[center][img]https://tse1.mm.bing.net/th/id/OIG2.YSz3X.M4pls9jrz2IpB4?pid=ImgGn[/img] [h3][color=gray]Into the Afterlife[/color][/h3][/center][hr][hr] Made in collaboration with: [@Force and Fury] & [@jasbraq] [hr][hr] [hider=Where All Rests] Fiske had found himself in an eerily similar position to the other two. He was... a guupguup. Oh, the irony! Poking his head out of a burrow, he peered about, only for a great hawk to come swooping down. He barely made it back underground alive. He was a human, though: a person! Surely, there there had to be some way escape this wretched existence, or was it simply his fate to be killed dozens of times in various creative and macabre ways until his penance was complete? That was when he heard the gunshots. Poking his head up and out of his burrow, he witnessed a goose fall mere meters from him. Quickly, he ducked back underground, but not before he caught a brief glimpse of the hunters coming to collect it. Such were the benefits of being a rodent: small, inconsequential, and generally beneath sapient notice. Two of them, he did not recognize, but the third was unmistakable. The third one, he [i]knew[/i]! This could be a golden opportunity or a guaranteed death. What to do!? [color=FF00FF][i]From one cruel joke to another, huh? Escheran can shove it! I am not a coward! . . . sometimes.[/i][/color] The guupguup was still surprised that the Pentad would condemn him to such a fate. He had been a good person, right? He hadn’t taken any lives, and tried to stand up for those who couldn’t. To think only Ipte was a smart enough divinity to see him as worthy for heaven. He can’t truly be stuck here, right? He has so much still left to do. He hadn’t even apologized to Marci. Speaking of, that hunter’s face was undeniably one he knew. . . but how could he convince the other not to kill him. He tried to speak but could not, he tried to cast an intricate illusionary version of himself. . . and even if his visualization was flawless, there was no Fiske. His normally boundless illusionary prowess was so severely limited. . . He awaited the other’s approach. And once he was somewhat close enough did he cast his sentence, one small word at a time. [color=FF00FF]NO[/color] [color=FF00FF]SHOOT[/color] Just two small words took a lot out of him already. [color=FF00FF]HELP[/color] [color=FF00FF]████[/color] It left him utterly vulnerable. . . his life was in the other’s hands. The mustachioed hunter looked down, near his feet, and leapt back. [color=2E8B57]"Ach! A Guupguup!"[/color] He scrambled to put up some sort of chemical defense and readied his rifle, but then he heard it: [color=FF00FF][i]"Chitter... Chitter. Cheep."[/i][/color] But he [i]saw[/i] something as well: words in the air, and his eyes widened. [color=2E8B57]"No shoot."[/color] He murmured, reading. [color=2E8B57]"Help..."[/color] The last one was a bit hazy, and then it struck him. [color=2E8B57]"Help Dory?"[/color] He straightened, stroking his chin, and the other two hunters with him - both Kerreman sorts with big guns - turned to him quizzically. [color=magenta]"Well, are you going to shoot it?"[/color] asked one, clutching her rifle. [color=2E8B57]"Nein."[/color] Manfred held a hand out. [color=2E8B57]"Ich glaube, ich kenne diesen kleinen Kerl."[/color] ||No. I think I know this little guy.|| He crouched and regarded the small creature before him. [color=2E8B57]"Just who are you and what's wrong?"[/color] The Guupguup was utterly ecstatic, his rather badly constructed paid off big. It relied too much on the other than he would have hoped but at times one must. . . trust in others. Getting this exhausted from such simple illusionary words made him beyond annoyed at his own gift. This isn't a life worth anything. The endless VOID would be preferable to being unable to continue his art. His tiny heart beat at a rapid pace as he was about to push his gift further. [color=FF00FF]DORY BROTHER.