Re: Inexorable Altercation [Round I- The Sleeping World of Rock]
05-27-2010, 04:44 PM
Originally posted on MSPA by PlumFinder.
There was not much of interest to see outside of the maze. In part, this was because all Loran's would-be victims were inside. Mostly though, it was the bandages over his eyes. In the short glimpse he had gotten before his eyes started watering, he'd seen that he was standing on a mountain, surrounded by a huge forest. Somewhere on the mountain slope lay a small village. It didn't matter. Beneath his toes, he felt familiar vibrations. Whatever was impeding his senses down in the maze, it didn't work up here. He knelt and put his hands on the stone, concentrating… Focusing…
There were several small signals, scattered through the maze. Those were his enemies, making their way through the maze, all alone. A stronger signal came from slightly to his left, and quite a way down. There were more of them together there. At least three, possibly more, probably all battling each other. He got up and stretched, considering. Under normal circumstances, he would sneak up on the single ones, picking them off one by one. But this weren't normal circumstances. A death would end the round, and the ones who were alone would surely be on their guard. It might be more beneficial to head towards the bigger group. If one of them had not been killed by the time he got there, they would at least be so engrossed in their own fighting that he might be able to sneak up on them. It would also give him a chance to figure out their different fighting styles.
He planted the location of every signal firmly in his head, and only then realized there were too many. Eight contestants, those kidnappers had told them, yet there were more than a dozen signals, all strong enough to emanate from a contestant. Either the men had lied, or there was a third party. Both options were equally troublesome.
“Why are you dawdling?†a female voice asked.
Loran slashed at the voice with a dagger, finding nothing but air. He carefully lifted his bandages, and took a quick glance around him. Nobody… Damned hallucinations again.
“Typical… “ he told himself. “Focus now.â€
Yet he didn't go back in the maze immediately. The wind felt cool against his skin and the air smelled fresh, of trees and clouds. That maze was oppressing. He preferred to hunt in the open air.
To hunt…
Yes, he was a hunter again. He had let himself be forced into the role of prey by his kidnappers, but not any longer. He was a hunter, and he was going to hunt. With ease he climbed back through the window and down the steep wall, something no human could ever have done. He set off towards the group of contestants, and in his mind he could already smell their blood.
There was not much of interest to see outside of the maze. In part, this was because all Loran's would-be victims were inside. Mostly though, it was the bandages over his eyes. In the short glimpse he had gotten before his eyes started watering, he'd seen that he was standing on a mountain, surrounded by a huge forest. Somewhere on the mountain slope lay a small village. It didn't matter. Beneath his toes, he felt familiar vibrations. Whatever was impeding his senses down in the maze, it didn't work up here. He knelt and put his hands on the stone, concentrating… Focusing…
There were several small signals, scattered through the maze. Those were his enemies, making their way through the maze, all alone. A stronger signal came from slightly to his left, and quite a way down. There were more of them together there. At least three, possibly more, probably all battling each other. He got up and stretched, considering. Under normal circumstances, he would sneak up on the single ones, picking them off one by one. But this weren't normal circumstances. A death would end the round, and the ones who were alone would surely be on their guard. It might be more beneficial to head towards the bigger group. If one of them had not been killed by the time he got there, they would at least be so engrossed in their own fighting that he might be able to sneak up on them. It would also give him a chance to figure out their different fighting styles.
He planted the location of every signal firmly in his head, and only then realized there were too many. Eight contestants, those kidnappers had told them, yet there were more than a dozen signals, all strong enough to emanate from a contestant. Either the men had lied, or there was a third party. Both options were equally troublesome.
“Why are you dawdling?†a female voice asked.
Loran slashed at the voice with a dagger, finding nothing but air. He carefully lifted his bandages, and took a quick glance around him. Nobody… Damned hallucinations again.
“Typical… “ he told himself. “Focus now.â€
Yet he didn't go back in the maze immediately. The wind felt cool against his skin and the air smelled fresh, of trees and clouds. That maze was oppressing. He preferred to hunt in the open air.
To hunt…
Yes, he was a hunter again. He had let himself be forced into the role of prey by his kidnappers, but not any longer. He was a hunter, and he was going to hunt. With ease he climbed back through the window and down the steep wall, something no human could ever have done. He set off towards the group of contestants, and in his mind he could already smell their blood.