"The Altered One's" The Beginning.

[The GrandMage]

The Plague

Dogs. It had been the sound of dogs that made him look up from his bloody meal. He wrapped his tail around the man's torso, and scaled a wall, moving around corners until he came to the location. It wasn't that far.

He glanced around, looking in the alley. Five dogs, little girl, and man. He heard a sound that didn't exist. He turned, looking at a man that existed only in his mind, who leaned against a wall. After a few seconds he nodded, and quickly moved away from the scene.

He dragged the bloody body out into the street, opening a cover and disappearng into the sewer. He closed the enterance again, and ran through the maze of pipes back towards his lair.

 

[KisstheSky]

Mya

As she walked away from the crime scene she could vaguely sense some powerful presences nearby.
She'd been noticing lately that she was occasionally able to pick up traces of those like herself...though typically only in highly emotional situations such as this.
She quickened her pace a bit in that general direction, walking a block or so before she realized that she wasn't far from the outskirts of the city...and past that Jokertown.
She slipped into a darkened alley and behind a dumpster slipped into something a little less innocent looking.
The black leather catsuit was skin tight, but with microfiber ribbing at the joints to allow for movement. For the most part it was strapless, looking like a corset bodice with black sheer sleeves that were just off the shoulder. On her feet she wore knee high lace up steel toed combat boots, and her hair flowed free hiding the spine sheath that carried her katana.
Finally she slid on the wrist gauntlets that carried her throwing knives and placed her gadgets in a discreet lowslung belt on her hips and she was set.
Further up the road she heard gunshots and froze.
She was new to this whole crime fighting gig, and she was kinda hesitant about putting her life on the line.

But she decided that she'd at least check it out.
Jumping up she grabbed onto the lowest rung of the closed fire escape and swung herself up, from there she made her way onto the roof of the building.
Being a somewhat poor area of town the buildings were spaced relatively close together making it easier to leap from one to the other, until she was in viewing distance of the fray.

Below she saw a pack of....dogs? And a wolf...
And an eerie looking man, reaching out for what must be the kidnapped girl!
But something deep in her gut told her that this man wasn't the best kind of company...

 

[cats]

Rydia More.

OOC: Looks like I need to reply slightly faster.

IC: I watched Risque from a distance. He had made his landing and now spoke to dogs. I simply walked up to him. "Since when do dumb dogs know english?"

I walked up to the wolf at the center a calm look on my face. The dog backed off slightly suprised. "Let go of the wolf so I can take you back safely to your god mother." I took the little girls hand. The wolf moved back into defense and bit my other hand.

I let go of the girl and kciked the wolf in the gut. The wolfs teeth were still firmly placed in my ahdn tearing at the flesh and muscle. I took a step back and looked at it. "This why I don't like mutts!" My hand already began to heal itself the muscle reforming and then the skin tightening up and closeing the wound.

With my left hand I pulled out her jitte. It was a type of sai I had bought when I was young and still interested in martle arts. "Look beast leave now if you want to live."

 

[hybirdx]

"Mutt? MUTT? MUTT?! Now Hokage was furious, nobody calls him mutt and gets away with it. The only thing that stoped him was the fact that the little girl was right behind him, and his would was making him tired. "Stay away... I promissed to take her home..."

Hokage stood still for an moment, the taste of this new persons blood agrivated him. He turned his head to the girl, and lowered his body so she could get on. "Quickly..." As if she understood, the girl nodded and grabed onto Hokage.

for an second, Hokage did nothing. But then, Hokage bloted past every body, "If you really want the girl, you'll have to catch me!"

 

[cats]

Rydia More

OOC: Hope you didn't mind my last post Hy. I just wanted to develop rydia a little bit more.

IC: Damn that dog! I'll make it suffer! "Come on Risque." I ran affter it as fast as I could. I wasn't gaining on it so I reached into my coat and began to grab my pistole. I stoped however, I wasn't a very good shot when I was running like this and Portia would never forgive me if I killed her god daughter.

 

[IDreamofBunnies]

Risque bent at the knee before leaping off into the air again, as the wolf ran with the girl in tow he began throwing thick knives around the wolf, as they left his hand he created chains that were attached to the knives, making him look something like Scorpion from those old MK games. He wasn't aiming directly at the wolf as he didn't want to risk hitting the girl, but the beast's ankles were fair game. The wolf would soon find it difficult to move as a veritable web of chains was being formed about him.

"Speak English dear girl? No, no, no...but the beasts they understand it well enough. People do not credit these noble savages with much wisdom, but I know it is there! Hear that beast? Do you want your precoius brains splattered against the pavement? There will be no ransom money for you tonight!"

