The Cycle of Omens
November 30th 2024
Speech: #cfa120
Thoughts: Italics
Familiar Discussion with @Evelynn Decipio
Partially Continued From Here
"Okay Tavra, Have a fly about and see if you find her. If you do, give it to her."Miss Evelynn,
I know this is out of the blue, but can we meet? There's a lot that's happened. Things you probably should know about. You will find me where we first met last year. I won't be going anywhere until I see you.
Your friend (I hope),
Emily.
With the note safely in Tavra's grip, the young owl was sent on her way to find the lioness. Emily remained by the bundle of trees where she first encountered her, bundled up as the morning chill passed over into the afternoon. What started off as a simple discussion over the past horrors of Hogwarts then erupted into a five-against-one over Emily's hope to eradicate the intent to hurt held by dark creatures. That conversation was one that never sat well with Emily. She hated how far it escalated, and she hated even more the fact that everyone brought up valid points. It wasn't that Emily hated being wrong... She just couldn't stand not being good enough to draw the right plan of action.
As far as they were all concerned, Emily had her sights set on what she wanted to explore from the get-go.
She leaned against the tree where she was cornered during that kerfuffle. If trees had a conscience then surely the poor tree behind her was probably sick of her after what happened, bearing witness to a 12 year old who had no clue just how bigger the world was, and how much more taint it held as a result.
Tavra returned and landed on a branch level to Emily's eyes. The Huffie cast her gaze to her feet as she fell deep in thought. Evelynn was more than likely going to tell her off again once she told her everything. She was self-assured she wouldn't act surprised if Evelynn tried to persuade her to abandon the path she was on.
But after the recent events with those horrid creatures and the boy's look of pure terror carved into her memory, Emily no longer had the right to walk away anymore. If what the boy had said was true, then she was a part of this now.
Her own worry became noticeable enough for Tavra to chirp her out of her train of thought. Emily flinched but forced a brave face.
"I'm fine, Tavra... It's not even Miss Evelynn that I'm worried about anymore..."
She fidgeted with the end of her skirt whilst rubbing the back of her legs anxiously together.
Just spill it, listen to an earful and then bounce out. Easy peasy.
Emily whined.
"Why now? Why me?"
Word Count: 503
Just in case, the lovely Evelynn Decipio has my full permission to godmod Tavra delivering the note!
Stats: Stamina: 7|Evasion: 6|Strength: 6|Wisdom: 8|Arcane Power: 7|Accuracy: 6
Abilities: Non-Human Enthusiast |Cat's Grace
Trust Yourself - Love Yourself - Be Yourself
iNPC = Casey Stone
The Cycle of Omens
| xx |  |
xx |
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
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| xx | 𝙽𝙾𝚅𝙴𝙼𝙱𝙴𝚁 𝟹𝟶, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺 | 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙲𝚈𝙲𝙻𝙴 𝙾𝙵 𝙾𝙼𝙴𝙽𝚂 |
𝙴𝙽𝙶𝙻𝙸𝚂𝙷 | 𝙵𝚁𝙴𝙽𝙲𝙷 |
xx |
| xxx | 𝓛eaves rustled gently as a low growl rumbled in the chest of a great feline. Paws padded over packed earth, trotting along the same path that she'd treaded many dozens of times by now. It had become something of a weekend tradition for her by this point. Weekday mornings were for runs by the lake, but Saturdays were for an entirely different sort of release, one where she could suppress the emotional onslaught and overwhelming tide of thoughts and simply allow herself to exist. Even better if she was able to find an ignorant first-year wandering where they ought not to be. There was a certain sadistic satisfaction in being able to instill the fear of death into them, deterring them from making the mistake of breaking school rules in future. Though she never ventured too far, lest she become the very problem that she sought to cure. She was on her way back to her clearing when she saw the owl flitting about. Its uncharacteristic activity at this particular time of day would have been enough to clue the lioness into recognizing that it wasn't a native avian, but rather one of the students' familiars. But the letter it carried was far more interesting. Slowing her pace, two paws lifted from the ground almost as though to paw at the air to reach up towards it. By the time the distance closed, though, it was the delicately gloved hands of a witch that would release the owl of its burden. The letter was