[open] If I could store lightning in jars

[oathkeeper]

Who: Sora & OPEN
Where: The mysterious dark forest that appeared!
When: June 1
What: Bright "fireflies” have been luring gods and shinki alike deep into the forest. People are suddenly drawn to the little spots of light and can’t help but follow. There have been reports of screams and unhappy spirits and people never returning. All you know is that the sun doesn’t pierce the treetops and it’s dark.
Warnings: There's lots of creepy demons and stuff!!


[ A ]

[A sudden cold and heavy rain starts. Light and whimsical at first before it starts to pour down in thick sheets. Gray clouds blanket the sky and the sun is nearly blotted out. The atmosphere suddenly darkens and a chill is in the air.

Through the dark Sora notices some sparks of light somewhere near. They’re like candles flickering and dancing through the haze of the rain. A small smile pulls at his lips as he’s suddenly drawn to them like a moth to a flame. All he wants to do is reach out and touch one. They look like fairies.

You might notice Sora wandering through the rain, a blurry image of him slowly walking just out of your reach. Then he vanishes into the dark forest.]

[ B ]

[Perhaps it is you that got drawn into the bright dancing lights. Pulled into the woods as it makes your heart hammer. All you can focus on is the unseen force pulling your legs as you wander closer to the woods.

And suddenly everything is dark.

Sora manages to catch a glimpse of you before you vanish and he calls out.]

Hey!! Wait!! Don’t go in there!

[And promptly chases after you to stop you from falling deeper into darkness.]

[ C ]

[As soon as Sora enters the woods the rain stops. Or so it seems that way. He can still hear the thundering water in his ears but it sounds muted now. Like someone has put a blanket over the heavens and all he can hear is the thin thudding of the rain but no raindrops touch his face anymore.

He wanders through the woods as he looks up at the treetops to find that small beams of light do flicker through. Weakly, but they’re there. The gloom is still heavy.

His feet take him in a random direction until he spots a figure in the distance… Someone already lost here like him, or is that a tortured spirit...?]

[ wildcard! ]

[something else in mind?]

Comments

[oathkeeper]

[He might not have a way to create a light source exactly, but he does have a lot of magic. He usually says he's a god of light because that is his biggest domain. He actually has several of them and it would take a long winded breath to list them all when he introduces himself so the goes with just he one domain.

Lu Meng talks like he's out of a fairy tale, it's kind of neat.]

Tricks... I hope not. The last thing I want is to- [Just as Sora speaks there's the sound of something clicking erratically nearby. Like some sort of animal perhaps? Or something more sinister...]

Uh... Did you hear that?

[young_oldman]

[As they converse more, Sora will be able to discern that Lu Meng's style of speech is quite similar to the one used in Mulan's world.

But linguistics and drawing interesting comparisons between worlds will have to come later. Lu Meng immediately snaps into a defensive position, staff and borderline ready for action if needed.]

We are not alone.

[oathkeeper]

[Boy, is he glad to have Lu Meng on his side. The man seems attentive and reactive to danger and Sora finds himself a little at ease to have him near.

Not that he's scared or anything...

Sora turns towards the noise too and summons his keyblade. The weapon blinks into his hand with a flash of light that momentarily illuminates the area.

The brief shine causes a dark face to be seen in the distance. The clicking suddenly stops and then there's the sound of footsteps coming closer.]

Stay on your toes...!

[The steps get closer and then there's a soft female voice calling out.]

"Hello? ...Oh, is someone out there? Please, I'm lost."

[young_oldman]

[That's a neat trick, summoning a weapon out of nowhere in the blink of an eye. The blade's unusual shape is as eye-catching as its appearance, but there's no time to spare on gawking.

Lu Meng glances at Sora and, keeping his voice low, mutters:] Watch my back; I'll head in first. If this is a trap, then my borderline should be able to withstand any frontal attacks.

[oathkeeper]

[Sora squints his eyes as he tries to get a better look at whoever is approaching. Lu Meng's approach is cautious and careful but he has a concern.]

But it sounds like a girl. Maybe she needs help and is lost like I was?

[That chiming scared voice is what concern's Sora. His grip on his keybalde stays tight but he wants to be sure. So he'll watch Lu Meng's back.]

