As the vines slowly unwrapped around her, she was met with the harsh rays of the sun on her cold skin. she felt slightly hot; her insides burning a bit but it wasn't too annoying or painful. if anything it just gave her proof she was partially still alive. a confirmation if you will.
it was the next day. She had made up her mind to go to a certain location the corolla had told her about. it was a small survivors village with a religious group called 'THE CHURCH'. It was interesting to Soulen that there were still some people who were going around preaching or passing the word of God to others. but the corolla warned her about them. their methods were....interesting. So now she was here. she slowly made her way into the village, hiding and sneaking about before noticing this side of the village was awfully quiet. She curiously popped her head out and saw no one inside the buildings or near the ' camp well' or 'markets'. it caused her to growl in frustration before hearing footsteps nearby.
"You heard what's going on lately?" says someone with a deep tone. Male, and quite mid-age
"You mean the church tying up three individuals that are accused of helping an infected person? yeah, nasty stuff." Says another, a bit younger, maybe in his early 20s?
Peeping after finding the source of the sound, Soulen confirmed them to be guards who were guarding another exit. they were discussing about something that was going on at the town square which got her very curious, she wasnt sure what was going on but she was going to find out. She jumped and climbed the top of the nearest building to the roof and slowly made her way towards the town square
Few minutes after, she landed on the supposed Survivor chiefs house as she slowly peeked at the gathering where around 30? maybe 40? survivors had gathered and three large-wooden pikes were placed where 3 people were tied up to it; A Young, red head lady, A built, hairy male and a Young looking dark haired guy. they struggled and screamed at someone in a black robe who was standing at the middle of the podium.
"Let us go! we did nothing wrong!!" Shouted the Red head as the figure in the robe turned to face them. Soulen couldn't see her face at the moment, but that changed when the figure pulled the robe off her face to reveal herself.
It was an older woman. probably in her 70s. Her grey hair blew to the side gently as she walked up and landed a painful slap to the redhead.
"Silence. You dare speak after committing such horrendous act?" Says the woman in the robe as the read head slowly began to tear up.
The woman in the robe turned to the crowed before raising her hands up to get the attention of the crowd before her. She began explaining and accusing how the three were tied up to this pikes and were standing for them. Apparently, someone in the village was affected and they had a rule to execute anyone who was infected past the usual threshold duration which was an hour of being infected. because at that time, the medicine wont work anymore. It reminded her of her past. of how the mayor of Hope 101 had ordered her execution instantly. same rules, and it opened up an old memory she didn't want to remember.
She watched as the crowed roared angrily at the three. accusing them for breaking the rule as the girl cried and the men grit their teeth in frustration and or anger.
It wasn't long till six other figures in robes came out with a long spear, sharp enough to pierce wood easily. the older woman raised her hands up as the 6 robed figures pointed the spears at the three individuals tied up. The three of they began to plea again, begging for a saving grace, someone to save them or straight up to be let free. But it went on deaf ears as people began to shout in agreement on their death. Soulen watched as the older woman dropped her hands and thus killed the three individuals who were tied up as the crowed roared in approval.
"With this. we have purged the sinner and taken them back to God's hand. Rejoice all!" The Older woman in the room who's name happened to be Lady Margret says as everyone shouted her name and rejoiced.
A medium sized vine slowly approached Soulen as a flower bloomed above it, revealing 3 seedlings within. Soulen stared at it briefly before understanding what the corolla wanted her to do. With a small sigh, she stood up before tossing the seeds towards the dead individuals.
As soon as it landed, vines shot out of the ground causing a mini earthquake as it began to wrap around the three dead individuals; Shielding them from the other survivors.
The Older woman stared at what was going on with wide eyes as she took several steps back, watching the vines grow and wrap around the bodies.
"Dont just stand there! Do something!!" Shouted the lady as the robed men nodded and grabbed the nearby touches so as to burn the vines.
Not wanting this to happen, Soulen growled before standing upright as she took a deep breath before giving a loud roar to grab their attention. which she successfully did. All survivors including the Religious members turned to the direction of Soulen as she stared down at them; her left eye glowing.
"W-what the hell is that!?" Shouted one of the survivors as they all backed away from the chief's building.
"It looks like....a normal infected."
"Thats not a normal infected...i-it looks like a mutant...."
Soulen stared at the one named lady Margaret with an intense gaze causing her to flinch slightly until Soulen pointed at the vines and lowered it in a swift motion. The vines quickly began to descend along with the corpses as the survivors began to panic; running or screaming. Vines as well began to slowly wrap around Soulen as she closed her eyes briefly before reopening them to stare at the group.
"Ill....see you...soon..." Soulen says which caused Lady Margaret and the other believers to be in shock at an infected being able to converse in words.
The older lady reached out to Soulen, calling out for her to wait as the vines fully wrapped around her.
Few minutes after, she was back at the corolla as well as the three corpses that laid on the ground, near the base of the corolla itself. She stared at the bodies before looking towards the few blue flowers that was around the area. it was time to do what the tree had suggested. to build her race, although, She was very skeptical if it would even work. But nonetheless, she went towards one of the flowers and cut it from its roots. next she asked the corolla to bring 3 wandering infecteds which it did without delay as the three zombies appeared some distance away, held in place by the vines. She first went to the young redhaired lady who was more angry to be killed and stared at the body for a few seconds before stabbing her hand into the body and grabbing the heart out. next she went towards one of the infected zombies; a female one as stared at it as it made the usual growls and grunts.
Soulen heaved a sigh as she got made a bowl out of strong vines before putting the flower inside it and keeping the heart of the lady on the floor. she went back towards the lady and ripped open her head to pull out the brain which she took towards the bowl she made and dropped it inside the bowl. she summoned a strong and hard vine that she cut off from its stem before using it to mash the brain and the flower together. once it turned to a purplish hue, she stared at it once again, wondering how this would even work.
With a light shrug, she walked towards the female infected with the heart and the bowl as the vines forcefully opened up the mouth of the infected. it growled in frustration but soon the liquid was poured in its mouth and next was the heart which she just jammed right into the infecteds chest.
The infected began growling and groaning in pain as its body began to glow slightly, but the vines soon wrapped itself around the infected like a cocoon and the screams soon simmered down. Soulen did the same thing to the other two infecteds as the cocoon like state was in motion for the three infecteds.
She sat down near the tree as she held her knee to her face; staring at the cocoon while thinking of the future. there was a lot instore for her and she was well aware of the actions and decisions she would have to make in the future. For now though, she needed to grow herself and her race. needed more experience with the infecteds and mutants and more about the humans and her friends... if they were alright or not.
"In...time....ill see....again..." She says to herself as she stared up at the cave with her left eye glowing gently.
Her Growth and Journey starts here.