Maho's Practice Thread

Sing a golden song, sparkling on towards the lost roads of the soul. A cry! A yell! For existence we speak, ever flowing on.

She told me I'd never make it. That the craziness would hold me firm in it's grasp.

But I will break free with this yell, ever looking towards the skies, for my essence remembers the feeling.

Wings burst free! Let it fly, hear the voice locked within, and pave this road with a better lining.

Past washed away with a yellow light, those empty halls will fill.

Empty no more, those echos of shadow will fade. I will not let this cold stone claim me, I am who I am and I meant for more.

This song will reach my heart to thaw out this sleeping beast.

I know not when, but I will keep on fighting, singing all the while!

It beat against me hard, this cold cold wind.. I turned to face it, hoping that my defiant nature would somehow show it my resolve, frighten it away. I knew better of course, but I had to stand firm, so I let myself believe this lie. She'd come back. She had before right?

The ice felt firm, hard. I bent down to place a hand on it.. however I stopped short. My heart had failed me. As my courage wavered, thoughts came flooding back unbidden. I could not afford to let fear rule, but there it was laughing at me from within.

I pushed back the tears.. no, she would come back. She had to. I needed her. How was I going to survive this wasteland without her? Skills I had aplenty, but if I could not calm myself, what would it matter?

I forced myself to stand, snow crunching under the weight of my boots. Curse this damned wind! I saw it's effects everywhere. I was powerless before it. Even as I stood thinking, my cloak whipped around me effortless as if to say "You cannot stop me, you will not escape. I am always here!"

Perhaps that was the answer..

Placing a hand on my forehead to shield my eyes, I looked up at the sky and took a long look. I did not see what I had hoped, but was grateful I had done so regardless. The sun had shifted, and it would not be long before I would lose the ability to travel.

I took one more longing look at my surroundings and with great effort, I trudged forward, the sting of the wind still mocking me all the while. I had to find shelter. I was no good to anyone dead.

The stone hills jutting out here and there seemed as thankless as steel, and were more like small cliffs. They were death traps, for there was nothing suitable in sight. Angles were all wrong, or were far too slick to be worth the risk. What was I doing out here?

I began to contemplate digging out a hole of some sort.. something to get me out of this god forsaken weather! The notion left me almost as soon as it had come. I doubted I had the strength for such a task, shaken as I was from all that had occurred.

I wiped the tears from my face. Tears? So they had come after all, despite my efforts to the contrary. I could feel their cold embrace upon my face as they streamed down. Why? Why had she left me here? Didn't she care? Shaking my head, I once more forced these thoughts from my head and pushed on.

As time wore on, my luck seemed to only worsen. I could find nothing to save me from this icy hell I had fallen prey to. Shelter? Shelter anywhere?

Nothing..

My vision was getting bad. The land before me seemed hazy, and it was all I could do to keep moving. I was in trouble, and I knew it. I had to do something. But it was too late. I fell forward. Landing face first in the snow wasn't so bad.. maybe I could just lie here.

I know not why, but I pushed myself up again, fighting the urge to give in. Feeling empowered by my strange strength I continued forward. But it did not last long. I soon found myself falling again, tears streaming down my face.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw them. Shadows. And they were coming for me.. I tried to run, but my body had already failed me. I heard the faint sounds of music, and then all went dark.

The blood dripped down my lips and I felt alive once more. It was odd to think that death brought me such pleasure, but there I was standing over a body that had slumped to the floor. A closer look revealed the poor fool had snapped his neck on the way down. He must have hit the floor pretty hard.

I felt a moment of regret. Had I really been so out of control that I couldn't make his death peaceful? The terror on his face was apparent, and I could tell he died cursing his fate, more than a little confused.

I supposed it was bad form to attack one's room mate, and I guessed that I would miss the bloke.

But the deed was already done. I felt a little torn. Part of me felt heavy, even sad.. but the rest of me reveled in my kill. I hadn't really liked him anyway.

I stepped carefully around his corpse and tried to figure out my next move, the sweet ecstasy of his blood still fresh in my mouth. Disappearance was certainly an option. I'd done it before, and could do it again. A simple stab wound would suffice. They never dissect the bodies for an autopsy right away.. praise modern paperwork for that!

And who would believe a dead body was walking around? Someone high up the chain would be blamed, the murder pegged on them, and I'd be free to walk around as though nothing had happened. But as I looked over at my fallen acquaintance, it really didn't seem as simple as all that.

Although such a plan seemed easy at first glance, the truth of it was it was a pain. I'd have to relocate. Not to mention, the very same modern world that was my saving grace was my downfall as well. Someone would question me, and the process of slipping through undetected would be long, requiring a great deal of tact. In short, it was a lot of headache, and I was in no mood for it.

I suddenly felt vulnerable.

Why did I have to go and lose control like that? Would it happen again? I was, in some regard, no safer than this lifeless man on the floor beside me. If I slipped up again, I may not get so lucky again. Next time, it could be somebody important. Or worse yet, a kid!

I shuddered at the thought, for the image of some little girl laying dead by my hand made me sick. I could hardly bear the thought. I was a monster. It was a fact I knew well, but it was fast sinking into place just how horrible I was. And worse yet, who could I talk to about this? It's not like there are support groups for things like "help I just ate my neighbor!"

I looked with distaste at the body. This.. thing! It had dashed my hopes so effortlessly, and without knowing. It was his fault I was facing these doubts again, and he wasn't even here to answer for how this made me feel. I did tell him to stay away.. if only he had listened.

What a pity! What a waste!

My plan to avoid others when I was especially hungry had been going well. I had seen success, and lasted for so long, but it obviously was all for naught.

