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

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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?"

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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.~~ ]

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"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.

The girl wasn't taking his answer at face value - in fact when he reached to help the smaller boy up, she lunged forward and clumsily slashed at his arm. "I won't let you touch him!"

Nice of him to put the furniture back up though. The smaller boy scoots backwards away from Natsu, putting the girl between them. The injured dog lets out a pained whimper as it climbs off of the bed, ears flattened back and hackles up.

She was a fierce one despite her obvious fear. Natsu had to praise her for that. As soon as they sorted things out. For the moment Natu caught the blade of the dagger between to fingers and held it in an iron grip.

"Calm down. We're not here to hurt anyone. We just want to know what's going on around here." As he said that he tossed the wounded dog a sympathetic look. He must have been just like the girl given how hard he was trying to rise to the defense of the children despite his wounds.

"Look I'm going to let go of the knife now and then we can talk, okay? Actually. I should call Lucy up here too..."

The girl gasped when she found she couldn't pull the knife away. What kind of monster was this guy!? She glared at him for a second, her eyes sending furtive glances towards the younger boy and the dog standing guard in front of him.

When Natsu let go of the knife, the girl looked tempted to attack again- but the guy DID say he only wanted to talk. And he's with someone else too. Instead she lowered the knife and backed up towards the other boy. "You shouldn't be here." She said instead, crossly.

Meanwhile the creak of floorboards was telltale of Lucy padding up the steps. Hearing her name being mentioned, she glanced at the children and their dog, then Natsu. "I'm here, you don't have to call me up."

On that could breathe fire. Still he was doing nothing of the sort. The opening to their talk wasn't the most promising but it was something at least.

Why shouldn't we? He paused for a moment and just as Lucy arrived he continued.

"Is it because of that thing on your bodies?" Natsu turned his head over his shoulder when Lucy announced herself.

"I'm guessing you didn't find anything else." Since the three before him all matched the scents he'd picked up since coming in.

Lucy hesitated for a fraction of a second, "Just these papers. It must have been someone's diary."

The girl scowled when Natsu mentioned the marking on their bodies, glancing from Lucy to Natsu warily. "Because the bad thing comes back at night." She answers stiffly instead, turning her attention to the dog anxiously.

The boy, being a bit more hospitable, studies Natsu for a moment, and then Lucy. "That's my sister Justyne Thyme, and our dog Herb. My name is Neveren."

"A diary?" Those always had information of some sorts. Well he could leave that to Lucy since the girl mentioned some 'bad thing'

"What do you mean bad thing? Some kind of monster?" If so he would kick its ass no problem. When Neveren spoke up, Natsu flashed a warm smile at the two.

"Sorry about earlier. I didn't know it was you two hiding out in here. My nose might be sharp but your scents were new to me so I couldn't take any chances." He then looked over to the dog.

"Did the bad thing do that to him?" It was obvious from his frown that he was not at all pleased with that.

Edited 2014-03-11 12:41 (UTC)

My inbox saw it tho :P

Your inbox is a tattletale!

IT IS LOYAL

A LOYAL TATTLETALE

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