♪ Skyrim soundtrack - From past to present ♪
Inside the forest, in the middle of everything, in plain sight. Also wherein our protagonist is running for his life. Lay in a massive tree whose top reaches out to the sky. Everyone agreed that calling it huge is an understatement to it. Conny commented that it was his life long dream to have a huge dick and was harshly reprimanded by Monk for perverting nature. Chuni ruminated why he thinks the tree is related to a divine tree. Specs is dissonating from the belief of a tree can be that tall but can't stop looking away from it. Leth... Leth was still sleeping... Utterly unhelpful to everything. Antique started chanting some unknown language-- They also agreed that whatever it was from the past, Its previous grandeur, the time when it was still alive... they will awe at its wonder. Within this, all chattering cause them to momentarily forgot Sephiroth's current plight. He was livid when they started to ignore him... and even made fun of him.
Sephiroth ran in cadence with both livid and panicking. Confidence in small amounts is okay as Monk monk eagerly said but snarkily remarked by Conny that he can be confident about dying instead. Run at a constant pace, he said. Breath at a constant pace, he said. Concentrate while the fact that a crazed bear is trying to kill and eat you can be a great motivator, he said. (Specs suggested this one)
"Ho- ow much longer?" as Sephiroth asked in the Consciousness "I can't take this any more of this!" shouting inside his mind. Heavy panting and occasionally stopping for a bit to rest
Conny: [Hey! Hey! Don't go shouting at us!] then banged on the screen. continued to mutter on something about without them, he could have died.
Antique: [Ease o' boi. He gun' die now if we can't rid it(bear) away] as he sat down with his legs sprawled forward like a kid while his right hand was on the back floor that serves as a stand and his left hand picking bugger off his nose.
Specs: [300 yun distance! just keep on ahead!] without so much looking away from the screen.
"hu-huh... Yun?" Sephiroth never heard of that distance unit before. Nevertheless, he kept on running forward.
Slapping his head as he remembered a thought. Specs: [ I forgot you are all primitives! Ha! silly me!] he laughed it off for a bit [ It is about more or less 250-290 meters ahead. Anticipating a slope. Slide down. then run again. The tree is up ahead. Just don't look away from it and just ignore the previous unit]
Chuni scoffed at Spec's comment but did not try to argue with him. Initially, he didn't like the idea of living longer in this situation. He still has that notion but he can't deny the fact that he is rooting for 'Sephiroth' to live. To him, it is not an everyday occurrence you can see this albeit with the other idiots with him.
Then! They heard the bear's roar!
Loud as it was, the forest does not offer much help to gauge the distance between Sephiroth and the bear. The sound bounces off. waning as the distance goes by when it reaches Sephiroth's ear
"No! no- no- not again!" as he picks up the pace.
He bolted straight ahead! Well, not really. He clumsily moved straight ahead should be it. Yes, he was fast. Fast at stumbling through anything: Rocks, roots, vines, and just a combination of those three.
Specs looked at everyone, he can't help but feel lacking. He shook his head with an uneasy feeling. This was out of his league. 6 male. most are either utterly useless or downright stupid to his standard. He was used to having a team to accomplish everything and accomplish it breathtakingly that he was renowned for. However, he can't remember what he accomplished, how he accomplished it, much less for what he was renowned for. He disregards this notion for now. An increasing heavy feeling he has.
"A-almost!" heavy panting. Sephiroth said "There-- another slope!"
Conny: [Well?! the slope won't be coming to you! so quit your mumbling and keep running!] as Conny argued with Sephiroth.
Coming out of the tree line, he quickened his pace as he neared the slope. Sephiroth stopped and took a breath for about 10 seconds. Constant scolding, bickering, curses, and even Monk is joining in at talking some senses to him. He just did not care. He needed those seconds for his lungs and heart can't handle it much more... but quickly changed his mind when he heard the bear roared again.
"Huu- sssshit" in a hush but exasperated tone. he hurriedly moves around the cliff's edge, trying to find a suitable route down. Additional bickering from others on the topic of wasted time aside from Specs which helped decide the way down. He needed a way down that is fast, safe, and most importantly, easy on the butt. The last ride down did a number on his pants, legs, and hands. Most are slight burns due to friction from the long slide down and with this bear situation, he would like it to stay that way.