[/color] The panting little rat signalled towards himself the best he could. [color=FF00FF]HELP[/color] [color=FF00FF]ESCAPE[/color] The words began to get more wavy and hard to read. [color=FF00FF]ME[/color] [color=FF00FF]WEAK[/color] [color=FF00FF]Help[/color] The guupguup lowered his head to show a bow of some kind [color=FF00FF]Please[/color] [color=FF00FF]me[/color] [color=FF00FF]help[/color] [color=FF00FF]N-ina[/color] The boy had so much unfinished business and he was one of the best blessings he could have been given. He will apologise to her whenever if they ever meet once again... but it might be easier to convey the message to them with that name. Manfred Hohenfelter von Meckelin-Thandau scowled. His two companions had ranged ahead with the dogs, focused on a distant dragon that seemed to be wounded. He did not like hunting wounded prey. There was no sport in it and even less honour. [color=2E8B57]"Ah, Dory's brother. Yes, she mentioned one. Well, I see you've gone to hell."[/color] He pursed his lips, mustache perfectly upturned as always. [color=2E8B57]"Truth be told, I was about to pop you with the Gift. Guupguups are quite... dangerous."[/color] He stroked his chin pensively. [color=2E8B57]"You seem to recognize me, however. How, and how do I know you're not a bad fellow?"[/color] For a moment, the absurdity of it all - he was talking to a poisonous rat - struck Manfred, but he rather liked the odd bit of absurdity in his afterlife. The perfection of heaven could get... boring at times. The Guupguup signed the other to wait, for he needed to draw in what little manas he could. Fiske did not show any caution of hostility whilst doing so. After he took his moment he began to get his words out once more. He pointed towards himself once more [color=FF00FF]Coward[/color] [color=FF00FF]Mythomaniac[/color] A rustcoloured liquid would run down his cheek. Revealing this could be his death, it brought him immense amounts of stress. [color=FF00FF]BUT[/color] He quickly added. [color=FF00FF]Tried to be[/color] [color=FF00FF]Better[/color] His ears pulled back all the way back against his head, heart rate raced. He heart what kind of man he was. . . He prayed that he was more forgiving and humane than the pentad were. Manfred seemed to consider for a little, drawing back. The other two hunters were waving him over, and there were rifle shots in the distance. He ignored them for the time being. [color=2E8B57]"Fiskel?"[/color] he proposed tentatively, tilting his head to the side. [color=2E8B57]"Fiske Flachstruach?"[/color] Fiske was the only person who fit that description who would be the right age and whom he may have known. [color=2E8B57]"Or... maybe not."[/color] Fiske looked up to the hunter with hope in his eyes, nodding his head quickly. In truth, he did not even know that he would know his name [color=FF00FF]Fiske[/color] He pointed to himself. [color=FF00FF]Is Floris[/color] He once again pointed to himself. He could dance. Perhaps he wasn't sent to this punishment because the Pentad were close-minded but for something greater. . . No, probably not. . Manfred scowled. Then, he nodded, businesslike. [color=2E8B57]"Well,"[/color] he decided, [color=2E8B57]"the biggest issue is whether you're in three hells or four."[/color] He held a hand out for the rat to scamper aboard. [color=2E8B57]"If it's the latter, you are, quite frankly, fucked, my friend."[/color] He bit his lower lip. [color=2E8B57]"If it's the former, you have a shot."[/color] The little rodent made his way up the hunter's hand. Relieved to hear the rather good news. He tried to remember the trial of his soul. [color=FF00FF]3[/color] He remembered three outliers whilst the two other weren't the most opinionated about him. [color=FF00FF]Iptin[/color] . . . [color=FF00FF]Big love[/color] [color=FF00FF]Eschiran[/color] . . . [color=FF00FF]Thune[/color] . . .[color=FF00FF]Big hate[/color] [color=FF00FF]Oretz[/color] . . . . [color=FF00FF]Dami[/color] . . . [color=FF00FF]Lukewarm[/color] [/hider] [hider=Where Few Travel] In the distance, one could hear the thunder of hoofbeats, growing in volume and closeness. Unfamiliar though this form was to her, Edyta spread her wings and took off, trying to get the lay of the land. There were hills and valleys, rivers and idyllic thickets. A handful of lodges were nestled in the prettier spots and, further away lay a great colosseum, evoking an Avincian style. A couple of other large birds circled on the thermals and, perched on a minor promontory, she noticed a small froabas. That would not hesitate to make food of either her or Desmond, she realized. She also came to the conclusion that she was... a clumsy flyer, and she resolved to land momentarily. That was when she heard