#punchbear

Scritch... Scriiiitch... Scritch.  The sound of the knife against the grain of the wood was louder than normal. This was not just your random hunk of wood. This was a tiny block of wood from the remains of Teldrassil... The world tree. Their Tree. Denser, harder, stronger... It wasn’t as easy to whittle.  Tiny flakes of wood floated and fell to the ground as Reveria sat against a tree in the forest surrounding Dead Sun Harbor. She’d taken to coming here when she sought quiet solitude. Every once in awhile the druidess wanted time alone. A rare thing to be sure but... She’d had so much on her mind lately. Children, Dead Sun, loa, shal’thera... She just needed time to let it all settle... To get her head back on straight. 

Her mind went back to the day before. What a wild time that was. Broken doors, flour bombs, cliff jumping Vel... She shook her head with a slight smirk as she thought of the last bit. 

Scriiiiiiitch... Scriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiitch... Scritch. 

More flakes of wood fell to the ground. The shape was beginning to resolve, taking on the form of a sword... Or a dagger. Depending on perspective. The druid’s mind wandered back to the tantrum-throwing Eilonwy. Chasing her down to the river, getting her tangled up in moss and vines, carrying her home. Then trying to talk to her. Reveria had made an ass of herself talking to a five year old girl. She’d made assumptions about jackals. About what the girl desired.  Scritch. Scriiitch. Scritch. Scriiitch. Scriiiiitch. 

Eilonwy had hidden from her under the table and schooled Rev. She wanted to be a ‘Blade’. The first girl to be one. ‘Strong as steel.’ The little girl had made it clear she wanted to not only be cunning... Which she knew well she was... But she wanted to be strong as steel. There had been three things she wanted to become and was dead set on it, Rev could tell. The girl had said she wanted to do it so she could punch Karkah in her mean face but... Rev had a feeling even at five the little one knew there was more to it than that. 

Scriiiitch... Scriiiiiiiiitch... Scritch. Scritch. 

The last bits of excess wood fluttered to the ground, leaving Rev to hold the carving of a sword in her palm. It wasn’t some masterfully carved thing. Some might even call it crude. there was meaning in it though. Love. Hope. Encouragement. setting down her knife, clawed fingers came and gently ran over the blade as the druid looked over it. Velerodra had asked her how the wood spoke. How she could see different shapes in the wood. Rev had told her she needed to know someone. To know what they desired and then... The wood showed the form within. 

Turning the blade over in her palm with a clawed finger, Reveria offered out a few words to Elune. The blade glowed brightly for a moment before returning to its natural wooden state. It wasn’t a harmful or intrusive enchantment, just something that would add the glow of starfall in the dark. Out came a thin strap of leather, which Rev tied about the hilt of the blade so that the carving became a pendant on a necklace of sorts.  Letting the necklace dangle from clawed fingers as she sat, the druid wondered if she’d ever wanted anything so badly as Eilonwy wanted to be a Blade. Rev had wanted love at one time. She’d wanted friends. To serve the balance. And more recently... She’d wanted vengeance. How was it though... That this little girl was making her wonder so much? That she was giving the druid who was millennia older than her... A reason to pause and think.  It was simple really. Eilonwy was special. Unique. Rev could tell she knew things that the little girl had no business knowing. Every so often a person with a great destiny is born... And Rev figured Eilonwy was just such a person. As the blade swayed in the breeze, Rev heard the words of the determined little girl over and over.  "Blades is strong as steel. But girls ain't supposed to be Blades. 'M gonna be tha' first-- gonna be cunnin' an' deadly AN' strong as steel.”  “Strong as steel.”  “Strong.” 

“As.”

“Steel.” 

(Ahhhh, I’m so sorry for my absence everyone! I just needed some time away to collect my thoughts and figure some things out. I hope this post makes up for me being gone in some small fashion! Look for a lot more to come! Rev has some exciting things happening in her life.) 

“Going somewhere?”

