laurienna - part 1

[NIKKI13]

this actually started out as something for my sci/fantasy class. But i think i may go on with it. This is the first part. ive gotten 3 so far. ill probably post them later. also, i havent chosen a 'title' i think that comes at the end. so i just called it laurienna. Any criticism is welcome, since im curious as to what people think. Even if its bad. well, lets see what happens shall we.


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The Wildcat stalked silently through the underbrush. Padded paws, expertly placed, made no sound. Moonlight tumbled through the dense foliage, to fall upon a golden-yellow coat.
-a good night for hunting- the changeling thought to herself.
Muscles tense she listened for the slightest sound. Her ears found silence. Silence where crickets should have been chirping, and owls hooting. . Silence where the soft rhythmic beating of normal forest life should be found. The unnatural silence was oppressing.
-it�s a forest, I should have found something by now.-
Hungry and irritated, the changeling pressed forward. Hunting had been difficult of late. The animals seemed to have vanished. It had been days since her last kill and the gnawing hunger was bound to drive her insane.
-not that her last meal had been a feast- she mused - a rabbit, little more than a snack. The creature had been half mad with sickness itself.-
Laurienna always preferred hunting in feline form. Not that she disliked the others. Fox, raven, gazelle, wolf�. They all serve their purposes. There was just something so invigorating about the wildcat. The sensation of flexing her claws. The brute power of her sleek muscled body. And the feel of her prey, resisting with every fiber of its being. Fighting against muscle, fang, and claw. Struggling, in most cases, to no avail. And of course, the salty taste of blood, seeping through flesh embedded teeth . Yes� the wildcat was definitely her favorite form. There had never been a shortage on meat before. Her first years in the Fading Woodlands were blissful. While she wasn�t invincible, there was no creature foolish enough to stand against her. Life deep in the forest was perfect. Until food started running low. Its as if the inhabitants had just picked up and gone. It happened slowly at first. But it wasn�t long before finding any kind of meal was difficult At one point she actually resorted to eating roots and berries whilst in human form. A sharp snap stopped her in her tracks, drawing attention back to the task at hand. Silently berating herself for letting her mind wander so, the changeling listened with sharp ears. Ambers eyes swept her surroundings, permeating the deepest of shadows.
-I can smell nothing. Perhaps I imagined it- but instinct told her that wasn�t the case.
The wildcat slowly, carefully, moved forward.
::snap::
-there it is again! There is something out there-
But� there was no scent. Eyes found nothing, only darkness. A feeling of dread ensued. Hackles raised, ever so slightly she listened as a shuffling echoed through the forest.
-still no scent! What kind of creature has no scent!?-
A small growl escaped her throat. Her body a quavering steel spring, muscles tense as a bow waiting to be unleashed. A sudden shift of the shadows brought sharp devastating pain. The ground was lost into oblivion. Tumbling, she fell, and knew no more.

[Voy_Girl]

I like your descriptions, keep it up!

[NIKKI13]

