genessia | The Case of the Missing Cooki--er, Children

Entry tags:

The Case of the Missing Cooki--er, Children

WHO: Various Interested Parties (i.e. Anyone! Newbies, Oldbies, Applebees -- )
WHAT: The Mystery of the Missing Children!
WHEN: in...abouuuuuut... RIGHT NOW
WHERE: Fayren Woodlands and Fayren Farmlands mostly

Whoever you are, wherever you are, if you're in Genessia City or Fayren today, you may find yourself being accosted by an elderly woman in her late sixties. Her wrinkly sun baked skin is dotted with freckles, a long white braid over one shoulder with stray wisps of hair coming loose. Her posture was stooped and she walked with a slow hobble, muttering to herself and trying to get the attention of anyone who would stop.

"Sir.. Sir have you seen this girl?"

"Madame, have you seen this boy?"

"Oh poor me... poor me..."

"Wherever could they have gotten to..?"

- whenever she drew near enough to someone or if they slowed down to listen, she grabbed for their arm with a surprisingly strong grip, and spoke in a voice that was raspy.

"Such a sad fate...such poor children. Please, won't you hear me out?"

--------------------------------------

The woman gave her name as Wuada Tuis and she solemnly informed anyone who listened to her, that several charges under her care had seemingly disappeared overnight. She and her cousin Ai Xudanon have been searching for the children (a total of six missing little ones in all) who may have been kidnapped somewhere between the farmlands and the forests in Fayren. Unfortunately they can't travel there as it is perilous for such elderly souls and won't such fine, strapping young creatures help them out kindly please. A reward of course, is offered.

[ OOC: OKAY. I'm going to be setting up multiple threads so HOLD YER HORSES <3; you can talk with the old lady, go straight on to investigate places, sit back and eat cheese or other. I encourage threadjacking because who doesn't like new CR? Also as a side note even if you didn't respond to the OOC post you can participate. The more the merrier :3 ~~I lied. You can't really sit back and eat cheese.~~ ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I'm no so sure right now!" Natsu growled in annoyance before driving his knee into the scythe wielding doll man/thing making sure to focus an explosion at the contact point to enhance the damage.

However he then had to deal with the other guy trying to get all slimy with his leg.

"Get the hell off of me you slimy freak!" Natsu roared and drove a flaming kick at the creature's face.

Lucy doesn't have the opportunity to answer him there, busy with her own opponents, resisting the urge to glance towards Natsu at the sound of that punch.

The scythe wielder lets out a gurgling scream at that punch, the point of contact actually caving in like so muh dried dirt and rock. The creature glances down at the hole in surprise, before the rest of it crumbles.

Leaving the slimy compatriot who just wuvs Natsu's leg to bits. Or at least it doesn't want to be kicked free. Fire is super effective though, and since it only muddified part of its body, the kick punts its head clean off.

A few seconds later another creature tumbles to the ground, shattering into pieces of stone and dirt, while Lucy hops back to get some room for dealing with the last one. "Natsu! You okay?"

He didn't want her looking his way anyway. His battle wasn't the nicest to look at even if those bastards were puppets made of earth and magic. Natsu stomps on the remains of the creature before Lucy's own kill falls onto the scene.

"I'm fine. Damn thing just nicked me a bit but nothing serious. What about you?" He said as he eyed the surroundings, trusting Lucy to deal with the last creature.

"Nggh!" This and the sound of her opponent shattering on the ground as she dealt with him concluded Lucy's own battle, none the worse for wear. Save a tear or two where the things grabbed at her.

"Okay here too. Are there any others of those... things?" Lucy rolled her whip up, glancing around - so far all's quiet. The farmhands they passed before were either too far away to have noticed the scuffle, or weren't part of the group that attacked them.

No sign of more of the creatures though, at least for now. Lucy let out a sigh. "It figures the situation wouldn't be so straight forward as just finding the person responsible for kidnapping the children."

Not close by. But I'm sure there's more up ahead." Natsu growled and doused the flames around his fists before turning to Lucy with a frown.

"If there are any kidnapped children. If that old lady came through here and these guys didn't attack her..." He didn't need to finish that. Lucy was the smarter one.

"You're still picking up a scent from that doll aren't you?" Although.. the kids might be in cahoots or the doll could be stolen or.. hng. "There's just too many unknowns right now, I think."

"If she did come through here safely, either those people weren't here, or...they're allies of hers. If that's the case, then she's obviously not who or what we thought her to be." She scrunches her face slightly, finally sighing. "The only way we'll get an answer is if we confront her ourselves, but.." She didn't want to take the chance of going back and there actually being missing children involved.

"I'm picking up a scent but honestly it could be anything not just a kid." Natsu growled and turned his head to the right where a bush had just rustled but it was only some small weasel scurrying away.

"Exactly. And if she lied about that then she's probably not that frail either. I bet she's not even there anymore." Natsu growled with suspicion before he nodded to himself.

"We should tell Erza. Things aren't adding up here so she might run into some of these guys too if not something else."