unrolled without hesitation, one sweep of the contents all that was needed to digest its gist. A thoughtful hum accompanied the slip of the parchment into her pocket. Her entrance into the clearing would come mere moments after Tavra had returned to her mistress, the Gryffindor uninterested in biding for time to make it seem like she hadn't been nearby. "I wondered when this might happen.." Evelynn murmured, slowing to a stop at a nearby tree. A shoulder brushed against it, the sixth-year apparently entirely unphased by the deep gashes that raked through the bark at head height. She hadn't the faintest idea about what specifically the topic of this encounter would be, but there had been little doubt that eventually @Emily Shephard would encounter something she couldn't quite consolidate with her idealistic belief system and might seek to continue the conversation that had first challenged that system. The tone of her voice would reach further than mere self-assurance, however. There's a lot that's happened, the note had written. Evelynn knew better than most that these sorts of things could take any number of shapes. Some worse than others. More than feeling vindicated in being right, the senior was more preoccupied about bringing to light what new threat had made itself known and what it would mean for the student body. Concerned curiosity coloured her countenance as she settled in for what she hoped to be an enlightening encounter. When she spoke, she did so without malice or condescension, instead portraying an air of invitation. She was all ears. "What happened? Are you alright?" |
xxx |
The Cycle of Omens
November 30th 2024
Speech: #cfa120
Thoughts: Italics
So... with @Evelynn Decipio
Emily's hair stood on end when she saw the elegant lioness approach. That was quicker than she had expected. Evelynn's face however said everything that Emily anticipated. She was honestly beginning to think Evelynn had been secretly hoping for something like this to happen, after all they talked about last year.
That would truly have been a testament to how much Emily must have ruffled everyone's feathers that day, especially that of a more seasoned student that knows intimately what horror looks like. Nothing was more karmic than being delivered a large wave of "I told you so" right in the face.
Emily swallowed as Evelynn approached, already feeling herself shrink before her. She hadn't even said anything to the lioness yet and already Evelynn looked mildly disappointed at her. Yet for some reason, her tone betrayed all of what Emily was expecting.
"What happened? Are you alright?"
"I-- Well-- Kind of. Yes. Well... Maybe." As if Emily really knew at this stage.
Where does she even begin with this? None of what she will say next could be met positively.
Well, she wouldn't want to cement herself further into Evelyn's bad side by fetching her for nowt. That would've been a pisser.
With a calm breath she finally spilled the beans.
"What we talked about way back when... About Hag dolls and stuff... I saw some the other night. Real ones. It was... Eye opening, to see one up close. And terrifying at the same time..." she twitched at the memory of their disfigured faces. But what shook her even more was the face on the boy they preyed upon.
"A boy in first year... He was being hunted by them. They only let him go when another student cast light to chase them away. The poor lad was so distraught..."
She shivered again. "But that wasn't all that terrified me... It was what the boy said. He told me and the other student with us... A first year girl... That they'll come for us. For me... All because we've seen them."
She stared off lost in thought. None of it sat right yet Emily held a feeling deep down she knew what to expect after that horrific night. It didn't quell the worry she had, nor did it craft up any quick solutions for the predicament she would be in if she wasn't in it now.
If past students have suffered from the games of these creatures, then Emily was definitely not going to fare any better if she was now destined to the same fate...
She looked back at Evelynn with a haunted look in her eyes.
"Miss Evelynn... I've been to the forest numerous times since we last spoke, only once have I gone deep into its depths to expedite what I said I would and that ended up being one of the greatest experiences in my life, yet for my first conclusion after witnessing that godawful sight, even though it was what I had wanted before... Nothing in that forest could ever haunt me the way those creatures or that kid's face did... And I'm scared."