When Laurienna first came to herself, she had forgotten about the previous nights venture. Her head throbbed. Peering , with blurry eyes, into the gloom she stifled a small cry as human fingers found tender flesh. Memory slowly returned to her and she closed her eyes. Trying to forget how helpless she had been. Steel bindings connected her feet and wrists. Chains anchored to the stony floor left little room for movement. Giving the chains a half hearted tug she let out a sigh.
-where am I?- she wondered.
She was in, what appeared to be a cave. Rock solid walls flanked her on two sides. Utter darkness forward and behind. The cold damp air sent shivers through her body, and her back ached from lying twisted on the unyielding floor. A grumbling stomach reminded Laurienna that she still hadn�t eaten, and her mouth was as dry as midday desert sand. A small torch placed high on the wall provided minimal lighting.
-fools- she thought to herself.
-steel cannot hold me�-
She closed her eyes, reaching with her mind to the sweet, painful magic that allowed her to transform. (((raven))) The image echoed through her consciousness. Black velvety wings, beady emotionless eyes. Though, much to her dismay, she hit a strong mental block, the skin on her neck began to burn and itch. She let out an angry hiss, bringing hands to a smooth metal collar about her neck. Pull as she might the collar refused to open. She couldn�t even seem to find a clasp.
�I think you�ll find that collar quite unbreakable, my sweet�
The deep resonant voice came, seemingly, from nowhere. She let a startled yelp and dropped her hands to her sides. Jade green pools of color peered into the darkness, finding nothing.
�who are you� she inquired hesitantly �and why is it you think you have the right to take me captive� her anger beginning to show. She had no way to tell with her weak human nose but she was sure this was the scentless being from the previous night. Or was it still this night? Or day, perhaps. She really had no way of telling. Having had no idea how long she had been unconscious.
�who my sweet?� the voice replied mockingly.
A black clad figure materialized before her. Face hidden within the cowl of his robe, the figure stood casually head cocked slightly to the side. As if gauging her abilities. Laurienna�s eyes screamed hatred, frustration, and blind fury at this being. Teeth clenched, fingernails digging into the soft flesh of her palms, She resisted the urge to rip out her capturer�s throat out. But she could feel power emanating from him in steady stolid waves. He was a wielder of great magic�s and Laurienna knew that in her current state she wouldn�t stand a chance. Without the ability to shape-shift she was helpless as a week old kitten. Besides, even with her heightened feline strength and sensory abilities she hadn�t been able to fight him. The best thing for her to do at the moment was to swallow her pride and try to stay alive. There would always be a chance to exact her revenge later. If she indeed lived that long.
�My name�. little changeling, is Seleth.� With that he pushed the hood from his head revealing a hardened young face. She was a little surprised by his appearance. Deep blue eyes peered back at her. Radiant golden brown skin provided a look of youthfulness, with the set jaw of a fully grown man. She noted, that he didn�t appear much older than she was. His easy-going stance was that of one confident in his own abilities. And his seemingly innocent smile served only to irritate her further.
�and why are you keeping me prisoner?� she snapped
�that, my sweet ,is a question to be answered at another time. Right now, I�m thinking you are probably hungry. Thirsty as well� yes? I think you could also use a bath. You aren�t the sweetest smelling flower in the garden.� He paused� � You know, It does not make me happy, having you chained this way. In fact, I have quite luxurious accommodations waiting for you. But I had to be sure you wouldn�t do anything foolish.�
�YOU HAVE NO RIGHT!� she began with vengeance. Her voice echoing form the walls.
He knelt with hands on knees so that he was face to face with her. Grasping her chin with his fingers he began to speak, as soft as a memory.
�I have no right? And you do? For years your kind has been plaguing the forests of the world.� his grip tightened as his voice took on volume. �The unnatural ones. Cowards, I say. Not worthy of the gift bestowed upon you! The gods greatest mistake was creating you and your kind. Magii�.. Magii hidden amongst the shadows. Magii� Lurking about the night. Like murderer�s, and common thieves! Magii�. Who dwell among creatures of the forest. Preying upon them. Distasteful. Shameful. Why do you stay concealed within the mists of the world? Is it justice you fear? Why is it you are so hesitant to show yourselves to humans? The world must be cleansed. The Magii, shown the error of their ways. Perhaps then, the world will learn to accept us. And once they have accepted us�. We punish them! Make them pay for their intolerance. We create a world where those gifted with magic are allowed to flourish. Where the magii are revered. A day of change is at hand. Join me, repent for your foolish ways and you will reap rewards greater than you can possibly imagine.�
His voice trailed off .
�You say you wish to cleanse the magii of the world Do you think I�m blind? Do you take me for a fool? I know what it is you really want. Power. You really don�t think I�m stupid enough to believe your doing all of this out of the kindness of your heart? What you want is an army. And what better than an army of Magii? United, who knows what you can accomplish? Yes, Power is your game. Rewards, indeed. Don�t speak to me of revolution. I see your mind. I�m not the one at error here. Why don�t you take a look in the mirror, oh, great revolutionary?�
�foolish magii scum. You can join my cause willingly. Or�. You can be made cooperate.�
Laurienna felt pain then. Pain ten thousand fold any she had ever experienced in her life. Her mad screams reverberated from the stone walls. Only to be thrown back at her, and added to screams of continuing agony. It felt as if her skin was being stripped layer, by layer. Each beat of her heart added to the indescribable torment. Her veins, turning her body into a giant throbbing conduit of pain. Every breath she took added to the liquid torment. Her voice hoarse from screaming felt as if it were being ripped from her throat. And her last thought, before consciousness fled completely, was whether , this time, she would wake.