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

[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.

[a1enzo]

"But...? If you say so."

Not usually a good idea to ignore instructions to stand back. He does so.

[ami_imperfect]

Yeah, good advice, that. Which is why Dani is also stepping back a pace or two.

[youngest_dragon]

Skysong musters all of her pent up frustration and lets out a loud croak that causes the collar around her neck to explode.

The shards fly in every direction, adding to the marks she had already left in the cave. The effort turns Skysong's scales an exhausted gray. She slumps to the ground.

Thank you. Are you here to hurt the dark thing?

[ami_imperfect]

"We certainly are," Dani answers with as much confidence as she can muster.

[youngest_dragon]

I am sorry that I cannot help... I do not think I could be trusted.

Skysong bows her head. His voice called me here, and I could not stop.

[a1enzo]

"We understand. Can you get yourself out of here?"

[youngest_dragon]

Yes. Be careful? He is dangerous. The tiny dragon pulls herself up and starts to move towards the trees. She pauses. There may be at least one other further in. I could not tell exactly... it may just have been another little person. Their hair was blond though... not green.