Chapter 2 – A FOnewearl, a Hunt, and a Possible Loss of Sanity
Cranberry slowly crept her way through the shadowy woods, leaving marks on many of the trees she passed so she would not get lost. When Cranberry arrived at another small clearing, she stood straight up with her hands on her hips, looked around and stated; “Now if I was a Hildeblue, where would I be? It’s a big and dark forest with who knows what laying in wait to attack.”
She kept moving along the trees, being careful not to trip on the roots beneath her feet. Sato followed Cranberry closely, helping her keep watch. The pair of them kept walking for some time, the sun slowly making its way lower in the sky. “Okay Cranberry lets assess the situation. You’re in a big, dark forest, and getting darker by the second. You’re looking for a very rare creature and have to bring it in alive no less. It’s getting closer to night when there may be more creatures about, and you seem to have developed a habit of talking to yourself.” After an awkward pause, Cranberry finished, “What have I gone and gotten myself into?”
Suddenly a noise caught Cranberry’s attention and she swung around to look at where it came from, but she accidentally got her big FOnewearl shoes caught on a root and went tumbling face first. She fell and began tumbling uncontrollably down a steep hill. Cranberry screamed as she continued to pick up speed and tumble further and faster towards the ground below. The ground gave way below her, sending Cranberry flying off of a rather steep cliff. She landed on her face on the ground below with a large thud, lying motionless for moment.
After a few moments Cranberry let out a groan and pushed herself to her feet. After a quick Resta spell, Cranberry felt a lot better and decided to look around. “I wonder where on Ragol I just stumbled. Maybe I’ll get lucky and find a Hildeblue’s…” Cranberry cut-off as she caught sight of a large number of lights coming from an area deeper within the forest; she quickly made her way through the trees and positioned herself behind a large oak tree to gaze at the strange sighting she was witnessing.
What looked to be a large industrial station was located in the clearing in front of Cranberry. Smoke billowing from the vents above the building. It look like a large, metallic dome, with a wide opening at the front where the light Cranberry had seen was pouring out into the now almost pitch-black forest. Noises from within the station could be heard; the sound of machines working and pressurized steam being released. I’d better go check this out. Something about this place just doesn’t feel right.
Cranberry began slowly creeping towards the building, not knowing what to expect. She managed to make her way to the entrance, carefully poking her head around the side of the entrance to peak in. Cranberry could not see anything but a large entry hallway, going deep within the building, making its way downward. The entire place looked to be constructed by some form of stainless steel.
Before Cranberry could take two more steps, something suddenly impacted with her and grasped her, wrapping her arms hopelessly to her sides and wrapping her legs together. Someone kicked her in the back after this, sending her sprawling onto the ground. When she turned her head, Cranberry saw a tall and dark HUmar staring at her. A scar over his left eye, wearing standard black HUmar armour as he snarled at Cranberry, “You should never have come here!” the man stated with a growl, “You must be destroyed. You have seen too much.”
Cranberry went wide-eyed as the HUmar unsheathed his Sange, knelt down and held it at Cranberry’s throat. “Now is your time to die, FOnewearl.” he said as he gripped the Sange, preparing to slit Cranberry’s throat.
Cranberry gaped in horror at the weapon, only to see it suddenly fall harmlessly beside her. She looked up at the HUmar and nearly screamed when she saw his eyes glazed over. His mouth was dripping blood, and she knew that he was dead. The man was tossed aside revealing a dark figure. Cranberry stared at this figure; its glowing green eyes resembled those of a cat’s. The figure suddenly revealed its claws again and sliced off Cranberry’s bonds, “Go on, and get out of here!” a fierce female’s voice came suddenly from the figure, “I should have just let you die! Now get out of here before any other guards come!”
Unable to bring herself to move, Cranberry asked, “Who… who are you?”
“I said go! Don’t make me have to kill you myself!” answered the figure with a snarl.
“Please… I want to know the name of the one who saved me.” Cranberry pleaded, her legs still feeling like pudding.
“Fine… I am the one known as Pink. A creature of this planet.” Pink answered once more, getting impatient with Cranberry.
“From… here? You live on Ragol?!” Cranberry gasped, amazed by the statement.
“Yes, you and the rest of the scum that came on that ship, you’ve been doing what you please to the planet on which I live and because of you filthy scum it has become much more dangerous to live here.” Pink growled, suddenly taking Cranberry in her paw-like hands and yanked her to her feet. “Now get going! I have no more time to spend with someone like you! Just don’t get yourself killed.”
She shoved Cranberry back towards the forest, nearly causing her to fall flat on her face. “Well… since you know this place… you um… wouldn’t happen to know where I could find a Hildeblue would you?” Cranberry asked, deciding to take advantage of the opportunity.
“There’s a Hildeblue nest a little ways into the forest in that direction!” Pink thrust her claw out a little to the west of north. “Now get going before I decide to silence you myself.”