Finally deciding on a route. He grabbed the edges of his pants then pulling each side up to raise his waist for a bit and he bent his knees for a bit then jumped, as he jumped he pulled his pants higher. Satisfied, he sat down along the cliff's edge where he would start his slide down along the slope. He can hear the roars and grunts of the boar getting louder.
Antique: [Ye' huffing and huffing 'ere lad, haha! Course the wild ursa will find ye'. Just head ol' straight. Nothin' to worry~] As he picked his nose. Knowledge usually comes with age, but wisdom will be stuck with you. Although age comes with wisdom, it may also lead to Alzheimer's which confuses that with wisdom. Antique was confident. Truly confident that he looks senile to others cause he too doesn't know the source of this confidence. he just knows. its pure instinct at this point and he is okay with it.
Nothing eventful happened as he slides down the slope. He rocked down for a bit due to momentum. Reaching the bottom, he picked himself and dusted himself off. The roars and grunts are getting closer. He looked up at the very tall tree. Far different than they imagined even as they have some inkling that it may still be beautiful up close but seeing it like this was disheartening. Dried up and black. Too many questions were propping. They held down their voices. They all knew this is not the right time to ask for anything.
*Thud* "huu.. that hurts" with a muffled voice as he face-planted into the ground when his feet got caught in a vine to which he laid in a position where his butt points up.
A roar was heard but this time its closer.
♪ Kevin MacLeod - Volatile Reaction ♪
Chuni: [Get up! stop monologuing!] feeling a sense of urgency to the situation, he spoke up first amongst the 6 of them.
"I'm up! I'm up!" as Sephiroth hurriedly run. Upon a closer look at the tree, its wider than he imagined. he thought that people can carve up some parts of its inside into a spiral then calling it a tree city will not be an out of place sight with this idea. As he trailed down his sight and thoughts towards the roots, he exclaimed that the roots are everywhere and created a commotion amongst the 5 the implications of this new development; Antique was optimistic that he can hide in it, Chuni was terrified of the idea that maybe other vicious or poisonous things live there, Monk was praying again, Conny was pragmatic about it, saying to deal with that kind of things when it happens, and Specs was saying something about finding a way inside first before counting there Yrt... Everyone stopped whatever they are doing for a bit which completely breaking the vibe... and just relates Yrt as a chicken. Suddenly, Specs gestured with his hand and a small screen popped out next to him, he flicked the small screen to the main screen.
Specs: [There!] as he pointed out. [Guide him under that root structure] just as Specs discusses to everyone the finer details of his decision, The bear roared again, and this time it can see Sephiroth running. It prompted everyone to bicker for a moment then silence followed.
Conny: [Kid! head towards a bit to the left! Yup! Good. Do you see that bit of gap down that root? Good good. Do not go towards any other good open way. Only go that way! Good? Trust us! Damn you, kid, just trust us!] with the silence that lingers, Conny shook his head and was the first one to speak among them thus ensured a jabbing session between him and Sephiroth.
A few seconds more, The boar's roar has reached a different pitch. More rage than previously heard. It was set. Deadset. It pushes its body forward slowly at first then gradually pickups its speed. The scent. The madness it has given. the pain it has provided. Its right eye heavily bloodied. it was rage. It is rage and it is close for the kill.
Sephiroth bolted into the root maze (appropriately called by Chuni) he had to traverse upwards to a small hill which he tumbled again with a single forward roll when he ran down the small hill. Luckily, He recovered quickly and rushed himself a few more meters towards the tiny gap.
Chuni: [Dive in!] erratically pointing and screaming.
Monk: [Safety is within grasp, Boy!] with his left hand grasping the large beads in his neck and his right forming a prayer.
Antique: [Run~ Run~ Run~] clapping and slapping his tummy to form a rhythm
Conny: [Go faster! Wild thing is getting lou-- Ouch!] as he got pushed aside by Specs
Specs: [When I say mark, you dive!] he stated without any stutter but was internally frantic and can be seen the twitching/shaking of his left leg.
Specs: [MARK!]
