Knock knock knock
A black man dressed in a tight, form-fitting robe knocked on a solid metal door. He held a clipboard in one hand, and in the other, he held 3 crystal balls, his fingers rotating them in his palm.
His hair was black, the tips engulfed in bright orange embers. He stood almost 8 feet tall, his body bulging with muscle. His eyes held darkness within, illuminated by his star-like pupils at the center. His skin was cracked and fractured, an orange glow seeping out.
Waiting patiently, the man continued to spin the 3 crystal balls in his palm. He leaned on a nearby wall, closing his eyes.
Creakkkkkk
The giant metal door slowly slid open, the air within rushing out, its temperature hot enough to forge swords and axes.
A woman stepped out of the furnace, her eyes drooping with nonchalance. She had the same features as the man: dark, fractured skin, hair tipped with embers, and a tall, muscular build.
Lazily looking to the side, the woman grabbed the clipboard in the man's hands. The clipboard sizzled, but she ignored it, glancing at the information.
Tossing it back to the man, he caught it with his eyes still closed.
The woman grunted, bunting her hair, the embers at the tips occasionally falling to the ground. "It looks like another unfortunate peasant."
The man grunted, opening his eyes. "We can't expect to be given high-profile cases so soon. Patience Athara."
Athara's lazily glanced at the man, her lips forming into a frown. "I understand that much. I am not a child." Pausing, she furrowed her brows, "When are we leaving?"
The man smirked, tapping the clipboard. "It says we have to leave within the hour. The Order has already prepared our ride."
Athara marched away with a snort, waving her hand at the man, "Yes, yes. Let's go, then. Don't waste my time; I have places to be and things to do."
The man simply nodded, trailing behind Athara. He tossed a clipboard to a nearby human. The human bowed, holding the clipboard tucked against his chest. The residual heat melted the skin on his hands, but he dared not let go, unwilling to test the duo's reaction.
Athara marched down an impressively tall hall, pillars of obsidians and stones flanking them from both sides.
Turning, Athara pushed open a large black metal door. An extensive open hanger expanded into view. Massive birds covered in embers held down by giant chains lined the sides. Several humans trudged back and forth, feeding and tending to the creatures.
Approaching a similar dark-skinned man with embers burning in his hair and orange cracks covering his skin, Athara shallowly bowed, placing her thumbs on her eyelids while cupping her hands.
The man returned the shallow bow, a single thin red line tattoed across his forehead just above his eyebrows. "How may I help an Ember like you?"
Athara closed her eyes, responding with a level of respect, "I would gladly receive the help of a flame to choose a suitable mount for a long journey. We are headed to Anepith."
The Flame nodded, extending his arm. From the side, a human dressed in loose black robes approached.
Bowing deeply, the human spoke, "If the Embers would follow me, I have prepared a suitable ride."
Athara grunted. From behind, her partner expressed, "We would appreciate that very much."
The human guided them to a nearby bird. Its body was shaped like a seagull, the tips of its wings dripping flames. Its sharp eyes calmly stared at the approaching trio. A large leather saddle snuggly sitting on its feathered back.
Stroking the bird's beak, the human motioned them forward, "She is ready. Merely tell her your destination, and she will deliver you swiftly."
Athara leaped into the saddle, climbing to the front. Her droopy eyes scanning for the most comfortable seat.
Her partner followed close behind, claiming a spot at the back of the saddle.
Athara stroked the bird's head. Her lips whispered, "Take us to Anepith."
The bird rose to its feet, extending its mighty wing span. The chains attached to its feet disconnected, clattering to the solid stone ground.
Stolen story; please report.
CAWWWWW
The bird flapped its wings, skillfully gliding through the hanger, exiting into the vast expanse of the sky.
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Joshua's skeleton sat on a tree stump, his skeletal body covered by a long, dirty brown cloak. Surrounding him, several rotten bodies stood, each at different stages of decay.
The most fresh was an adult man, a large bloody gash on the back of his head, bits of the skull and brain hanging out.
Joshua's limp body shook, his arm extending towards his latest puppet.
The adult man robotically stepped forward.
Joshua extended his skeletal hand, his empty eye-sockets glancing up towards the man.
With no hesitation, the man raised his hand, his fingers slipping into his eye-socket, pulling out his eye, ignoring the blood gushing from the wound.
Undetered by the optical nerve still connected, the man pulled, disconnecting the remaining tissue.
Lowering his hand, the man gently laid the eyeball in Joshua's palm.
Joshua, still able to feel a connection with the eye, hijacked its vision.
Previously submerged in darkness, Joshua's vision changed. He observed his current form, focusing on the yellow skull covered by the hood of his cloak.
The eyeball's vision shifted, approaching Joshua's skull. Twisting the eyeball with his bony fingers, Joshua slotted the eyeball into his empty eye socket.