“Thank you!” Cranberry quickly let out as she scurried away from the creature, taking a quick look at the dead HUmar lying near her feet. There was a deep claw-like gash all up his back, and four deep wounds near the centre of his back. Cranberry swallowed hard when she saw this. I’m glad I didn’t bother her anymore than I did… if her claws can penetrate a HUmar’s armour so easily… I wouldn’t want to have to feel what it’s like to get claws in the back from her.
Cranberry made sure to keep in a straight path, heading directly in the direction Pink pointed out for her. I wonder why I haven’t seen a single monster yet. I’ve been on Ragol for hours and haven’t even spotted so much as a Booma yet. She continued making her way along the dark forest. Walking slower now because she cannot see the roots clearly beneath her feet. I don’t want to stumble down another cliff… that hurt.
Cranberry suddenly found herself face first in the dirt, a sudden shockwave had sent her hurdling towards the ground. As she turned around and prepared her Windmill, she saw what she had been looking for. The large Hildeblue stared down at Cranberry, rising for a moment to beat its chest with its large hands and cry out. Now how the heck am I supposed to bring that thing in alive? It’s huge! As Cranberry got up and quickly got out of the way of the Hildeblue she made sure to look at her surroundings. She looked at all the long, low-hanging tree branches scattered along the area. She tried pulling on one, to her surprise the heavy branch easily bent with her pull. This gives me an idea! Quickly dodging another swing of the Hildeblue’s fist, Cranberry shot a large ball of Foie at the monster’s back, causing it to cry out in pain.
Cranberry began to put her plan into action. Keeping the monster at bay with smaller balls of Foie, Cranberry looked around for the largest low-hanging branch she could find. Having to quickly leap out of the way of the monster’s ice breath, she shot a larger ball of Foie at it to get it to stop. The Hildeblue thundered towards Cranberry in a rage, wanting to squash her like an insect. Cranberry saw this as her time to strike, and giving the monster a little more encouragement with two more small balls of Foie, she jumped behind the branch she had chosen, pulled it back as far as she could manage, angled it upwards, and released it. The branch smashed the Hildeblue in the face, causing it to fall on its back, unconscious.
“It worked!” Cranberry cried out in joy, quickly running over to the unconscious Hildeblue. She kicked it with her shoe a couple of times just to make sure it was out cold. Cranberry reached into her pack and got out some photon-based rope she had brought with her. She began to tie up the Hildeblue, struggling immensely with its weight. The rope was strong enough not to break from the Hildeblue’s strength. Cranberry tied the rope tightly around the Hildeblue’s arms and legs, making sure it wasn’t going to be getting free before she wanted it to.
Cranberry slowly crept her way through the shadowy woods, leaving marks on many of the trees she passed so she would not get lost. When Cranberry arrived at another small clearing, she stood straight up with her hands on her hips, looked around and stated; “Now if I was a Hildeblue, where would I be? It’s a big and dark forest with who knows what laying in wait to attack.”
She kept moving along the trees, being careful not to trip on the roots beneath her feet. Sato followed Cranberry closely, helping her keep watch. The pair of them kept walking for some time, the sun slowly making its way lower in the sky. “Okay Cranberry lets assess the situation. You’re in a big, dark forest, and getting darker by the second. You’re looking for a very rare creature and have to bring it in alive no less. It’s getting closer to night when there may be more creatures about, and you seem to have developed a habit of talking to yourself.” After an awkward pause, Cranberry finished, “What have I gone and gotten myself into?”
Suddenly a noise caught Cranberry’s attention and she swung around to look at where it came from, but she accidentally got her big FOnewearl shoes caught on a root and went tumbling face first. She fell and began tumbling uncontrollably down a steep hill. Cranberry screamed as she continued to pick up speed and tumble further and faster towards the ground below. The ground gave way below her, sending Cranberry flying off of a rather steep cliff. She landed on her face on the ground below with a large thud, lying motionless for moment.
After a few moments Cranberry let out a groan and pushed herself to her feet. After a quick Resta spell, Cranberry felt a lot better and decided to look around. “I wonder where on Ragol I just stumbled. Maybe I’ll get lucky and find a Hildeblue’s…” Cranberry cut-off as she caught sight of a large number of lights coming from an area deeper within the forest; she quickly made her way through the trees and positioned herself behind a large oak tree to gaze at the strange sighting she was witnessing.
What looked to be a large industrial station was located in the clearing in front of Cranberry. Smoke billowing from the vents above the building. It look like a large, metallic dome, with a wide opening at the front where the light Cranberry had seen was pouring out into the now almost pitch-black forest. Noises from within the station could be heard; the sound of machines working and pressurized steam being released. I’d better go check this out. Something about this place just doesn’t feel right.
Cranberry began slowly creeping towards the building, not knowing what to expect. She managed to make her way to the entrance, carefully poking her head around the side of the entrance to peak in. Cranberry could not see anything but a large entry hallway, going deep within the building, making its way downward. The entire place looked to be constructed by some form of stainless steel.