the crack of gunfire. It echoed through the formerly serene air and a large goose fell to the ground. Hurriedly, she flapped her way down, honking and squawking at Desmond, clacking her beak in the direction of the nearest lodge. The people were both their truest enemy and, paradoxically, their only hope. She considered taking off again, but that might make them even more of a target. Hopping and bounding in her birdlike manner, she began trying to lead him to either safety or death. The two made slow progress and, a couple more times, she briefly took to the air. On the first, she witnessed a party of hunters bagging a large lionbear, laughing and smoking as they gathered round its magnificent fallen form. On the second, she caught the eye of the froabas and landed as quickly as she could. Letting out a quick squawk of alarm in Desmond's direction, she went to hide as the dragon swooped towards the valley they were currently traversing. Desmond followed the Direstork he believed is Laska. He spent much of his time learning how to move in his own body again. Walking took some time to truly learn again, yet it did not take long as it felt natural for him to walk and move. He was slow among the two of the as his stride was somewhat wide and short versus Laska's birdlike hopping. Yet even with this slow movement, Desmond was willed with quite a bit of energy. He even began to play as they walked, even when Laska seemed worried, Desmond showed some enjoyment of the situation. It was never a thought to occur to Desmond to be in a situation like this. It was comedic. Yet the moment that Laska began to squawk and run, Desmond looked up. He could see above him a dragon begin to descend into the valley that Desmond and Laska found themselves in. And as if his form was telling of Desmond's own personality. He stood his ground. Desmond ran forward as the Froabas dived down for him, a large slash went across the back of the Honey Badger, yet that did not stop the smaller animal. Desmond noticed the thing he needed, there was a weakness, and a chance. The Honey Badger turned to face off against the Froabas who had now landed and began to turn to face its prey. Yet before the Froabas could fully turn, the Honey Badge had charged towards it and nearly made it to its underside. However in the spin, the Froabas whipped its tail and slammed it into the Honey Badger to launch it. As Desmond flew, he began to figure out his speed again. He was much slower than how he knew. He knew what he needed to do, he just had to persevere until the time came. The Honey Badger stood again and rushed the Froabas again. Preparing for a counter charge Desmond was ready to dodge. However, he wasn't ready for this small Froabas to have grown enough to be able to fire a fireball. As it unleashed a singular fireball which slammed directly into the Honey badger. As it exploded and sent it flying like a child throwing their rag doll. The moment he landed, Desmond felt dazed. His mind was swimming as he felt his body was light. He couldn't control his actions, yet he could see the Froabas moving closer and closer to him. move. The Honey Badger's front legs tried to pull itself up, however it was unable to as they slipped. Move. As the Froabas moved closer, the Honey Badger began to move their back legs. Yet, all that happened was that it's face was being forced into the dirt more. MOVE. The Froabas was now over the Honey Badger as it opened its mouth again. The sound of clicking began to fill the air as the Froabas was ready to incinerate the Honey Badger. [color=gold]"MOVE!"[/color] The Honey Badger leaped up. Dashing between the legs of the Froabas. As the ravenous beast on the cusp of death opened it's mouth and let out a high pitch chittering roar. It's jaws slammed shut. The honey badger had drawn the dragon's ire, and that had given the direstork a chance to take to the air. If the wide open sky beckoned for her to make a getaway, then it knew nothing of Edyta Laska. Forward Desmond charged, hissing and snarling, and the froabas lashed out and sent him tumbling. In doing so, it left itself open. Edyta darted straight for its eye, but it twisted its head just on time and she flapped frantically away. Yet, there was the honey badger once more, hurtling in at the great beast's underside. If she could've called