The silence was deafening. Where once there would have been the sounds of a forest alive with life, now… There was nothing. Except for the breeze. Which was of no comfort at this moment. On its winds came the odor of war, death, the Blight, burning fumes of goblin machines defiling a once pure land. Sitting in a tree was the form of a twisted owl. Snow white feathers with gnarled twisting horns of bone jutting from it’s head. Wicked sharp talons wrapped about a branch, holding the creature in place. Inky black hues overlooked the landscape, taking their time to scout the area. After a moment, the owl alights from the tree, spreading it’s wings to glide down low to the ground. As it flew through the wartorn forest, the sound of rushing water grew louder and louder. Suddenly the tree line ended and the owl burst from the forest, swooping out over a vortex of water churning in a basin below. The creature took time to ride the currents of the air, searching the water almost as if looking for prey. This calm gliding wasn’t to last long though. With a zip, an arrow flew past the creature and off into the forest. Onyx orbs jerked to the shore to find the source, revealing a lone orc taking pot shots at the owl. Pulling wings and feet in tight, the owl made itself like a missile, dive bombing towards the attacker. Arrows kept flying, even grazing the creature as the orc belted out a cacophony of laughter. Even as an arrow embedded itself in the owl’s left shoulder, it made no cries. Then, just before it would impact upon the orc, a shift occurred. No more was the owl but now the lithe and svelte form of a leather-clad kaldorei woman. Ghostly white hair whipped and trailed in the air behind her, a stark contrast to the black leathers she wore. Clawed fingers came up from her side to savagely rip at the orc man’s face as she barreled into him. The momentum and weight of her dive were enough to knock him to the ground as those clawed fingers began to lash with speed and ferocity.

Inky black hues stared with rage at the man, the moonlight reflected in them as Reveria brutally pummeled her foe. She didn’t have the advantage long though, the orc soon gave her a swift punch to the chest which knocked the wind right from her. Staggered, the orc had his chance to bellow and throw her down on her back, climbing atop her. He began to twist the arrow in her left shoulder causing her to howl in pain. A hand lashed out to pull her mask down, and he began to chortle with delight seeing such a beautiful face. Rev had no idea what he was saying in orchish but she wasn’t about to let him have his way with her. With a snarl of hatred, she wrapped her arms about the man’s neck, screaming through the pain before her fanged teeth found his throat. She clamped down and began to vice into his throat, kicking up with her feet to try and bowl him over. That would have worked if they hadn’t already been at the edge of the basin. They tumbled over the edge as her teeth broke the surface of his skin and the beast within began to viciously tear at his throat. They plummeted towards the water, the sound of a screaming orc and snarling kaldorei echoing off the cliffs. With an enormous splash, the pair fell into the water which soon sucked the under and swirled them away.

Reveria never let go, the taste of blood in her mouth fueling her rage and desire to kill. As they were buffeted by the current, the orc suddenly went limp. At almost the same time, the pair were deposited unceremoniously onto a ledge in an underground cavern. With a punch and a final snarl, Reveria ripped her teeth from the man’s throat, tearing it out completely. His already lifeless form sat there and bled as she huffed heaving breaths. A clawed hand shot out and dug in his throat, pulling a pool of blood out that she wiped across her face with a tremble of delight. Finally, she looked around with those inky hues, a sigh of relief leaving her. By some miracle, she’d ended up right where she wanted to be.

She stood, giving the corpse of the orc a solid kick before spitting on it. Moving to follow a passage deeper into the cavern, Reveria let her clawed fingers trail along the moss-covered walls. Already memories were flooding back to her of times she had been here. Memories of Faendris. Her Shan’do. She had no idea where he was now but she could feel that he wasn’t here. An image of herself shivering, naked, sitting on the stone floor as she tried desperately to call moss to her to form clothes came to mind. Another image, a gateway to the dream. The Nightmare. Her min’da. Tears. Yet happiness lingered too. Stars falling from the cavern roof, dancing of crimson and azure flame mixed with shadows and violet. The astral plane.