Word Count: 551
Stats: Stamina: 7|Evasion: 6|Strength: 6|Wisdom: 8|Arcane Power: 7|Accuracy: 6
Abilities: Non-Human Enthusiast |Cat's Grace
Trust Yourself - Love Yourself - Be Yourself
iNPC = Casey Stone
The Cycle of Omens
| xx | |
xx |
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
| xx | 𝙽𝙾𝚅𝙴𝙼𝙱𝙴𝚁 𝟹𝟶, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺 | 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙲𝚈𝙲𝙻𝙴 𝙾𝙵 𝙾𝙼𝙴𝙽𝚂 |
𝙴𝙽𝙶𝙻𝙸𝚂𝙷 | 𝙵𝚁𝙴𝙽𝙲𝙷 |
xx |
| xxx | 𝓐s much as guilt may have led the girl to see a sheen of piercing disappointment cast her way, Evelynn's expression remained soft. It was her habit to preach safety and adherence to the rules, but the lioness was not ignorance of fact. Most students regarded the rules as guidelines meant to be bent for their convenience. Regardless of reason or rationale for the implementation and the paramount safety of students maintained at the core of regulatory creation, they would be broken. It was only a matter of time. Experience as both a prefect and as one of those very same students who held such blatant disregard for a selection of the rules had demonstrated a need for empathy. Finger wagging achieved nothing in terms of impacting behavioural change. Less than nothing, in fact. It damaged respect and the relational bond upon which one could build an understanding a guide a shift towards reformation. "..Maybe?" Evelynn echoed the word of uncertainty, but didn't press. By the way in which Miss Shephard shifted with her answer, she wasn't entirely certain how she was feeling, herself. Understandable. Processing trauma didn't happen overnight—assuming that's what it was, anyway. As Emily contemplated her next steps, the silence stretched between them like a taut bowstring ready to snap. The way she shrunk back into the trunk harkened to that same reaction back in Spring. Evelynn canted her head slightly, but said nothing, patiently awaiting for her to speak. What she had to say drew a lofted brow. "You saw a hag doll?" Pericles had authored an article in the Headliner not so long ago about the creations, but it had been some time since she'd heard of an actual encounter. Questions rose to the surface of her bubbling thoughts, but she set them to simmer, content to let the girl express all that she had to say before pressing her for more specific information. Lips quirked empathetically as she went on, remembering her own first encounter with the beings. Throughout the exposition, Evelynn's eyes never left the girl, roaming occasionally over her in search of any sign of injury or out-of-place characteristic. There didn't seem to be anything immediately apparent. The girl was fortunate, then. Though it was obvious that the psychological wounds would take some time to heal. If ever they did at all. "It is reasonable to be scared," Evelynn began quietly. "Good to be scared, even. It means your survival instincts are working. Dark Dolls are not objects to be taken lightly. I was about the same age as you are now when I encountered my first one. It was a Dark Misfit, crafted with a strand of hair from the student it sought to replace. By your description, it is possible the dolls you saw may have been the same. It is said that Hag Dolls are generally harmless, but may amass near the layer of a hag. Still, it is usually the Dark Misfits or Living Dolls that do the hunting. You can generally differentiate them by studying their targets. Can you remember anything about what it looked like? And where did you see it?" She paused here, lips crimping again. Asking someone to relive horror was a necessary evil when it came to arming oneself with the knowledge needed to understand the situation and protect those impacted. It didn't make it any easier, though. For either of them. Pushing her shoulder off the trunk, she stepped forward in the same smooth motion. "I know it will be difficult to think back to the event, but it will be helpful to know as much as possible to prevent harm befalling." Hands came to rest on Emily's shoulders when she had closed the distance, hoping to impart comfort. "Do you know the name of the first year boy they were hunting? Or who it was that chased them away with light?" |
xxx |
The Cycle of Omens
November 30th 2024
Speech: #cfa120
Thoughts: Italics
Breathe In And Out with @Evelynn Decipio
How Evelynn could remain so collected in the face of a constant nightmare was quite impressive. For anyone else, the life would've drained out of them, if not gone mad from the cycle of occurrence that such devils in the dark have made of them. Emily only dreamed of having that kind of resilience as her hands kept rubbing together anxiously. Evelynn was too good at being soft when up against the fear of evil, which must have been a testament to all she's seen and had to endure.