out, [color=6ECFF6]"Desmond, watch out for the -" [i]tail[/i],[/color] she'd have done it, but he took another blow. This time, she swooped in and raked its eyes with her talons. It roared in pain and frustration but there was Desmond yet again. This time, his efforts were met with a fireball and it seemed to put him down for the count. The dragon advanced, fixated on Edyta's ally but, so doughty was the little beast whose form he'd taken, that he twitched, and then he staggered, and then he [i]rose[/i]. The froabas reared back, its throat letting out a horrible clicking as it prepared to incinerate the little badger. In doing so, it left itself wide open. Edyta gathered her speed, braced her neck and, at the very same moment that Desmond surged forward, slipping beneath the beast, she plunged her needlelike beak into its rippling neck. It roared and staggered and then Desmond struck. Taken from both sides, the dragon cried out in agony. It thrashed and wailed and its eyes bulged in pain. Desmond emerged from its underside, a bloody mess in his maw. The beast struggled in panic, bleeding profusely from two separate horrific wounds, and the decision was a simple one: pursue and finish it off or let it flee. Desmond looked to the Direstork and chittered to it, he tried to tell Laska, [color=gold][i]'Good job'[/i][/color]. He then turned to the injured dragon running away. He had a thought for a moment, they should leave it, however, it will attract the attention of other people. They could use this situation to their advantage, as Desmond began to march forward the only way a badger would be able to. One leg in front of the other, high steps, while making happy chittering noises for some reason. Ready to either finish off the dragon or try and get out of a terrible situation. The bird regarded him and squawked, having just dug her beak out of the beast's neck. It was... frustrating not having use of abilities that she normally took for granted. The honey badger trotted forward quite... jauntily, and she found herself bounding after him. One never left a defeated enemy alive if that enemy was truly an enemy, after all, and she found herself wondering if the dragon could act as a shield for she and Desmond. They had been moving for not more than a minute or two, stalking the wounded beast, when the barking of dogs interrupted what they were doing: [i]hunters![/i] Figuring that flying might be of use, Edyta quickly took to the sky and, not a moment later, she sighted the intruders: A pair of humans - one man and one woman - rushing forward, rifles drawn. The crack of a rifle split the air and the dragon roared. Frantically, it began to flap, rising unsteadily into the sky. A second shot rang out, barely missing it. The dogs dashed forward, in its general direction, but they could not fly. She circled a bit out of the action, recognizing herself and Desmond as secondary targets. Indeed, one of the three dogs seemed to be sniffing in his direction now that it had lost the dragon. It limped through the sky, its chest and flank covered in blood, one of its wings struggling. She almost felt bad, but it had tried to kill her. [color=F26522][i]Such is as Eshiran wills it.[/i][/color] Down below, The hunters had paused and were taking aim once again. Their rifles didn't seem to be pointing at her or Desmond, but then one of the dogs let out a low 'woof' in his direction [color=F26522][i]Be smart, Desmond. Have a plan![/i][/color] The hunters were speaking Kerreman before going quiet, about to fire. How could she show these people that she was human and not some beast to just be slain? What could tell them? Desmond saw this as a chance. There were 2 people, multiple dogs, so he couldn't act foolish. This was the time for action. He knew what he had to do when he heard them began to speak and knew they were from Kerremand. Desmond began to rock back onto his hind legs and began to balance himself. He held his hands high, and began to sway his body. He began to sway and move his arms up and down. As he began to try and sing an old Kerremand marching song that he remembered from the Huulendam - Kerremand war. The sounds being made, were...accurate...enough. Those who would know the song would have a solid recognition of the song, Desmond hoped. The song was named Ericha, it was a song about missing