The reverie was broken though as she came to the place she was seeking. The entire reason she’d risked coming to Darkshore in the first place. Within the cavern was an alcove. Which didn’t mean much because it was huge in and of itself. In the center was a bowl with ash, not much else in the area aside from a bundle of herbs next to the bowl. Another sigh of relief as she knelt before the bowl taking up the herbs in a clawed hand and bringing them to her nose. Not the freshest but they would still work. Her lighter came out and lit the bundle aflame as she set it in the bowl. Inhaling deeply, the familiar smoke filled her with a sense of peace. Suddenly an ethereal roar could be heard as if a great beast had woken and was bellowing it’s displeasure. The sound of rumbling thunder was heard, the roar growing ever louder until… He was there.

Rev slowly looked up into the face of the beast she had summoned, a fanged grin growing wide on her lips. Staring back at her was an impossibly huge bear, it’s wet nose wiggling as it sniffed at her. The two stared at one another for a time, almost as if challenging each other. The massive brown bear finally leaped at Rev, bowling her over with soft growls. The druid began to giggle as the beasts tongue lashed out, licking all over her face. “Uschi! Stop it you goofball! Gross!” There wasn’t much she could do other than flail around and hope the bear stopped, which, after a time he did. Uschi pulled back, canting his head as he stared at Rev’s stomach before nudging it over and over. “What the fuck Uschi! Stop being weird!” The kaldorei finally wiggled her way free, leaping to her feet. Her arms came out and wrapped around the great bear's neck and she laid her head to his a moment.

“Uschi… I need you. I’m sorry it’s been so long since I’ve been back. I shouldn’t have left you.” The bear warbled a soft tone, nuzzling against her face as if to say ‘It’s alright, I understand.’ Rev pulled her head back, looking with her inky hues into the vibrant emerald of Uschi’s. “I’m going to bring you with me Uschi. It’s not safe for you here anymore. It’s not safe for me. And… -He- isn’t here anymore. Will you come with me? Will you help me? Help me sate my cravings? Help keep me… Myself? Show me to the dream more often?” The bear didn’t even hesitate before licking her several times, front arms coming out to snag her up in a bear hug as he sat back on his hindquarters. “Oof.” Was all she could manage as she was squeezed tight against the soft fur of her spirit beast. Her own arms went around him, well, more like just… Laid against him. He was far too huge for her to even attempt to wrap him up. After a time, the bear set her down and looked at her, almost solemnly.

His paw came up to rest against her face, an almost sorrowful tone rumbling out from the creature. Rev fought off tears and looked away, down, anywhere but at Uschi. “I know… I’m not the same. It’s why I need you… I died Uschi. I thought I could handle things on my own and… I couldn’t.” Her gaze wandered back up to the great bear’s and she gently pressed a kiss to his wet nose. “I’m still me. Just… Different. I promise.” Clawed fingers ran through the thick fur of Uschi’s face, the bear practically moaning with delight as her scratches got all the right spots. As they came to a stop she gazed into her guardian’s eyes. “It’s time.” The bear snorted and pressed his nose to her forehead before standing back up on all fours.

Reveria limbered herself up, hopping in place and shaking her hands to loosen them up. Finally, she stood still before the great bear, bowing her head to the beast. He returned the gesture before lunging forward a step. He began to bellow a roar that might have deafened anyone else but Reveria was ready. She lunged herself forward as well, screaming back at Uschi. Slowly as the two raged at each other, Reveria began to lift into the air, and Uschi began to grow immaterial. Swirls of green energy flowed from the great bear to the druid, somehow neither one running out of breath to continue their shows of might. Her guardian grew fainter and fainter with each passing moment until with a final burst of emerald energy, he vanished completely. Reveria fell from the air, landing gracefully in a squat on the floor with her eyes closed.