 

[hybirdx]

Hokage panicked, he refused to give in, but he also didn't want to die! "If... I could run just a little bit more..." Hokage found it very difficult to doge and jmp over the chains. Not because it was difficult for him, oh no, but because it hurt like hell when he made an sharp move due to his wounds.

It seemed that the chains were going to get the best of poor Hokage, but after passing two unsuspecting... dogs. Hokage finnaly gave in on running. He turned around to face his openet, wounded or not.

 

[cats]

Rydia More

IC: Risque was moveing about quickly in the trees. I had endurance and a great deal of speed but still I have human limits and the wolf was gaining a good lead on me.

I began to catch up as Risque threw down chains. I gained yards on what was an impressive lead. My spped was once again slowed down as I had to walk trhew the chains after a still running wolf. The wolfs lead grew again but then it stoped.

My right hand was now fully healed. I reached into my coat and pulled out the other Jitte. This animal is now road kill! I walked threw the chains as fast as I could with out triping.

Finnally I caught up to the wolf again and it was ready this time. "Look you beast little girls are not food! And if you want to eat some one try eating me!" I gave a quick glance to risque. We should surround the animal it might become dangerous but not to the girl just us, the threat.

 

[hybirdx]

Hokage didn't move, he just stood there like he was waiting for some one, or some thing.

'Look you beast little girls are not food! And if you want to eat some one try eating me!'

This bitch is starting to really get on my nerves! Hokage thought. Hokage taken an step back, and laid down. It was tired, he couldn't run any more. He just wanted to go to sleep, but he stayed awake, stayed sharp, for the childs sake. He taken another step back, this time his body was covered in the shadows.

All of a sudden, the shadows came to life, and forms themselfs into vines. Without any type of warning, the black vines hurled them selfs torward both people, taking their concetration off of the wounded wolf.

"If you have an problem with my wolf, take it to me!" Gunther said, obviouly pissed off that these people were messing with his old freind.

 

[SwampThing]

The Hunt didn't know who to trust, but the man throwing chains was staying high up, out of the dogs' reach. The woman with the fancy blade was the more obvious threat. One dog leapt for her hand, teeth sinking into her flesh, trying to twist the knife from her grip. Another went for her ankle, attempting to trip her. A third stood between the wolf and Risque, growling at the man, prepared to leap as soon as he came close.

The fourth dog barked at the Hokage, I]If you want to save the girl, run back the way you came. My allies are there, not far. You can make it. Stay here and she may die![/I]

 

[hybirdx]

"I'm not moving... I'm... I'm too tired..." Hokage said, still fighting to stay awake. Gunther stood on the roof top for an brife second just before landing. He instantly turned to Hokage, who was happy to see the Joker.

"Hokage..." Hokage's blood staind the ground around him, it was obvious to Gunther Hokage use up all of his energy defending himself and the little girl, and he just couldn't go any further. Gunther's anger flared, and he shot around to glare at the two who were obviously the potintial threat. "You've got me in a BAD mood!" Gunther said, as shadows began to surround him.

 

[KisstheSky]

Mya

She stood on the roof above the scene, partially frozen by fear. She knew that she should help but she didn't know exactly what she should do...
She felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end and a wave of heat passed through her and she shuddered.
She focused on the injured wolf, the girl's first line of defense and willed it's wounds to heal.
She could hear the beast's heartbeat pounding in her ears and she reached out to it with her mind, soothing the anguish and the pain...
~I've healed your wounds, but I can't prevent you from getting more...so if you can get that girl out of here...~
She turned her gaze to the woman with the blade and she pulled one of her custom throwing knives out of the gauntlet on her wrist.
In one swift motion it whizzed through the air and planted itself deep within the woman's shoulder blades.
But she'd seen the girl heal before and she knew that this would do nothing more than slow her down.
She hoped that it would at least allow the wolf enough of a window to escape with the girl....

 

[hybirdx]

Hokage felt his wounds heal quickly, this did scare Hokage for an moment until he heard an voice enter his frantic mind.

~I've healed your wounds, but I can't prevent you from getting more...so if you can get that girl out of here...~

No more had to be said, Hokage shot out the way so that Gunther could use his full potential, and into another ally way that lead to the small forest.

 

[cats]

Rydia More

IC: Chadows came to life infrotn of me in vine like strands. A knife hit me in the back shoulder blade and stuck there one of the dogs cought up and bit my wrist from behind, then anotehr ran into my leg causeing me to fall on my back. The knife was pushed in farther the tip of it comeing out of the front.

I lie on the ground ofr a second extremely mad. "You Kidnappers are going to die!" I droped the sai in my left hand as I was falling and it lie right bellow my hand. Problem was my hand coudn't hold it right now. The dog released me as I fell but tearing the flesh from my hand.

A man fell by the wolf wich quickly darted off. I spring boarded myself back to my feet. "Doesn't evil ever die!" As I landed I droped low on one knee and swung the other leg around teh ground kicking two dogs back in my sweep.

