Forums » Fantasy Roleplay » Circus of Nightmares (1x1)

Soon after they had drifted off to sleep, the night passed quickly and soon the distinct sounds of crickets and drops of dew, falling from the trees and plants in the damp cool morning air. The tent flap had been pinned open by someone overnight, revealing the large clearing that had dapples of sunlight peaking through the tall trees. A thin hazy fog blanketed the ground and very few people wandered about this time of the morning.

Holly stirred quietly in her bed, with a snuff. A moth fluttered around her face, as moths seemed to like gathering in the tent in these hours. Opening her eyes slowly, she swatted the moth, smacking it into the floor of her cage. Although unintentional, she sighed satisfied however seemed to stare out into the clearing. A crow landed in the clearing and cawed loudly, its call echoing throughout the area. Her brow furrowed as she stared at it for a while.

Maliki, although sleeping, heard everything. The little noises made his ears move and prick, adjusting themselves to hear clearly. He turned in his sleep and the blanket didn't follow him. This made him jolt awake from the cold and he sat up fast, eyes wide and alert. After a moment he relaxed and let his body droop. It felt as though he had just closed his eyes. Maliki sighed and yawned. He shook hay out of his hair and stretched as lightly as he could without spraining his strained muscles. He tried to keep from waking up fully for as long as possible, because he knew that meant he would have to face reality.

It was earlier in the morning so Maliki wouldn't have to worry about that. Holly continued staring outside, rather focused on the crow. Pecking, the crow cawed once more, hopping about in the thin haze. Another landed beside it, cawing loudly as they flapped their wings. It seemed that the crows gathered in the clearing all around, distant calls heard through the crisp morning air. Holly felt uneasy, turning over to stare at the floor. Holly had fallen asleep once more, not noticing as a shorter person had walked into the tent with something hidden in their light coat.

They looked around to make sure they could sneak in. Staying as quiet as possible, they tip toed their bare feet into the tent towards Holly's cage. They slipped off the hood for a moment. It was the boy who had brought them their food last night. Reaching into the coat, they brought out a hunk of fresh meat and placed it into Holly's cell, quietly. The boy had quickly put up his hood and ran out of the tent without another word, a crow cawing in surprise as he ran through the clearing and disappeared.

Maliki watched the boy, eyes narrowed. why hadn't he given her the food at the same time as the others? He crinkled his nose;it didn't smell natural at all. There was something in it. He looked to Holly and then the meat. How long had she been eating this food without knowledge of what was in it?

The smell had soon reached her nose as well. She twitched in her sleep. Something wasn't right at all about this. Holly moved around a bit, a quiet sizzling sound started to fill the tent. The birthmark on her face darkened and began to move across her face like a shadow, starting to envelope her.

Maliki put his hand to his mouth and slid away from her, surprised. What was this? He watched in astonishment, and perhaps fear. He didn't know what to do. Should he alert someone? Maybe talk to her? Maliki felt that prod on her mind. The darkness there was spreading fast like wildfire, and he didn't like it at all.

Within a couple of seconds, her hair had darkened to a void black. Her body morphed with the crack of bones into some kind of shadowy creature that looked like a dog except the muzzle was almost as long as a bird's beak. It snarled loudly as it awoke slowly, pure white eyes opening. Rising from the straw a dark smoke seemed to linger around it, feathers in its mane and on its back ruffling as it walked through the cage towards the hunk of meat.

Maliki became completely still. He breathed scarcely through his nose and didn't blink. What in god's name just happened. He figured that..this must be her "talent". It also explained the dark cloud in her mind. But why? Maliki didn't understand how such a sweet girl could have something as dangerous as that in her body,or soul. He watched the creature eat, wondering if this happened every morning.

The creature was done the slab of meat within minutes. Jaw dripping of blood seeping between its sharp teeth, the beast turned setting its white eyes on Maliki. It's ears perked, it's feathers ruffled and twitched as it began walking to the edge of it's cage, closer to Maliki, seeming to look over him with a curiosity. It wasn't silent for long, sending its thoughts to Maliki through telepathy it narrowed its eyes. "Is it a new one? I smell... fear maybe?" It's nostrils flared, voice deep and monstrous.