***Just a warning - This post contains violence, brutality, and gore. 18+***

Pounding feet and heavy gasping breathing could be heard echoing through the streets of Boralus as the hour approached midnight. Splashing through puddles, crashing into and through crates, a human man in Alliance regalia ran as though for his very life, glances of terror cast over his shoulder every few strides. “Crazy bitch!” He called out between panting gasping breaths, his pace slowing as he ran himself into exhaustion. With each glance he could see two glowing orbs in the darkness chasing him, every random sweep of light from a lamp post revealing an immense saber, jagged metal like bone protruding from the mane and limbs of the beast. Dark nearly black fur ran the length of the beast, allowing it to vanish from sight just as quickly as it came into view. 

“FUCK!” The man was desperate now, pounding through the street looking for a path to safety. His bloodshot eyes widened and his nostrils flared with each breath as sweat poured off his body. He turned down an alley, hoping against hope that there was a quick way out, any possible way to lose the one stalking him. The blood in his veins froze as he realized he had come to a dead end alley. Not only that, but his adrenaline fueled senses picked out details of the buildings and he realized he was in a forgotten part of the city, the neglect and disrepair making that obvious. Whirling around to face the entrance he stumbled backwards, tripping over litter and falling to the ground with a thud. The floating eyes hovered in the darkness a moment, before the saber stepped from the shadows. 

The saber stalked slowly forward, hissing and gnashing bared fangs easily longer than the man’s forearm. He scrambled backwards, desperate to back away from the creature. Letting out a grunt as his back hit the wall at the end of the alley, the man whimpered before turning his gaze to the creature. “Fuckfuckfuckfuck....” His breath was terrified, his words barely comprehensible. The creature cocked it’s head to the side, looking at him curiously. Freezing like a deer stuck in a light, whimpering breaths leaked from the man as a pool of urine formed beneath him, soiling himself with his horror. One moment the saber was there, the next it was leaping through the air at him. It shifted though, transitioning from the dread beast into the lithe, svelte form a of a black leather clad female kaldorei, snow white locks billowing behind her.  Landing atop the man, claw like fingers lashed out against his face, leaving deep rending wounds before one hand crushed down on his windpipe. 

The soldier spluttered and gasped from air, hitting at the woman, trying to claw her grasp free, all to no avail. Screams of pain and terror were caught in his crushed throat as his eyes bulged with horror. This woman was Reveria, her jet black eyes glaring at the man as she slammed his head into the wall to still him. Black spots and stars spun through the soldier’s vision, hands falling to the ground in a daze. “You filthy fucking piece of shit. Tonight you will pay for what you did to my people. You could have saved them. You could have helped them escape. YOU COULD HAVE LET THEM LIVE! Instead you raped helpless women! Stole from those losing everything already! Defiled homes and corpses of those that came before your insignificant speck of dirt that you call life. The goddess has seen you and judged you. I am her vengeance. Tonight... You pay for your crimes.” 

“P-p-pleaaase... I-I’m so sorry... I’ll do whatever you ask... I don’t want to die!” Words of the soldier finally managed to escape from his crushed throat, desperation forcing him to exert everything he had left. Reveria hissed in rage at the audacity of his words. She partially shifted her free hand, horrible dagger sized claws of jagged bone forming. Thrusting them violently into the man’s side, the crunch of boe and splash of blood heard as they ripped into his left lung. his eyes went wide as he tried to howl in pain. Only a spluttering cough of blood was managed, pouring from his mouth and down his chin to drip on the insignia of the Alliance on his armored chest. “You should have thought of life when you raped those women and left them for dead. When you spent your time looting and pillaging as our home burned to ash around you. That was when your life was forfeit. You die a coward and a disgrace.” She quickly switched hands on his throat, shifting her own left before violently goring into his other lung. This time an even more sickening crunch was heard as she ripped ribs and sinew from his chest, gore and blood bursting out across her. 