ones home, and their lover. With the chittering and chirping that a Badger would make, few people would be able to know that he was in fact trying to sing. Just before firing, the hunters shifted their rifles at the sound of a decent-sized animal drawing near and a dog raced towards Desmond snarling and yowling. Then, he began dancing and... well, the [i]dog[/i] certainly didn't know what to make of it. It continued woofing, confused, and half-circled, not approaching any closer at what it must have considered some sort of odd threat display. The barking was making it difficult for the hunters to understand the honey badger's intentions, exacerbated by its less-than-stellar singing. The two of them glanced at each other for a moment as if to ask, "should we just shoot it?" Then, blessedly, the dog seemed to nearly swallow its own tongue in its overexuberant barking and this provided a blessed pause just as Desmond hit the chorus. "Hey Fritz!" exclaimed the woman, "I think it's singing -" "Erika!" he cut in. She glanced at him. "Yes?" "Not you, dummkopf! The song!" "Oh, yes, that was the name!" "Well that's weird," Fritz remarked. "He doesn't have that hellish aura that the damned animals usually do." "But he's clearly a human, or [i]was[/i]," she countered, "And likely a countryman." Fritz pursed his lips. "I think he sings with an accent." "Truly, Fritz?" "Yes, a Honey Badger accent. Quite distinct," he remarked. Erika cracked up. "Luci, Max!" she shouted, and the dogs turned. "Großmaul!" added the other, and the final dog backed off a bit, still barking discontentedly. "Why don't you leave our little friend here alone," Erika decided, "He's quite the intriguing mystery." "Oh, you can stop dancing now," Fritz added, "unless you like it." It was at about that moment, above them, that a direstork swooped in on the wounded dragon and tore clean through its already-flagging wing. The beast began to plummet and the hunters and dogs all turned their attention to the scene, raising their rifles and hackles once more. Desmond saw that the two hunters began to lower their rifles and even talked to him. Desmond finally fell to all fours again and let out a sigh, a slightly chittered sigh, yet a sigh nonetheless. He looked to the two hunters, he was about to try and communicate, yet was then halted by the sudden sound of a large crash. he turned to see the dragon had been taken down. And seeing Laska. He began to call to her, standing on his hind legs again as he began to wave his hands to signal for her. [/hider] "Scheiße!" called Erika. "Mein Eschi..." murmured Fritz. Then, the Honey Badger got the Direstork's attention. She flapped her wings a couple of times and hovered above the group. The dragon crashed to the ground, mortally wounded, and the dogs leapt upon it to finish it off. There was every chance that it had once been a person. "Fritz," began Erika. "Mhm?" "They're both people-animals, right?" He scowled, considering. "They must be, but there's no hellish aura." Erika nibbled her lower lip, lowering her gun. "I think we should tell Manfred about this." "Where is that upturned-mustache cat weirdo anyhow?" "Last I saw, he was playing with a rat," she remarked. "Hah! How fitting." "Perhaps these two have come for him." Fritz seemed to consider. "He hasn't been around for all that long I suppose, so it's possible." "Do you think that rat was -" Erika began, and Fritz shook his head. "No way of knowing until we meet back up with him." Edyta alighted close to the group but not so close as to alarm the dogs. "You two!" called Fritz, "follow us. We're headed to the colosseum. We'll see if we can get you sorted there." Then, in the distance, hurrying over a hill, came - well, it was not just some random man named Manfred, but the one they'd actually known in Ersand'Enise. He had a guupguup in his hand. It was bracing itself against the wind, its little whiskers fluttering, its fur ruffling. "Manny!" called Erika. "Is that another human-animal?" [color=2E8B57]"It is!"[/color] he called back, [color=2E8B57]"and I [i]know[/i] him, luck of all luck!"[/color] "Does he have the usual aura?" shouted Fritz, but Manfred was a good deal closer. He arched an eyebrow. [color=2E8B57]"Yes. Why?"