Lucy glanced towards the bush in turn, tensing at first. She's relieved that it was just a weasel though ~~Unless it's the old woman's SPY!... no no, it's not.~~

"Hopefully she's not in a tight situation too." But if she was she probably wouldn't respond, or she'd call them back. "I'll try to reach her on the video phone."

Pausing to punch in the number for Erza's phone, she watched for her friend to pick up, frowning a little more when there was no response. Well Erza WAS Erza so she didn't think they needed to worry too much. She left a quick message for the redhead anyway, and then glanced back to Natsu.

"So... what's the plan? We're still out here, trap or not; do you want to see if there really is a child out there who owned that doll?" It might be a waste of time but at least it'd be better than going all the way back and being proven wrong about the old woman. Then she'd get angry with them.

It could have been a familiar of sorts. But Natsu didn't pick up any shady magic off of the creature. If he had, the thing would've been roasted instantly.

"Erza in a tight situation? Don't think that'll ever happen." This was Erza after all. Even so his frown grew seeing that she didn't answer the call. Well they would have to try again later.

"The plan? Hmmm I think we should keep going but if we run into any more shady farmers we kick their ass before they make their move. I'll figure out of it's them from the stench. Whatever these guys are here for, they are on the way to wherever this old lady came from. Either way answers will probably be there.

Good thing it wasn't! It saved his fur - literally. "Still, she isn't picking up.." Lucy murmured uneasily. "Well..maybe she's in a fight I didn't let it ring long enough. I've left her a message so when she does see it she'll have that warning."

Trying the call again later would definitely be a thing, though. Still, Natsu's decision to keep going it met with a nod, "And whatever those answers are.. I don't think we'll like it." She hooked her whip onto her side again, glancing around.

"Is that... smoke?" Faaaaaaaaaaar down the pasture see? Just there, a faint whisp of chimney smoke trailing up into the sky. "Maybe someone there.."

"Don't worry. Erza's tough. Really tough." Natsu reassured Lucy before he scanned their surroundings again.

"That's usually how these things go. We'll deal with it when it happens though, same as always." Fairy Tail mages were masters at adapting to a situation and solving it in the end.

When Lucy mentioned smoke he turned sharply and eyed the faint trail rising to the heavens. "Hmmm worth taking a look. But be careful."

"I know, but I can't help but worry. We don't know what kind of enemies she might be facing." Pause. "Not that I think any of them will be a problem for Erza anyways." But that's just how she was - she worried most for her nakama. Even the ones that were frighteningly strong.

"She did beat 100 monsters on her own after all." Though the Grand Magic Games felt like a lifetime ago. Strange how time worked. She cast a warm grin at him, because it was true, so many of their missions ended up making them think on their feet and adjust quickly to twists. This was no different.

"Let's hope whoever there is friendly." she bolstered her steps with a smile, starting down the road towards the farmhouse.

He could tell she was still worried and it honestly brought a faint smile to his lips. That was so like her to be worried about one of the strongest people in the guild. Still he couldn't fault her for it. Not in the least.

"Well if they aren't then I'll just kick their ass too. I just hope they actually aren't mud dolls and they can give us some damn answers." Natsu said and followed after Lucy, keeping right up next to her as the walked on the dirt road.

That's just his answer for everything! ... it just also happened to be the right answer a lot of the time. Lucy grimaced a little at the reminder of the mud dolls. "Those things were creepy as anything. And that laughing was just unsettling." Frownfrown.

Before too long they've reached the door of the cottage, which looks pretty unassuming. A nice little front porch and a dog bowl, and around the corner from the porch the path split, leading off to a tool shed and a barn.

After giving Natsu a quick glance, she raised her hand to knock on the door. "Hello..?"

Silence is her only answer. Though Natsu can pick up the scent of someone still there - or at least close by.

If it's not broken don't fix it. Words to live by if Natsu ever had any. Still he had to admit this whole situation reeked the longer they went on.

"Yeah. AT least they such at acting like normal people." Natsu said with a growl as they came upon the cottage. He noted the doghouse but also the lack of a dog anywhere nearby. Maybe it had passed away long ago?

After Lucy knocked and called out, he stepped up in front of her and pressed his ear to the door.

"I guess that isn't really a priority for whoever was responsible for them. They were probably hoping that those creations would keep people from trying to investigate further."

And didn't factor in persistent mages or anything. When Natsu listened at the door, Lucy quieted, holding still so as not to add further noise to his senses.

From within the house there continues silence - then the faintest sound of wood creaking and a small gasp. Then even more quietly, "...do you think she heard?" "Shh!"

"Well making them attack people for no reason goes against that. SO either they're stupid or they aren't worried about getting attention." NAtsu grumbled to himself.

He frowned hearing the voices behind the door. Natsu looked back to Lucy and held up two fingers.

STill they were hiding so if they wanted to do harm they were doing a shitty job at achieving that.

"Probably the latter considering there haven't been any reports about hostile farmers, or mud dolls in the news for some reason." maybe whoever encountered them just didn't go past the hostility or worse, maybe - nono, she didn't want to think about that.