MY hand began to heal but my shoulder remained harmed the knife firmly planted in my flesh. I looked at the new comer and wasn't going to waste time. I punched him useing the force of my mind. He couldn't see the attack comeing and was knocked back against the wall.

I turned my back to him and looked around to see who had thrown the knife. A figure was up ontop of a building. "Risque get the wolf now! I'll handle this!" I ran over to the building tucking away one sai. With my good arm I grabed thefire escape ladder and fliped myself up to the fire escape. "You aren't safe up there!" I moved up the two floors to the top of the building. The girl was now on her gaurd. "You see those shadow like vines down there." I used my hand to point to them. "I'm going to feed you to them." I noticed the boy I knocked agaisnt the walll was up again.

I yelled down to him. "Don't go any where I'm killing you next!" I then turned back up to the wanna be supper villain. "Kidnappping and stabing me in the back. You have alot of pain comeing" I draw my Sai with my good arm. My other arm lay on my side motionless.

 

[KisstheSky]

Mya

She took a deep breath, and drew her katana from the spine sheath,"I'm not a kidnapper," she replied coolly, her voice probing out to probe the girl's mind,"I'm just helping those I feel are in the right. And I don't sense a threat from those who you would call 'kidnappers.'"
She took a fighting stance," I think it would be in your best interest for you and your companion to leave this place."

 

[SwampThing]

Meanwhile, the two dogs that remained with the Spirit tried to pull his attention from the man on the motorcycle, and lead him toward the wolf and the girl.

 

[hybirdx]

Gunther was now fuming. it was bad enough they tried to kill his freind, but now they are acusing him of kidnapping the little girl? That pushed the Joker to his limits. Gunther clenched his fist and the vines went straight torwards the girl who just knocked him down. two vine grabbed her left arm, two grabbed her right arm, two grabbed her left leg, and two grabbed her right leg. Then with a little grunt, Gunther began to lift her into the air.

"If you hadn't noticed, I controll these shadow like vines!" Gunther then turned his head to the other one. "Now for you..." Gunther lifted his other hand and sent the rest of the shadows torwards him.

***

Hokage had just made it into the small forest. Thinking it was safe to rest and walk for the time being, he slowed down ro an slightly fast walking pace. Her house should be an mile from here, I'll have to make sure Gunther is okay after I take her home. Hokage then looked back at the ally way. I also have to make sure Gunther thanks the person who healed me. Hokage turned back to his path, all the while keeping his eye on his goal. Which is pretty hard for an hungry wolf that smells hot dogs stands, only a few feet away.

 

[IDreamofBunnies]

With what appeared to be minimal movement, Risque avoided the shadow-vines. Sometimes he just bent his head to one side or "cheated front" to coin a theatre term. The Joker obviously wanted to exchange banter, Risque was not the type to give in to such base idiocy. His concern was with the little girl's safety, so long as his mistress required it. He grit his teeth in annoyance and clenched his fists, when he opened his hands there were throwing razors neatly piled on each palm. With a flick of his wrist he held them between his fingers and threw them at Gunther. While he was dodging them, Risque held out his open hand towards the wall, another blade attached to a chain flew from his sleeve and slammed soundly into a wall. He ran across it and out of reach of the battle. He created chains like this, following the trail of the wolf. The chains and throwing stars vanished a few minutes later.

Portia meanwhile had made it to the little girl's home where she was comforting her parents, they had been friends for some time. She had done business with the father and was a member of the same gym as the mother. While they awaited some sort of a ransom call she waited for the phone call from her minions that would alert her to the kidnappers death.

 

[hybirdx]

Hokage was taking it easy for the moment, he taken a breif look back at the girl, making sure she was safe. Ironicly enough she was asleep, Hokage wondered how it was possible for an little girl to sleep so soundly after all that comotion? Oh well, as long as she is safe, Hokage was happy.

But his joy was soon shatered as he taken the scent of the hunter once again. Shit... Hokage taken a step back an bolted forward trying to get to the house before he catches him.

"I see it... I see the house! Just a few more feet, just a few more!"

 

[kamalw1]

As I stood there, waiting for an answer, I saw two of the doge trying to get the guys' attention, and that's when I heard the sounds of conflict coming from nearby. I began running toards the sounds and came to an alley. I stood there for a second, taking it all in. There was someone running away on a chain, and another guy laying against a wall. There were also two women on a roof above him,apparently ready to fight. What the hell is going on here? Benjamin asked himself.

 

[cats]

Rydia More

IC: "A katana vs. my jitte. This wil be fun even with one arm" I was ready to advance and start the fight when sevral shadow vines grabed me.

'I'm not sure if you noticed but I control the shadow vines.' As I was lifted in the air the first thing that came to mind was tenticle rape. "Who the hell decided this sort of thing is errotic?" I looked back at my opnet. "If you control them I have a target now." I looked at my jitte left on the ground below. Useing my mind I hit it up into the air. I then hit it again towards my foe. It moved by his ear and his concentration was broken long enough for me to break free. "Crap I though that would kill him."

I land on my feet. and move out of his veiw deeper on the roof. It's hard to hit what you can't see lets see if this holds true for him. I look at the girl with the Katana. A costume like that tells me she can't have much experince. No one wuith skill would be that flashly unless they were invincible, or crazzy. My guess is she's a want to be super villain.

"Look I'm no idiot and your not going to win me over with some trick. My freind and I are saints compared to kidnappers like you!" I ran at her and with a great deal of reflex or maybe even skill she swung her sword strait for me. Still I have a great deal of experince with my weapon. I moved my sai so the blade hit the guard. I made a high kick witch she ducked leaveing my leg over her sword.

"The nice thing about the katana is the blade is only on one side." I twisted my sai leaveing her Katana tightly wedged between three peaces of metal and my leg. "The difrence between you and me is you fight for yourself. I fight for others with no regard for myself."

She used her best option and pulled the sword back and out of my grip. Still I had rehersed this move a thousand times in my mind. A strong opnet would force my leg up. Her options were to drop the sword or pull it back. She didn't want to lose her sword and pulled it out from under me. I fallowed up by kicking with my other leg. This stratagey was simple but effective agaisnt all but the best or most lucky opnets. My left leg lifted up for the axe kick finishing my combo, but to my suprise she saw it comeing. Had she read my moves?

My kick landed on the ground and I was disapointed I had only wasted time by trieing that combo. "Okay lets see how well you fight." I flipped my Jitte back agaisnt my wrist. I need to find out how skilled she is now, and this stance will allow me to, and it's flexable nature should let my protect my left arm as needed.

 

[hybirdx]

Gunther stood there waiting for an opening to fight, but saw none that would not endanger the other woman. But while he waited, he was able to put on two blades that seemed to be attatched to metal wrist bands, and attached one on each arm. All Gunther could do at the moment was wait. and waiting was not one of Gunther's strong points.

 

[kamalw1]

As Benjamin stood there watching the fight, he heard one of the women say that the other was a kidnapper. He decided to get involved and see what he could find out.

Benjamin faced the wall and punched deep holes into it a little above his head. He then used these holes as handholds and contined up the wall in this fashion, punching holes in and climbing up. He reached the roof and saw the two women standing there in fighting stances. He waited for one of them to make a move.

 

[KisstheSky]

Mya

She maintained her stance even as the girl was attacked by the tentacles.
Something wasn't right with her. It was as if she was being held back, unable to think clearly, influenced by someone...but Mya didn't have the mental abilities to break through the wall and find out who was making this girl their puppet.
She wasn't suprised when the girl broke free of the tentacles, she could tell that this girl would be a worthy opponent, a true test of her training.

"Look I'm no idiot and your not going to win me over with some trick. My freind and I are saints compared to kidnappers like you!"

The girl cried out and ran towards her. She caught the movement of Mya's blade trapping it in the prongs of her sai.

"The nice thing about the katana is the blade is only on one side."

She twisted the blade further, and Mya knew that she would either need to pull back and risk opening herself to further attack, or lose her sword.

"The difrence between you and me is you fight for yourself. I fight for others with no regard for myself."

Mya reached out with her mind and could sense the girl's anger, and her devotion. But she could also detect that she knew what Mya knew, and that her best move was to pull back her sword.
The girl brought her leg down to kick her, but she sidestepped. reading the move, out of the way just in time.
The look of disappointment on the girl's face was painfully obvious.

"Okay lets see how well you fight."

The girl took a defensive stance and waiting for her to make a move.

Mya lowered her katana. "You're wrong about me. I fight for the good of others, my life is only worthwhile as long as I'm doing my duty to protect them. And I've done that. The girl is gone, probably back in her parent's arms as we speak. And I have no quarrel with you, for now. But perhaps you should take off the blinders and see where your loyalties lie."
With a thought she removed the throwing knife from the girl's back and the wound healed without any sign of scarring.
"You fight well, and though I'd prefer to fight along side you, you will make a formidable opponent in the future."
She bowed her head.

 

[hybirdx]

Gunther heard every word that Mya said. It was familar to his sensei's words before he passed away. "Fighting for yourself is not why I trained you Gunther, I trained you not only to defend your self, but for others as well."

Gunther shook his head "She's right, you are being blinded by some body..." Gunthers ears suddenly picked up something, some body was watching them. "WHO'S THERE!?!" Gunther yelled into the direction he picked up the intruder.