I barely remembered the encounter. I had been in such a frenzy that all I could remember was the feelings. The lust for human skin, the sweet nectar of blood, the sheer animal sense of having my helpless prey fall dead before me..

Yes, this time had been worse than the last.

The desire to kill had so overcome me that I had wanted to rip the flesh clean off the bone, to tear and claw at my hapless victim like some caged beast. Thank the stars I had somehow managed to keep that savage urge under control. It would help my story...

The wind blows through the trees, the sun light streams down, my soul awash with emotion profound. They dance there, just out of sight.. the ever caring patrons of my heart. They who tend and care, delight in joy, and abide the sorrows.

The river in the distance sparkles with an silent song, and the earth turns on the axis of my mind. Here I am home, a place of hope, a prayer softly whispered for the earth by forces combined. Only here can one hear the tone, only here can one know of the small, the meek and the strong.

Ah, the root of all life is found in these simple moments, if you but listen. Can you hear it? Do you know of the delight carried on just out of sight?

The sun beat down it's blessing on me, leaving me to regard it more as a curse. It was hellishly hot, and I still sat here, waiting for the man to arrive. The shade was doing nothing to assist me, shifting as it was beneath the canvas I had hastily cast up, in some naive believe it would shield me from my troubles.

Sweat poured down my brow, and my feeble attempts with a rag were pretty near useless.

Mumbling to myself something about bad luck, I looked up to see my expected visitor standing before me. Relief washed over me. I cared not that I hadn't heard him coming, only that he was here. Now my plans could proceed.


"Did you get it?" I asked, my mouth so dry I could scarcely speak.

"Yeah, I got it." came the reply. "But your going to have to explain something to me." he continued, "It was a real chore getting this through customs. What the hell am I holding?"


I took a swig of water from my canteen, wishing it was something harder, but glad for what little hydration I was getting, and found my voice.

"That is of little concern to you." I said. "Once I have it, you're free of any burden it places on you right? I see no reason for you to know."


The man before me became clearly unsettled, growing so nervous that he took his hat off and tossled his hair before replacing it upon his head. "But.."

"You were not hired to ask questions! Did you not hear me?!" I replied sharply. "What bisness do you have asking me anything further? Did you not receive your pay? In advance I might add! Surely that counts for something."

Suddenly a thought occurred to me.. had he opened it?! Did he know? Before he had a chance to reply, I had to verify that everything was in order. I should have done that from the start!

"In fact," I continued. "I'd better see it. I have people to report to myself, and they will want to know that the package made it in proper fashion."

"B-B-but of course," stammered the gentleman.


I was promptly handed a small brown parcel bound with string. I turned it over a few times, examining it. Yes, the identifying mark was there, and everything appeared to be included. Nothing amiss there. But clearly, something was not right. My courier knew something.

I took my eyes off the package, being sure to keep a firm grip on it and examined the individual in front of me. He was thin man, who wore a white suit and tie, and was sporting a wide hat.. presumably to keep the sun from his eyes. I took note of his blonde hair, which I had seen when he had removed that same hat earlier.

On his lapel, he wore a pin of a dragon, and his face bore a small scar to the left side of his face. Looking down at his feet, I could see he had the proper shoes for the area. Yeah, he checked out.

He was just as I had been told to expect.

So what then? Why were my senses telling me something was off?

I had another look at him, pretending I was busy with the package so he wouldn't leave. Puzzled, I looked for any sign that would tell me why he acted so unusual.. when it hit me.

The man was dressed in a white suit sure enough.. that wasn't the problem. No, what was strange was he that he didn't have much dirt on it! With the way the dust whipped around outside of my make shift shelter, his outfit would have gotten far dirtier if he had walked here as planned.

I quieted the panic in my mind and tried to think calmly. Okay, so he'd have been driven at least part way here. That meant he wasn't alone. He was working with someone.. but who? The cops? No..

I had placed a device in here that would fry any wires he might have been wearing just past the entrance to my canvas hovel. He would have seen it and would then be showing different signs of worry, as if he was afraid to be alone with me.. but that wasn't the case.

Hmm.. what then?

Suddenly I had it! Guns! Men with guns! Someone was waiting for him and for whatever reason, had threatened him at gun point. It all made sense now.. he had been asked to discover what was the package, but had been smart enough to not open it. Quickly, I thought up a plan.. if they were protecting him, that meant they felt they needed him right?

I finished my inspection and stuffed the package in my pocket.


"Seems like everything is in order after all. You'll have to forgive me for my rude behavior ," I stated. "You must understand. This heat has me all in a fuss, and when you came asking questions, I thought.. well, I thought you had messed up the delivery. Let me make it up to you. Clearly you did your job, now I feel bad. Care for a drink before you go on your way?"

I waited for a response. This would tell me if he truly was after info I had, since under normal circumstances it was not customary to stay any longer than needed. The job was complete, he was supposed to refuse me unless I insisted.

"W-well okay." he replied. "I suppose, yeah, I could use some water, the journey back is a hot one isn't it?"

I stood up, and positioned myself closer to him, hunting for a proper chance.

"Great! Just let me get my spare canteen. Seems my main one is about dry" I said, tapping my canteen to show it was no lie.

My pack was behind him.. perfect. I fished through it and palmed a stone I had been given for luck by a local shaman, inwardly laughing at the irony. I also produced my spare canteen.

"Here it is!" I exclaimed.

I looked over to see the courier now facing me, and caught a glimpse of relief when he saw the canteen. Now I was sure. Before he had a chance to react, I moved swiftly and smashed the stone into his head.

He fell down, out cold. I was glad he hadn't yelped. There was no telling how close the attackers might be. As long as they thought he was still in here with me, nothing amiss, it bought me time.

Still, I had to hurry.. it was time to pack up.