Before Cranberry could take two more steps, something suddenly impacted with her and grasped her, wrapping her arms hopelessly to her sides and wrapping her legs together. Someone kicked her in the back after this, sending her sprawling onto the ground. When she turned her head, Cranberry saw a tall and dark HUmar staring at her. A scar over his left eye, wearing standard black HUmar armour as he snarled at Cranberry, “You should never have come here!” the man stated with a growl, “You must be destroyed. You have seen too much.”
Cranberry went wide-eyed as the HUmar unsheathed his Sange, knelt down and held it at Cranberry’s throat. “Now is your time to die, FOnewearl.” he said as he gripped the Sange, preparing to slit Cranberry’s throat.
Cranberry gaped in horror at the weapon, only to see it suddenly fall harmlessly beside her. She looked up at the HUmar and nearly screamed when she saw his eyes glazed over. His mouth was dripping blood, and she knew that he was dead. The man was tossed aside revealing a dark figure. Cranberry stared at this figure; its glowing green eyes resembled those of a cat’s. The figure suddenly revealed its claws again and sliced off Cranberry’s bonds, “Go on, and get out of here!” a fierce female’s voice came suddenly from the figure, “I should have just let you die! Now get out of here before any other guards come!”
Unable to bring herself to move, Cranberry asked, “Who… who are you?”
“I said go! Don’t make me have to kill you myself!” answered the figure with a snarl.
“Please… I want to know the name of the one who saved me.” Cranberry pleaded, her legs still feeling like pudding.
“Fine… I am the one known as Pink. A creature of this planet.” Pink answered once more, getting impatient with Cranberry.
“From… here? You live on Ragol?!” Cranberry gasped, amazed by the statement.
“Yes, you and the rest of the scum that came on that ship, you’ve been doing what you please to the planet on which I live and because of you filthy scum it has become much more dangerous to live here.” Pink growled, suddenly taking Cranberry in her paw-like hands and yanked her to her feet. “Now get going! I have no more time to spend with someone like you! Just don’t get yourself killed.”
She shoved Cranberry back towards the forest, nearly causing her to fall flat on her face. “Well… since you know this place… you um… wouldn’t happen to know where I could find a Hildeblue would you?” Cranberry asked, deciding to take advantage of the opportunity.
“There’s a Hildeblue nest a little ways into the forest in that direction!” Pink thrust her claw out a little to the west of north. “Now get going before I decide to silence you myself.”
“Thank you!” Cranberry quickly let out as she scurried away from the creature, taking a quick look at the dead HUmar lying near her feet. There was a deep claw-like gash all up his back, and four deep wounds near the centre of his back. Cranberry swallowed hard when she saw this. I’m glad I didn’t bother her anymore than I did… if her claws can penetrate a HUmar’s armour so easily… I wouldn’t want to have to feel what it’s like to get claws in the back from her.
Cranberry made sure to keep in a straight path, heading directly in the direction Pink pointed out for her. I wonder why I haven’t seen a single monster yet. I’ve been on Ragol for hours and haven’t even spotted so much as a Booma yet. She continued making her way along the dark forest. Walking slower now because she cannot see the roots clearly beneath her feet. I don’t want to stumble down another cliff… that hurt.
Cranberry suddenly found herself face first in the dirt, a sudden shockwave had sent her hurdling towards the ground. As she turned around and prepared her Windmill, she saw what she had been looking for. The large Hildeblue stared down at Cranberry, rising for a moment to beat its chest with its large hands and cry out. Now how the heck am I supposed to bring that thing in alive? It’s huge! As Cranberry got up and quickly got out of the way of the Hildeblue she made sure to look at her surroundings. She looked at all the long, low-hanging tree branches scattered along the area. She tried pulling on one, to her surprise the heavy branch easily bent with her pull. This gives me an idea! Quickly dodging another swing of the Hildeblue’s fist, Cranberry shot a large ball of Foie at the monster’s back, causing it to cry out in pain.
Cranberry began to put her plan into action. Keeping the monster at bay with smaller balls of Foie, Cranberry looked around for the largest low-hanging branch she could find. Having to quickly leap out of the way of the monster’s ice breath, she shot a larger ball of Foie at it to get it to stop. The Hildeblue thundered towards Cranberry in a rage, wanting to squash her like an insect. Cranberry saw this as her time to strike, and giving the monster a little more encouragement with two more small balls of Foie, she jumped behind the branch she had chosen, pulled it back as far as she could manage, angled it upwards, and released it. The branch smashed the Hildeblue in the face, causing it to fall on its back, unconscious.
“It worked!” Cranberry cried out in joy, quickly running over to the unconscious Hildeblue. She kicked it with her shoe a couple of times just to make sure it was out cold. Cranberry reached into her pack and got out some photon-based rope she had brought with her. She began to tie up the Hildeblue, struggling immensely with its weight. The rope was strong enough not to break from the Hildeblue’s strength. Cranberry tied the rope tightly around the Hildeblue’s arms and legs, making sure it wasn’t going to be getting free before she wanted it to.
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