[/color] Desmond tried to call to Laska, yet still found it difficult to even try and produce a word. He wanted to ask if she was alright, yet he had to be well enough with seeing she seemed uninjured. Desmond then shook his head and began to turn to their new 'friends' Erika and Fritz. Desmond's ears peaked up for a moment when he heard the name Manfred, yet he didn't get his hopes up. A Manfred who likes cats with a mustache? That could be the one he remembered, yet, this was the land of the dead. Everyone who had ever died could be here. Those similarities could just be a fluke. Right? Desmond perked his head up and turned to Fritz when he spoke of them heading to the colosseum. The Honey Badger nodded and chirped and followed. They had not moved very far however when they found Manfred. Desmond's ears launched up as he began to run forward. Chirping and squealing. Was it a sign of aggression? For a Honey Badger? Probably. But for Desmond, it was happy. Desmond had nothing but fond memories of Manfred. And a feeling of loneliness since the last missions they were sent on by the school. He had lost countless friends. Many he had only made goodbyes to them at the school and never saw them again. People he would never see. Many, he couldn't even imagine what happened. Friends, who he would never know what was their last wishes. Their last moments. He could not do a single thing to help them. All that he could do. Was cry for them. And now here. Desmond ran forward and tried to jump to his hind legs to hold onto Manfred's leg. Chirping and chittering happy noises. The usual aura? What the hells did that even mean? It sounded like it was bad news for him and all he wanted to do was crawl into himself and hide but he knew nothing of the sort was possible right now. It was then that he noticed two other animals. A racoon-ish animal? . . . and a stork! He leaned over the hunter's fingers to witness the Honey badger hug Manfred's leg. Is this another person he knows? Fiske's sight returned to look up to Manfred's head. [color=FF00FF]Friends?[/color] "Oh, because ours didn't," Fritz answered. "One dances and sings," Erika contributed cheerily. "The other is a bird that kills dragons." "I think they killed the dragon together," Fritz amended. "Our avian friend was just at it longer. The badger had song in his soul and had to -" It was at about that point that Badger-Desmond began his cheerful flight towards Manfred. The Kerreman's eyes widened in alarm, but he knew enough about the species to tell that this wasn't an attack. Fritz was right, as well. There was no hellish aura. Then, the animal started... humping his leg!? [color=2E8B57]"Agh!"[/color] he shouted. [color=2E8B57]"I know you're excited, but -"[/color] Well, he wasn't humping it, per se. Perhaps Manfred was a bit to familiar with the antics of a [i]different[/i] Fritz: his dog. He tried to keep his hand steady, lest Rat-Fiske fall out. [color=2E8B57]"Whoa!"[/color] he called, [color=2E8B57]"Whoa there! Who [i]are[/i] you?"[/color] "We've no idea who they are either," continued Erika. "They're far too smart to be animals or creations, but they don't have the aura of damned souls." Manfred arched an eyebrow, glancing down at Desmond and over at the stork, who seemed far more reserved. [color=2E8B57]"Well, I know that this little fellow is a rather unfortunate relation of someone I knew in the living days."[/color] He held the rat on his palm out for all to see. [color=2E8B57]"His name's Fiske. That familiar to either of [i]you[/i]?"[/color] The direstork went still for a moment. She blinked. Then, she took a few rapid steps toward Manfred and, particularly, the guupguup named Fiske. Desmond looked to Manfred and the others. He listened to how they spoke. Damned auras, neither him nor Laska had one, which meant they were sent here somehow, yet they were not damned. [i][color=gold]Good that makes things easier[/color][/i] Yet the one in Manfred's hand did. He too seemed to hold intelligence, yet he had an aura. Which meant he had died and was now punished to be here. Something that makes sens. Yet what didn't make sense was when Manfred then referred to the damned soul he found as Fiske. Desmond's eyes widened as he allowed himself to step back. His mind raced for a moment as he processed that thought. He couldn't make sense of it. Fiske died. Then thoughts began to seep in. [color=gold]It happened again. Another one died. Fiske was here. How? Why?