Specs roughly calculated every variable he can figure out to help Sephiroth in that tiny gap. The moment he said mark, it took a second or two for Sephiroth to dive into the gap. The sequence of it was accurate, it was thoroughly thought out, the delay was taken into consideration. For a moment, Specs smirked that he was right again. However, as soon as he landed...
"Huh? What happened? I'm stuck? G-g-guys ahh I'm stuck!" Sephiroth was frantic. He struggled as his head is already in while the neck down is still outside. He tried to claw his way inside but to him, something felt wrong like he forgot an important fact.
Specs: [Whoops! that wasn't part of the equation.] Embarrassed. He looked away from the screen and panted heavily that comes a bit of stuttering.
Chuni: [BAKA! you forgot your backpack!] facepalmed and continued to curse at Sephiroth. This in-turned was followed by everyone cussing at both Sephiroth and Specs.
Everyone agreed that they have wasted too much time fiddling around and in doing so, they have been discovered by the bear. Non-stop roars and sounds of heavy thumping can be heard. Unlucky as it was, Now, they were truly panicking.
Sephiroth cuss a bit for forgetting the bag. Still, in his prone position, He exhaled for a bit then he curled up is left hand for his elbow to get inside between the strap and squirm his hand through the gap and freed himself of the left bag strap and in doing so, he scraped his elbow. He elbowed the bag to swing it to his right side. The momentum enabled him to easily get free of the right bag strap. He crawled in without much difficulty while pulling the bag with his right hand. He continued to crawl forward until he was blocked by the root. Again he cussed but calm down again. He remembered he can't do much but trust them. Idiot as they were, he can't deny that he's still alive because of them. The roars were getting closer. He wedges himself out of the crawl space and using the blocked root as leverage. He found a peephole trying to look around where the bear was.
Monk: [Evade my boy!] shouted. As soon as he saw the bear image the screen.
Conny: [Left! left! Go Left!] as he tried to snap the kid back into attention.
Antique: [kek! meany thing can still run?] with a hand to his face with an expression of surprise.
As Chuni was panicking and Specs continued stuttering. Sephiroth tried to stand in this tight space. he put his back along the root, with his legs alternating sliding to the left. A few seconds later, his body felt the shockwave made by the slamming the roots with its velocity. Bad luck as everyone presumed. As the cloud was dispersed, the distinct rage roar was too close for comfort. It confirmed the worse for everyone. The bear crashed into was too close to Sephiroth. He froze as fears sets in. He saw it looking around. Chuni commented to stay still as he was on the focal point of the bear's bloodied right eye while commendable but Antique said to continue moving on. Sephiroth was still staring at the bear, and with it flicking its head left and right for its left eye to see the smell of its prey.
Chuni: [No! trust me on this old man! with its right eye gone--- AHHHH!] as he saw the bear's paw clearly outline on the screen.
Everyone was screaming and panicking.
Sephiroth saw it looked at him with its left eye then backed away. His heart was beating so much as he held his breath then suddenly a small opening was busted through by the bear's paw and as it near Sephiroth's face trying to claw him out. It jolted him to quickly move out of the reach. He quickly moves to the left side and being wary of the bear's reach. He cussed when he saw a huge root blocking his way but hold his thought for a bit as he saw another possible crawl space. Looking at his right the bear was constantly tearing apart the roots to get close to him. He threw the bag into the hole and squatted down and tried to move through the tight spaces. after accomplishing this feat, he laid down on his chest and grabbed the bag and crawled inside like earlier.
Breaking and ripping can be heard and rage-filled roars reverberated around Sephiroth. He crawled faster and screaming all the way. Suddenly, a paw burst through to his right side and again tried to claw at him. Sephiroth used his right foot to quickly skid through to the side and crawled again. This tirade of paw clawing at him and him evading so. However, one instance where it luckily clawed at Sephiroth's bag and pulled at it which in turn Sephiroth was almost dragged out at the expense of his right hand getting broken due to his hand being entangled causing him to cry out in pain. If not the loud nagging of everyone keeping him conscious, he will probably pass out right there and then.
To his left side, he saw a hole that leads into under the tree itself but before the entrance was a gap at the top large enough that the bear can bite at him. Without thinking too much, he drags his aching body towards the hole. He does not have the time to think. he must move or he will die. What seems an additional show of dodging and screaming. As he neared the gap, with him clutching his right hand, he took a deep breath.