Just, don't attack her until we're sure.

[There's the soft sound of sobbing, sweet and quiet. And the female voice calls out again.]

"Help... Someone... Anyone..."

[Then a girl dressed in a white and blue kimono steps out from the darkness. She looks cold and shivering. Her long black hair pinned up in a messy bun with jewels in her hair. She looks directly at Lu Meng, her eyes soft and scared.]

[young_oldman]

[Lu Meng nods at Sora to signal his agreement, and turns his attention back to the source of that plaintive cry. He's not surprised that a young girl emerges from the bushes. His staff goes to his side, seemingly as if he's putting his weapon away. But all he needs is to snap his hand upwards for a borderline; if need be, he'll have it up within seconds.

But for now there's no outward suspicion, none of that earlier scepticism. Lu Meng approaches her, keeping his flashlight on to ensure that she remains well within the light.]

Don't worry, young miss. You're not alone in this forest. We'll help you get back home safe.

[oathkeeper]

[She looks up at him. Her face is wet from crying but other than that she looks like an ordinary pretty girl. She steps forward and clutches her hands to her chest.]

"Thank you... Thank you! I was so scared. I'm so lucky to find two men to help me."

[Sora's expression softens at her words. He's heard the rumors of this place being home to tortured spirits but this seemed like just like someone lost like he was.]

Are you a shinki or a god?

[She shivers and shakes her head.]

"Shinki... I've lost my god some time ago...I failed him..."

[young_oldman]

[Isn't that a tear-jerker? Lu Meng can relate well to the despair of failing a god.] You have my sympathies.

How did you end up here in this forest?

[oathkeeper]

[She looks puzzled for a moment as if trying to recall a lost memory.]

"I cannot... remember. Can we leave this place? Everything is so cold."

[She steps closer and holds out her hand to Lu Meng.]

[young_oldman]

[Lu Meng looks at her hand, but doesn't take it just yet. Instead, he's pulling off his rain coat and handing it over to her.] Here, take this. It's a poor substitute, but it should at least keep the rain off you while we search for a way out.

[As he's shrugging his backpack on again, he sneaks a meaningful glance at Sora, hoping that the other will know to keep his guard up, before he looks back at her properly.]

Can you walk? I'll carry you if needed. [Finally he stretches out a hand to take hers.]

[oathkeeper]

[Oh you bet, Lu Meng. Sora still hasn't dissipated his weapon and he doesn't plan to. What happens to a shinki without a god in a forest like this? He doesn't even want to imagine. He gives Lu Meng a very small nod.]

If we stick together we should be able to find the way out before long. Try and stay dry.

[The girl nods and a small tear rolls down her face. She looks so incredibly grateful when Lu Meng holds out his hand to her. She takes it and her hand is cold in his and she curls her fingers gentle around his.]

"Thank you... You both remind me of someone I once knew..."

[young_oldman]

[Cold. She's so cold, her touch freezing to the skin. Lu Meng can't help but tighten his grip on her hand, as if that would somehow help warm her fingers.]

We can try retracing my steps. I came from that direction. [And he nods at said direction.]

[oathkeeper]

[She nods and keeps her hand in his. Her eyes look up longingly at Lu Meng as another hand goes out to touch his shoulder gingerly.]

"Let us go."

[Sora follows behind closely. He notices that her kimono is so long that the fabric drags on the ground.

Click. Click. Click.]

...?

[Her grip suddenly get tighter on Lu Meng. So tight that he won't be able to pull away. Then the clicking gets louder and louder and suddenly there are several arms comeing out from under her clothing.

They look like arachnid arms.]

Lu Meng!!

[Sora doesn't waste time. He attacks the arms and the girl turns her head to him, mouth now wide with spider mandibles.]

[young_oldman]

[The instant her grip turns to iron, Lu Meng whirls around sharply, his other hand slashing the air.]

Issen!

[The line cuts through the space between him and the spider girl, and there's a loud splurt and a screech as she falls back from the double attack, an oozing, bloody stump all that remains of her arm. Taking advantage of the situation, he summons a second borderline with a flick of his wrist and with a pushing motion, shoves it with enough force that the spider girl is slammed and pinned onto a tree.