[/color] Coincidence. That's what Desmond wanted to believe. Just a coincidence. Desmond breathed in as he steadied himself. It's a coincidence. It had to be. [color=gold]No.[/color] Too many things are lined up. A coincidence now is impossible. That had to be the Fiske he knew. Maybe. Desmond look to Manfred and nodded as he was going to use this time to try and figure out a way to make sounds that sound like words. Desmond tried to squeak out in a certain way to say, [i][color=gold]friend[/color][/i]. Edyta Laska stalked right up through the middle, ready to go on a diatribe. Indeed, she spoke, but not a soul understood what she said, and it was just as well. [color=6ECFF6]"If that's Fiske, I sympathize that Lady Eshiran has called him here,"[/color] she began, [color=6ECFF6]"He did not strike me as outright evil."[/color] She tilted her avian head to look up at Manfred gravely, taking Desmond in as well. [color=F26522]"However, this is a [i]damned[/i] soul. Does that mean [I]nothing[/i] to any of you!?"[/color] She shook her head. [color=F26522]"This is [i]not[/i] the sort we should be working with!"[/color] She swallowed, her large beak clapping open and shut as she did so. [color=6ECFF6]"We are here to rescue Tommy and..."[/color] She trailed off, perhaps recognizing her own hypocrisy. Thankfully for the direstork, nobody had understood anything she had said - merely noting that she had become rather animated. Manfred, meanwhile, strained to understand what Desmond had said. He pursed his lips. [color=2E8B57]"Mein freund,"[/color] he remarked, pained, [color=2E8B57]"I don't understand a word you're saying."[/color] He paused. [color=2E8B57]"I know, you, don't I... is there any other sign you could give?"[/color] It was at about that point that Edyta raised her wings, first bringing them together as if in prayer and then holding them over her head in crude imitation of a nun's habit. She held them out like sickles and slashed them about. He could actually understand them? [color=FF00FF]Who else do I even know that was damned?[/color] He squeaked in return to the other. whilst casting a name he thought it could be [color=FF00FF][i]Silas?[/i][/color] [color=FF00FF]It can't be Niallus, right? Maybe it was the other Eskandish dork.[/color] Fiske just looked at the other. [color=FF00FF][i]Sven?[/i][/color] He stared back at Manfred then back to the honey badger, than to the Stork. . . who made him feel somewhat uneasy. He turned to the Honey Badger with a rather scared look. [color=FF00FF][i]They[/i][/color] He pointed to the Stork. [color=FF00FF][i]Friend?[/i][/color] Desmond looked to Fiske, he realized that he can understand him. Desmond nodded his head as he gestured to Laska and said, [color=gold]"Friend!"[/color] Desmond gestured to the large stork again as he squeaked out, [color=gold]"Nun. Laska"[/color]. He then tried to stand on his hind legs. He balanced as he put his hands to his chest to gesture to himself and squeaked out, [color=gold]"Me. Desmond"[/color]. Fiske flinched at the mention of the nun. [color=FF00FF]"Nun?! Here?"[/color] His squeaks sounded rather panicked. If he remembered she wasn't from one of the fun orders like the Hundrians. . . [color=FF00FF]"Desmond!"[/color] It was then that his squeaks became filled with joy, before sadness kicked in once more. [color=FF00FF]["You. Dead. Too?"[/color] He looked rather hesitant. [color=FF00FF]"Me. Tell. Manfred?"[/color] Fiske wanted to ask since a person's name holds a lot of weight. Manfred started, glancing at Erika and Fritz. "You're a nun!" exclaimed the former. "Ah, yes, my sister was a nun," Fritz added. "Liesl, is that you?" Edyta shook her head and crossed her wings in an x-shape. She tilted her head, regarding Manfred steadily as Fiske and Desmond chittered and chirped at each other in excited tones. [color=2E8B57]"Mein Gott!"[/color] the magusjaeger exclaimed, [color=2E8B57]"You're Sister Laska!"[/color] He shook his head in disbelief. [color=2E8B57]"How on Oraff's green Sagand did you [i]get[/i] here!?"[/color] He twisted to regard Desmond. [color=2E8B57]"And you..."[/color] He considered. [color=2E8B57]"Not Marci, right?"[/color] He glanced down at Fiske as well, who'd mentioned Marci. [color=2E8B57]"Not Dory!?"