And if she had experienced what Emily had seen when she was her age, then that only cemented the fact that Evelynn was as strong as they came. All the same, an upsetting thing to think about, to have seen something so shocking at a young enough stage in life.
Emily cocked her head slightly when Evelynn began talking. What she was saying was making sense but Emily didn't really like the sound of all of it. More than one type of Doll? Either a lapse in memory or that this was something completely brand new to her, her curious glance confirmed to Evelynn her inexperience with the creatures, despite all the stories the school tries to bury from past experiences.
She made no hesitation in indulging Evelynn's questions. The image of those Dolls were something she could hardly forget. Not any time soon. "There were three of them, all made of porcelain or otherwise something eerily like it... And they all looked like more disgusting versions of the boy they were trying to drag back with them. They had lifeless eyes, yet they moved so mechanically, just like any child's doll. Yet knowing that they were malicious, it was like they planned their every move." A shiver rocked her body just thinking about the cold, calculating way they entrapped the boy as he fought with blood and sweat against them. "It happened near here, on the grounds."
She could see the reluctance in Evelynn's eyes of asking someone to recount a scary situation. Emily wasn't worried though, nor offended that she asked in the first place. Emily wrote that letter inquiring of her guidance because she knew no one else could compare as an expert. If anything, Emily laughed half-heartedly at Evelynn's apologetic tone.
"Heh... After the other night, I doubt I'll be forgetting what happened for a long while. My only wish was that I had your strength to remain brave about it." She smiled weakly. "After all I said last time, it just seems hypocritical of me to be afraid... Perhaps I greatly underestimated the weight of fear until I felt it when those Dolls appeared."
It was then that Evelynn placed her hands on the Huffie's shoulders, her touch delicate and soothing. The last time Evelynn was this close to her, she was more strict yet remained fair. This time it was like experiencing a whole other side to her that Emily couldn't really remember, if not hadn't seen before. Evelynn truly was a woman in control of her emotions, one who could project the right face at the right time. Emily could only continue to lament over how she herself was not able to do the same.
"Do you know the name of the first year boy they were hunting? Or who it was that chased them away with light?"
Emily shook her head regrettably. "I don't remember if they ever said their names and I don't really know who they are to begin with, sorry... But they were both around my age, maybe a little younger. First years if I had to guess. The boy's a Slytherin @Aamon Athanatos, and a girl, a Ravenclaw @Avis Marlong... She was the one who casted light from her wand. It burnt one of the dolls and they were forced to retreat. Last I saw them, she was escorting him back inside the castle. I went to the Common Room because... I didn't really know what else to do. I can only assume they did the same thing."
Her heart bled for the victim in question though. "You should've seen his face, Miss Evelynn... He was beyond terrified. He clung onto the other girl like a lifeline. I couldn't calm him down now matter what I tried. Inconsolable he was. I've never seen such a traumatised face in all my life."
She chewed her bottom lip. Evelynn was probably expecting Emily to have grown some after their last chat yet at the risk of sounding naïve, she couldn't help but admit what she thought in that moment.
"The creatures in the forest are one thing... But somehow, those Dolls are more terrifying that anything I could've expected to have encountered. Much less so within the confines of Hogwarts itself..."
Word Count: 833
Stats: Stamina: 7|Evasion: 6|Strength: 6|Wisdom: 8|Arcane Power: 7|Accuracy: 6
Abilities: Non-Human Enthusiast |Cat's Grace
Trust Yourself - Love Yourself - Be Yourself
iNPC = Casey Stone