Blood filled coughs echoed out as the man drowned in his own fluids, and even the sight of this was not vengeance enough for the druidess. She snarled, rage filling her as his throat was released, only to begin savagely ripping his chest open with those terrifying claws. Her hands moved so fast... With so much hatred that one might think they were not even there. Tears leaked from her eyes as her entire form was coated in bits of bone, gore and blood from the man’s ruined body. He was long dead before she stopped, only when her claws hit cobbles and stone did she realize how far she had gone. His entire chest was a massive hole of broken bone and pulped organs, all the way through from front to back. She had basically clawed him in two with her rage, yet still she wanted more. Grasping the man’s hair, those brutal claws flickered out, removing head from body in another gorey stroke. Huffing with the fury of her goddess, she threw the head with a sickening crunch against the wall of the alley, caving the skull in as brains and blood splattered to the ground. 

Reveria has had a tough time over the past week or so. People she thought were her friends before death no longer are, others are taunting or lying to those most dear to her. This is a look at how devastated, hurt, confused... And more she feels. 

Dull thuds sounded out one after the other, the pacing of which seemed to slow and then speed up, slow and then speed up. Tonight was much like any other night since her return, a sliver of the moon hung in the sky, stars shone down, inky dark surrounded the ranch. The various creatures that were stabled here by Thaenla paid no heed to Reveria, seems this happened enough they’d grown accustomed to it. The druidess was pounding her fists, elbows, knees, feet over and over into a padded post she’d rigged up as a training dummy, fluid motions guiding her through a series of maneuvers over and over, meant to calm her but... Tonight even the practice couldn’t calm her restless mind. 

The druidess’ brow was snarled up into an angry looking bunch, fanged teeth gritted as she thought over the events of the past week. Try as she might to think about the time she spent happily with friends or otherwise, her mind kept returning to that night in the Lamb. She thought she’d known what heart ache and betrayal felt like but in reality, she’d had no clue. Not really. After her return from death, Thaenla and Vlos had told her that one of her dearest friends, or so she’d thought, had railed and adamantly fought against the idea of returning Reveria to life. The druidess could hardly believe it, didn’t want to believe it, because that would mean someone she had held dear no longer cared. The woman’s face flashed in her mind with each punch, a snarl escaping with one hit, choked hard fought sobs the next.

Ellewelune Sunweaver. The ‘ren’dorei’s’ words at the Lamb haunted Reveria every waking moment. ‘Have all your bits and pieces in place? Beating heart and all that?’ The greeting of someone she’d thought was a good friend, the first time she’d seen her after death. Her reply ‘Why wouldn’t they be?’ With a raised brow, only to be dismissed like an animal. ‘They’re waiting for you at the bar.’ And that had been the end of it. She had thought about saying more, about expounding on her pain but... Thae had told her Elle thought she was crazy. That coming back would only intensify that insanity. So in the end, Reveria was true to herself, defiant even in pain. She’d walked away and joined Thae at the bar, utterly confused and heart broken. They’d left, only to be confronted by Narscissa, who the time Rev spoke to her was calling her out, and then beating her into the ground. The confrontation saw both Thae and Vlos leave, leaving a reeling Reveria to attempt to mend a bridge she wasn’t even sure she wanted mended. She wasn’t trying to burn any more bridges though, so she’d done what she thought was right. 

‘Who the fuck does she think she is?!’ Reveria slammed her knee into the pillar, a distinct cracking heard as the wood began to splinter. ‘She always said I was a friend, always liked having me around.’ Thwack! The sound of more splintering along with a snarl as the druidess smashed a fist into the post. ‘You always defended her when people told you she was like this... When they said she was two faced. Now you know the truth... How does that make you feel?’ Reveria let out a savage, yet anguished cry, shifting into her bear form mid swing, the roar carrying over to echo through the dark landscape. Her body smashed into the post, splintering it in half before her paws and savagely fanged maw began pummeling it into fragments, into nothingness as her pain was made evident. Even after the post and padding were little more than shreds of cloth and tiny splinters, the druidess continued bashing her paws into the ground for a time.