[/color] He'd said she was in trouble. Perhaps this was part of it! Desmond shook his had, [color=gold]"Not. Dead"[/color]. He then nodded his head to allow Fiske to give Manfred his name. Fiske looked quickly regarded Manfred to make him feel more at ease. He shook his head before casting words. [color=FF00FF][i]Not. Them.[/i][/color] A little annoyed feeling boiled up as he could do nothing more than what some would consider parlor tricks... Even if others would refer to his illusions as mere parlor tricks they were not the same. Manfred considered for an extended moment. [color=2E8B57]"Desmond!"[/color] he exclaimed. [color=2E8B57]"Desmond! It has to be!"[/color] He shook his head. [color=2E8B57]"You're the only motherfucker I know who's crazy enough to go to hell without dying!"[/color] He paused. [color=2E8B57]"You're not dead, right?"[/color] He glanced at Erika and Fritz. [color=2E8B57]"Is that even possible?"[/color] Desmond began to laugh. He nodded as he jumped up and down to confirm, not only is he Desmond, but he's not dead. The little rat only looked more confused. [color=FF00FF][i]How can someone willingly think of becoming the Heavensent's prey...?[/i][/color] [color=FF00FF]"Why. Here?"[/color] Fiske asked. Nobody would have even noticed his death so it can't be for him. But he wouldn't know who else they would grab. [color=FF00FF]"For. Manfred?"[/color] Desmond shook his head as he gestured to Laska, [color=gold]"No. Laska"[/color]. Desmond then gestured to the colosseum to refference Eshiran, [color=gold]"Sent. Save. Tommy"[/color]. [color=FF00FF]"Right."[/color] The boy knew that he was already one of the damned. Perhaps he would given a nicer animal form after being helpful for one of his only friends left. [color=FF00FF]"Me. Help."[/color] He stood rather proud. his little furry chest puffed up. [color=2E8B57]"Desmond, ol' buddy. Holy shit. Count on you to do somethign like this, but [i]why[/i]!?"[/color] Meanwhile, the Kerreman pair looked at each other. "I've heard of it," Fritz admitted, "but I don't know for sure." He looked Erika's way. While he'd been in heaven for perhaps a few decades, she'd been here for well over a century, perhaps even two. She smiled at the display, perhaps with a hint of wistfulness, and nodded, dropping her unserious demeanor from earlier. "I've only seen it a couple of times, but it's possible." She shouldered her rifle and started to turn. "A sort of backdoor into this heaven, or even a hell." [color=2E8B57]"Well, are they stuck as animals for as long as they're here?"[/color] Manfred prodded, glancing at Desmond. [color=2E8B57]"Or longer? I mean... they [i]can't[/i] be, [i]right[/i]?"[/color] Fritz shook his head helplessly and Erika paused. "I... think there's a way, but I don't know it for sure," she admitted. There was something about the honey badger. It was as if she was being ever so slightly pulled in his direction when she was close to him, almost.... magnetically, but it couldn't be. She shook her head. "We should get to the colosseum. I think I know who we can talk to." Desmond turned to the conversation being had. It sounded as if they had a thought that could work. Among anything, it was something to go on. Desmond nodded to them as he squeaked out once more in both excitement, and also preparedness. He turned to Fiske as he said, [color=gold]"Let. Go"[/color]. Before turning to Laska and trying to give a honey badger thumbs up. Their plan worked. Whatever it was from the beginning. "I'll stay behind and deal with this carcass," offered Fritz, and he and Manfred exchanged a handshake and half-hug combo that ended in a couple of backslaps. [color=2E8B57]"Holy shit. Desmond."[/color] He shook his head. [color=2E8B57]"Get over here and hitch a ride on my back. You're looking even shorter than usual,"[/color] he teased. The direstork seemed to arch an eyebrow, if such a thing was possible. [color=2E8B57]"What?"[/color] Manfred rejoined. [color=2E8B57]"You have wings, Sister. Use them."[/color] Erika smiled and shook her head. "What if someone else wants to bag himself a direstork?" she queried. Still, she felt a pull towards the man-turned-badger. She knew what it meant, but she couldn't figure out [i]how[/i]. In any case, they set off, Fiske's proud little chest puffed out, his fur ruffling in the wind. They set out for the Colosseum and, hopefully, a solution to their multiple dilemmas.