further restrain him- at least for a moment. That is until he manages to swing his arm in such a way that it makes contact with their nose. Hax recoiling with a shout, freeing the rider unintentionally while he tries to kick off the dog biting him.

❝ Get off me, mutt! ❞

Even if she didn't knock him down, Marsha tried to hold her own against the daemon. That was until he pushed her back. "Eath!" Marsha calls out as takes off towards the tree Eath was propped against. She quickly scoops up her girlfriend and gets out of the way of the creature's path.

Going to try and help out Hax, the two-headed dog goes for one of the daemon's arm. Both heads clamp down on the rider's arm in an attempt to help Hax hold them down.