Lu Meng shakes off the severed hand from his own, and breaking the bones in it with a harsh stomp.]

Are you alright, Sora? [His gaze is sharp on the hissing, writhing creature in front of them, but he's still got the other's wellbeing in mind.]

[oathkeeper]

[Sparks fly off Sora's keyblade as he attacks the demon, just in time to distract her enough for Lu Meng's borderlines to go off. He watches her slam into the tree and get pinned there, stilling gripping his keyblade and ready keep going if she has any other tricks up her sleeve.]

I'm good, thanks. Are you? That was quick thinking!

[She screeches in pain as her broken and bloody limbs twitch nearby. She howls at them, shouting obscenities and curses in their direction.]

We should finish this quick and get out of here.

[He wanted to believe that the demon really was a shinki. One they could of helped. To see her sad crying face change into this kind of makes Sora sad.]

[young_oldman]

She did not harm me.

[Now, what are they to do with her? She doesn't look like ayakashi, so perhaps they can kill her without rending?]

I can keep her pinned down. Finish her off, Sora.

[oathkeeper]

Right.

[Sora nods with conviction. If they didn't take her out she might still be able to come after them. Sora's really glad that Lu Meng was so ready to take action in all this.

He steps up to the demon. She tries to grab at him, her mandibles snapping. Sora lifts his keyblade and brings it down with a heavy strike.

With a howl she collapses, dead.

Just then the dim light coming from the treetops seem to flicker. A light catches Sora's peripheral to the east.]

Did you see that? It might be the way out.

[young_oldman]

Let's follow it. [But first...some final matters to attend to. Lu Meng's gaze falls back on their opponent; so she truly was a demon after all. To be on the safe side, Lu Meng slices off her legs. She's one creature they don't want following them out.

Only then does he follow Sora, keeping an eye out for any further demon attacks or any other cries for help. This one might have been a trap, but who knows. There might be a person genuinely lost in this forest.]

[oathkeeper]

[Sora winces slightly when Lu Meng does that deed. He's not too used to that sort of carnage. He's Disney afterall But he takes a quick breath in and continues on.

The trees seem quiet. Like there is not a single sound in them besides the sound of them walking. Almost like a still picture.]

Have you ever seen any demons like that before, Lu Meng?

[young_oldman]

[If Sora hadn't been around, Lu Meng would've gone for a good ol'decapitation. That would've been far more gory!

The silence is unsettling, especially after their tangling with the spider girl. Lu Meng likes it less and less, and is sure to keep his eyes and ears peeled for the slightest movement.] No. I've read of demons taking on such a form, but this is my first encounter with their ilk.

How of yourself? Your reactions were good when that demon tried to attack me. I take it that you're no stranger to a fight?

[oathkeeper]

[Awww man, Sora misses all the super cool things because he's Disney.

The silence has Sora on edge too. He feels tension in his shoulders. He'd really like to get out of here and go home.]

I've seen some stuff sort of like it. My world has creatures called Heartless that can take on some pretty crazy forms. And yeah, I've had my fair share of fighting, too.

[Probably more than the average fifteen year old boy should have, but details.]

[young_oldman]

We might have further need of your skills before we're out. Stay sharp.

[It almost feels like there's no end to this creepy forest. Just trees, trees and more trees.]

[oathkeeper]

[Hopefully they don't have to stay sharp.

At least the trees soon enough start thinning. The darkness seems to slowly lift and light starts coming through the treetops.]

... I think we're getting close to the edge!

[And... Sora's gonna start running towards the apparent exit.]

[young_oldman]

Wait! We should proceed with caution!!

[But unfortunately, he's gonna have to run after Sora anyway to keep up with the kid. He can only hope they truly reach the edge with no more troubles snapping at their heels.]

[oathkeeper]

Come on, we're almost there Lu Meng!!

[Sorry Lu Meng, Sora is hankering to get out of here. He's tired of how the place makes his skin crawl.

He runs ahead and towards the light and he feels as if his lungs might burst and then there's a flash of white.

Of bright sunlight.

His running slows to a stop and he finds himself in a grassy field with only the June sun above their heads.]

We made it!!