"E-everyone. I-- I'm tired." as he said in his Consciousness. Beyond the constant shouting and blaming between them. Only Conny calmly reassured Sephiroth. Antique was blabbering nonsense, Monk was arguing with Chuni about life after this death. Specs is occupied to himself, stuttering and murmuring about variables.
Sephiroth took a deep breath. Just quick enough to shake his legs for this last burst of movement with much pain. A few more seconds of indecision is dangerous. He bit his lower lip and clutch his broken right hand to his chest. He firmly set his left foot on the dirt. readied his left hand to guide him along the way.
"Huu... Arghhhhhh!" He ran!
Sephiroth ran while his lungs felt like burning as he holds his breath. His left foot kicks up dirt and followed by his right foot. he crawled faster out into the gap. The bear, seeing this as an opportunity, remove its stuck paw from the root and run at him. Sephiroth almost stumbled again as soon as he stood up at the gap. He quickly recovered his footing and ran straight to the hole. As he neared the hole, he threw himself into the hole and when his upper body hit the dirt, he coughed the trapped air in him which almost knocked him out again. as his lower body was still outside the hole. Before he could squeeze his lower half inside, he looked ahead and a foot away from him were multiple beads that shone even with the minimal exposure to light. he was delighted to know that upon his death he discovered something beautiful. Maybe upon being reincarnated again he can tell this story to somebody else and see them be amazed at how'd he get these stories from. However, things took a turn when he heard a clicking sound in front of him. A brief moment at looking at something in front of him before he closes his eyes and ducks his head into the dirt while his left hand protecting his head. Its an insect with multiple eye beads like a lobster but a body of a cockroach with the color red and dark yellow stripes around its body and legs... A huge one at that. It was bigger than Sephiroth's head.
Everyone said their goodbyes and called each other with stupid names except for Monk and Leth. Everyone thought this was it. This was the end of their short-lived moments together. There was this huge bear that was going to bite him in half from his lower body. On the other hand, There was this huge angry cockroach in front of him that who knows how dangerous its bite, scratch, etc. So they resigned to fate... Or so they thought.
The bug quickly crawled on top of him. Again, He held his breath, waiting for the inevitable painful death of his... which didn't come. The next thing he heard was a buzzing sound of an insect flying, the bear's roar, and loud crashes like earlier that shook the whole tree. He kept his eyes close but was scolded by Chuni to keep on crawling forward. Then he heard a different roar. This time, it made him feel dread like being confronted with a more dangerous beast than the bear.
Conny: [Well this is some messed up luck you got there, kid.] as he wiped his sweat away
Chuni: [Ehh. Why does it sound... scaly to me?] he squinted his eyes but got slapped in the back of the head by Conny [Oyy! whats that for?!]
Conny: [Stop looking around! The kid's eyes are close from fear and exhaustion. Stop being weird and help me in convincing him to open his eyes!] as he pointed at Specs's mini screen of the brief moments of visual contact with the huge bug [or there may be more of them!]
Sephiroth heaved as his breathing is at a dangerous rhythm and with his back on the dirt, he removed his arms from his eyes when he's sure he couldn't hear that traumatizing clicking noise that associated with the huge bug. He could swear that can he hear roars outside. He was sure one of them was the bear but the new one, not so much. He turned his attention in front of him. Amongst, the path he can crawl through will his eyes closed, he luckily landed on the on ceiling with visible lights on it. Chuni called it the Plot Armor working again and cursed at his luck. Conny, however, emphasized the situation that he needs to get out of there before more of the bugs' kind showed up.
"But-- how?!" as he continued to heave.
Conny: [ You're looking at it.] points at the screen. [Someone here said something about soft material up that thing that's why there's light passing through or something] hung his shoulder, not caring about what he said
"It's'-- too-- far"
Conny: [Four eyes said something about tunnel vision. It might be closer than you think. Situp and catch your breath. Hurry. I don't feel right being here any longer than you do] as he pouted in discomfort.