Watching Natsu a moment, she nodded slowly. At least two - possibly even more. Hesitating a fraction of a second, she placed her hand on the doorknob, testing to see if it was locked. Somehow she was still surprised when the door gave to her tentative push.

More scurrying sounds from inside - whoever's in there probably looking for hiding places and trying to be quiet about it. Not very successfully either. "Sorry for the intrusion...! Is anyone there?" Lucy called again, "We just want to talk..!"

It's.. actually kind of shabby inside compared to the outside appearance. A small lit fireplace with a fire that was hastily put out, some small coals still burning, is in a corner of the room. There's a chair and a long couch, with a small table to the far side of the room. The floor is littered with a few steak bones here and there, and the air almost smells foreign from the mix of scents present; humans, incense, dog and something not quite human but unidentifiable at the moment. Keen eyes will also catch a crude trap set up at the door - a trip wire.

"Or maybe they're just after us who are from another world." It was certainly possible. Natsu was more than aware of their worth after their time in Exsilium.

Natsu could feel the scents and was about to walk on through when he spotted the tripwire and halted Lucy's advance with a hand over her stomach before nodding his chin downwards.

Hm.. she hadn't thought about that possibility. "Maybe...!" Hrm, that's a troubling thought, actually.

She's about to step forward into the house when Natsu stopped her. Glancing to him in surprise, she followed the nod of his chin to the trip wire. "Ah... what the..."

Well fortunately that's easily avoided, and she carefully stepped over the wire, glancing around. Kitchen, basement, upper floor to a loft..she glanced at Natsu, motioning to the stairs. "Check upstairs." She'll check the kitchen and basement.

Natsu looked to Lucy after trying to find whatever the trip wire led to so they don't trigger the thing on their way out by accident.

"Okay leave it to me. Keep on your toes Lucy." Natsu warned and moved to walk up the stairs to the second floor but not before sparing a brief glance over his shoulder at Lucy.

Strangely the trip wire was ... pretty simple actually. It just led from one end of the doorjam to the other, its purpose to trip anyone who walked in into falling flat on their face - or more dangerously, onto the table if it had been pushed close enough.

Lucy paused on the way to the kitchen, glancing around, pausing to look over her shoulder to Natsu with a softer smile. "I will. You be careful too."

Up the stairs! The creaky, creaky stairs, each step seeming to groan in protest under the weight, looking like they hadn't been maintained or repaired in decades, Once or twice the steps crack slightly, but so long as you move carefully, they'll stand firm.

Once in the loft upstairs, the air gets much, much colder, enough that vapor would be seen. There are blankets lumped on the floor with flecks of blood only a few days old, and two plates with scraps of food on the floor. Two beds sit side by side- angled oddly along the wall. There's a suspicious lumpy shape on the bed, while opposite those two there is a small closet with the door cracked open the tiniest bit.

Scents of people and things, human, dog, and a prescence that seems just as hostile are aaaaaaaaaaaaall over this room, coming from every which. Breathing is audible, small and shallow as if afraid, and under that is the faintest sound of growling.

Natsu crept up the stairs keeping his senses on guard for any sign of wrongness in his surroundings. The change in temperature didn't phase the dragon Slayer since he had that internal furnace situation going on.

However he could smell the iron tange of blood. He slowly opened the door and peered inside. Natsu eyed the bed briefly but then followed his nose to the closet. He walked up to the piece of furniture and gripped the side of it. In a few heartbeats he would be roughly shaking the furniture forward.

As Natsu approached the furniture, the door that was cracked open is quickly shut tight. There's soft whimpering from within, and as it gets shaken forward, the doors swing open again and a figure tumbles out with a small yelp. A small boy with curly black hair and black eyes, dressed in a white shirt and black shorts no older than 8 being the owner of that surprised noise, once he hits the floor it's like pandemonium.

The blanket on the bed is abruptly thrown back and a girl a few olders than the boy jumps off the bed, a dagger in her hands as she rushes towards the small boy's aid. "Get away from him!" At the same time, there's a louder growl, a large (and injured) dog that had been on the bed slowly trying to get to his feet. The blood has obviously come from the animal, his bandages barely keeping the wound from reopening.

On closer inspection, both girl and boy have an odd rash creeping along their face and arm - more pronounced on the girl than the boy, it covers more than half of her face, her entire neck and down her chest (one assumes), as well as along her arms. The dagger in her hands shakes with her effort of holding onto it, but she glowers at Natsu with fierce determination.

Natsu expected something to come out of the closet. However when the two children revealed themselves he was genuinely caught by surprise. Not so much by their presence there as much as their state. And then his eyes fell on the wounded dog.

"Woah there! Easy. I'm not going to hurt you guys." Natsu said and put the furniture back in its place before offering to help the boy to his feet despite the threat. If she tried lunging at him, she would find Natsu to be quicker than he looked.

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

You didn't see that. >.> <.<

My inbox saw it tho :P

Your inbox is a tattletale!

IT IS LOYAL

A LOYAL TATTLETALE

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject