Hunting Slenderman

[dont_turn_around]

In the mist and fog and silence, there is a cave. There is darkness within darkness there and nothing more and the faint whiff of something ... not right.

But there's a drawing stuck to the rocks that frame the opening, a childish grouping of trees and a tall, thin man, with the words TAMAN SHUD.

Here is the end.

"I think we should go here," says Jack.

Comments

[a1enzo]

Enzo halts and scans their surroundings. "I wish I knew exactly what we're looking for..."

[ami_imperfect]

"You're not the only one," she agrees. "If this were something like Megabyte or the Fruit Loop, at least we'd know what to expect."

[a1enzo]

"But if we're close..."

He charges up one gauntlet to add what he can to the light, and scans again.

"Hey! There's a cave!"

[ami_imperfect]

Dani bites her tongue hard enough to draw blood, just so that she doesn't say 'Yeah, but close to what?"

When Enzo points out the cave she lifts one hand up, her fist glowing with green ecto-energy. "How much do you want to bet that's where Skinnyguy's hiding out?"

[a1enzo]

"No bet. You ready?"

[ami_imperfect]

"Not really, but do we have a choice?"

[a1enzo]

"Nope. Stay frosty..." They approach the entrance.

"Okay," he declares, pointing to the drawing, "that's kind of a dead giveaway."

[ami_imperfect]

"It's almost like he wants us to find him."

Thank you for pointing out the obvious, Dani.

[a1enzo]

"Almost, huh? What do you think the words mean?"

[ami_imperfect]

"Dunno. But I doubt it says 'No Jehovah's Witnesses'."

[a1enzo]

"No whats?" he asks, puzzled, as they enter.

[ami_imperfect]

She grins. "I'll explain it to you later."

[a1enzo]

"Yeah, okay."

[dont_turn_around]

Something in the air.

Fresh meat.

[a1enzo]

Enzo sniffs. Something in the air indeed. "We're definitely getting warmer."

[ami_imperfect]

"Somehow that does not make me feel better," Dani remarks, a plume of vapor escaping from her mouth.

[a1enzo]

"Smells like rotten wood."

[ami_imperfect]

"What'd you expect him to smell like, vanilla and flowers?"

[youngest_dragon]

Inside of the cave, just footsteps in, a small dragon is curled up. She looks thin and wain, and is shivering. Her wings are lashed tightly to her back, and a strong silver chain is tied about her neck. Long scratches show on the floor and wall where she has fought her captivity, and her breathing is ragged.

[ami_imperfect]

Dani sees her first.

"Enzo, look!" She points to where the dragon is bound. "You think she's a prisoner of Skinny-britches?"

[a1enzo]

"Oh, wow..." He kneels down to look at the captive. "Either that or a trap."

He says that casually, though, and is already examining the chain.

[ami_imperfect]

Dani's also examining the chain, and trying her best not to give into the temptation to give the poor creature a comforting pat on the head.

"What do you think?" she asks Enzo.

[youngest_dragon]

Skysong lifts her head as she hears the voices, and leans towards them. .Please help?

Even her mind-voice sounds quiet.

[a1enzo]

Whoa.

"I think if it's a trap, I'm springing it," he says grimly. "Don't worry," he tells the dragon, and draws his sword to cut the bonds on her wings.

[youngest_dragon]

Skysong holds still, not wanting to get her wings in the way. With those free she is able to use the tips of her wings to get the mouth binding off. A touch of color returns to her scales, a deep ruby red.

Step back please.