Reveling in the ability to observe the world 'normally' once again, Joshua whipped his head back. He stared into the sky, his single eye drinking in the novel feeling of 'normal' vision.
Observing the fluffy white clouds floating by in the giant blue sky, Joshua caught a glimpse of something in the distance.
Turning his skeletal head, Joshua's single-eyed gaze landed on a literal bird of fire, its wings tossing embers and Flame with each flap.
On the birds back, two impercievable figures stood, one slightly shorter than the other, standing on the birds head.
Feeling a certain foreboding within him, Joshua raised his arm, commanding the shrew to climb up his forearm and dive into his ribs.
Staring coldly at the numerous other decaying puppets, Joshua did not wait even a second before he turned and left.
As the foliage of the forest covered Joshua's retreat, his puppets scattered, each sprinting in different directions.
Joshua sprinted within the trees, his footsteps much steadier than they were a few months ago. Using the large pines and bushes as cover, Joshua sprinted further and further into the woods.
After several minutes, he felt the first of his many puppets disappear, the connection fading into oblivion. Then another connection snapped. Then another.
Every few minutes, puppets fell, their senses unable to determine what had killed them. Only that they were burning before they disappeared.
Joshua did not show any sign of guilt with each puppet that passed. He kept running, his cloak flowing in the wind, unable to entirely hide his skeletal body.
Brushing a branch to the side, Joshua stumbled onto a road. The road was merely dirt, with no paving or stonework other than the short cobblestone wall lining one side.
Turning his head to the side, he watched a man riding a horse abruptly stop in front of him.
The man was scowling, his mouth open wide, mouthing, maybe screaming at Joshua. But because of his lack of ears and the decayed state of the shrew, Joshua was unable to hear the kind man's words.
Joshua stared into the man's eyes, freezing the poor gentleman in place. Barely with enough time to let out a gasp, the man felt bone pierce his throat.
Straining to look down without moving his neck, the man's eyes opened wide. Joshua's finger pierced his throat, severing his spine.
Unable to move, the man fell, his body colliding with the ground like a wet rag.
Joshua stepped in front of the paralyzed man and stoked the horse's head, leaping onto the creature's muscular back, leaving the man to drown in his own blood.
Kicking the horse's sides, Joshua darted down the road. The wind kicked up his cloak, this time forcing Joshua to hold it down.
Galloping, Joshua looked back.
The same bird flew in the sky behind Joshua. Now closer and clearer, Joshua finally observed the duo standing atop the bird. A woman with dark, fractured skin with an orange glow emanating from the cracks stood at the front. Her hair whipped up behind her, a trail of embers following in her wake.
Joshua watched as the bird soared closer and closer, his horse not even in the same league as the flying creature.
Glancing forward, Joshua's vision expanded into a small meadow. Within, homes of wood surrounded by large pines quaintly sat. Little children ran on the dirt road, and adults pulled wagons full of goods.
Darting forward, Joshua guided the horse between the various groups of people occupying the road. Many screamed and shouted, some even tossing rocks or sticks.
But their protests instantly halted when they felt the temperature sharply rise and massive gusts of wind threaten to blow them back.
Now much closer to the ground, the massive bird of fire narrowed its eyes on its target. On the bird's head, Athara clutched a simple bronze sword.
Athara smirked, her droopy eyes squinting, "Hehehe, I always loved a good chase."
The man calmly standing behind her shook his head, his eyes closed. "There is no reason to do this. We should just wait for its mount to tire."
Athara scoffed, turning to look at the man, "And how would that be fun Jelin?"
Jelin sighed and waved his hand. Sitting, he spoke, "Then do as you desire; I will act as 'backup.'"
Athara turned back towards Joshua, a coy smile on her face. Judging the gap between them and her prey was now sufficiently short, she jumped.
Launching forward at terrifying speeds, her body became a cannonball. With her sword in hand, she commanded flames to cover it's tip.
Rapidly approaching, Athara thrusted her sword. A sword of firey Aether shot forward, it's heat igniting the grass and trees nearby.
Joshua, with the help of the shrew, consciously observed the airborne woman. Tugging on the reins, Joshua forced the horse to abruptly turn, barely dogding the sword of flames while luckily exiting Athara's flight path.
Caught off guard, Athara only had enough time to pull her sword back and turn her body before crashing into the ground.
Skidding across the ground, Athara came to a halt, hitting a stone wall and slamming it to pieces. Grunting, Athara dusted her robes, staring at the back of the retreating Joshua.
The bird of fire gently landed nearby, Jelin gracefully stepping off its back.
Athara grunted, her brows scrunched, "You dont have to tell me."
Jelin nodded. Pursing his lips, he pointed behind Athara. "So you realize you have injured a child?"
Athara widened her eyes, glancing behind her. Rue lay on the ground, his skin bright red. Kiera knelt over him, her hands working in a flash, pulling various elixirs and vials from pockets and bags.