Blurry eyes, and weakening body. Heavy panting that every part of his body is telling him to stop. He again pushed his body. Groaning in pain as he laboriously sat up. He catches his breath. Sounds of shrieks and roars outside though muffled it was. He needed a few more moments of rest, he stood up slowly. clutching close his right hand.
*Thush*
Before he can even fully stand up, his head hit the ceiling. It took him some seconds to let it register to him that he had dirt in his head then he shook his head to get rid of it. Under the ceiling where light permeated through. The smell was rotten but still bearable. He touched it and tried to move it around but his small stature and weak body were not enough to push it aside. Conny told him to put his hand up and an argument quickly erupted between the two.
Conny: [Shut it! we do not have the time for this! do you understand?! Do as we say so you can live!] he was having none of it. Adamantly stating his position and refusing to give in at him.
Dejectedly, Sephiroth closed his eyes then exhaled. He opens it up again and re-iterate the instruction; Put hands up, jump high enough. Use the left arm to put the body inside the hole. Use the right foot to stabilize the body in the hole. Use the left foot to swing the body inside.
"huu... mm-hmm. Okay okay. And up we go-" he jumped. His hand hit the object which its top part blew off. Surprised, he hurriedly laid his arms into the side and a crushing noise was made. Specs inferred that it was an egg. a giant one at that, and to his surprise, the blown open top part landed on his head. Conny said to ignore it while Chuni jokingly said he got an egg helmet. With his upper body in. He struggled to raise his right foot at the edges of the hole then kicked at it and laid his foot on it. He jimmies his upper and lower body to a more comfortable position before swinging his left leg to the right and using his momentum to move his body to the side. more crunching sound was heard. Both egg and something different.
He cursed silently as he forgot about his broken right arm. Conny commented that if he didn't fix it soon it is going to cause more problems. Looking at his left, he can see more pieces of eggshells littered around inside and between the huge nest. Looking at his right, he can see a multitude of bones. skulls, horns, etc. Prompting Antique to comment that he's lucky he rolled around the eggshells to cover him with its scent. Monk delightfully chimed in that its more likely a meat-eating creature. Sephiroth again breathe for a moment. He sat-up and pokes his head at the side of the entrance. His eyes widened along with the others as they say a grey with lines of a winged creature with no forearms attacking the bear. Comparatively, its length is more advantageous than the bear but the bear's mass was an advantage against it. Bite, paws, wing attack, body slam, tail slam, etc. He watched along as the ground was shaking. He gulped in fear about what is happening. He looked around and at the far end of the nest, he saw an egg. relatively small amongst the littered eggshells.
Antique: [Hmm... Cook it, lad! hahaha! oyy wha?] surprised for everyone is looking at him.
Sephiroth was lacking oxygen. too tired. and hungry apparently. All of these variables combined, you can suggest something similar to him satiating this needs, he would gladly do so. he walked towards the egg. climbed the nest. even with the sets of sound heard as he steps on the hay or branches of the nest. the flying creature was oblivious. Staring at the egg. Everyone was warning him of the implication of grabbing the egg.
Sephiroth: [ I need... to eat...] with his left arm, he hugged the egg, It was light. Nobody expected it to be light. Antique assumed it was most likely a spoiled egg. but Sephiroth do not want to listen. He. Need. To. Eat. He fixed the eggshell helmet with his palm to see better and strode outside not caring about the brawl of two mighty creatures.
A crackling sound was getting louder in the distance.
"Thunder?" he looked at the sky but his brain didn't function much more than simple words at best. Thunder? Where? Clouds? blue. No black? hear thunder? somewhere. As Sephiroth stood outside like a statue staring at the skies for answers. Inside the forest, a flash of violet lightning suddenly crashed unto the bear making it scream with visible scorch mark pushing it aside with brutal force. chaining the bolt at the winged creature which in turn screamed too but this time it was scanning where did the bolt come from before falling. Unfortunately, with all the screaming Sephiroth glanced at his side and moved his head which prompted the lightning bold to chain at him. shocking him instantly then everything turned to black.
Conny: [Well. Now, what?] as he looked at everyone with the same inquisitive expression.
Unbeknownst to everyone, Leth stood up and was facing the screen and uttered one word. Only Chuni heard it.
Leth: [Magic...]