Malantau Howling Precipice

[Chibi Pika]

Whatever it was, there was still the problem of the cub to attend to. Lowering his snout to the ground, he took a deep breath, then set out slowly forward. Slow enough to give Ranger time to catch up. He kept one ear turned back to hear Ranger and the other forward as he tracked his missing 'packmate'.

The footfalls were close. Alarmingly close, too close to ignore. A wave of bittercold swept through the fog that hearkened back to the barrens as they had been in the dead of winter, months ago. Then, the fog parted, swept back until it sat over and all around like a dome, enclosing them. And right in the center, now visible, was a trail of blood leading away from a spear of ice embedded in the snow. A number of other spears of ice were scattered across the clearing.

And there, on the opposite end, was the masked beast with hooves like glaciers and coat like fresh powder and mane like frozen daggers.

And it was staring straight at Archie and Koa with cold, empty eyes.

 

[Tetra]

A dark shape melted out of the fog, another canine. For a half second, a paranoid corner of Koa's brain braced, expecting another attack from some ghostly dog.

And then the shape took form. Dark fur and orange and metal bands. The Houndour Archie mentioned. Another step closer, and he jolted to a stop. Blinked.

Wait was that-

Then the fog parted.

Fear and shock snapped Koa's sense into high alert, his focus shifted instantly to the scene before them. Blood and ice and that massive beast, the legend- no, not legendary, not here. Something else. And something definitely not friendly.

~

Anubis' head snapped toward the blood and spear, then to the towering icy beast. A growl rose in his throat. He took a step forward as his inner fire flared in anticipation for a fight.

Weak though this new body of his was, he would not let this creature harm anyone further.

The dark growl built into a threatening snarl that in spite of his small frame, spoke of a more experienced mon, and sent a clear message.

'Back off.'

 

[Chibi Pika]

The Wight's Bane—Glastrier, frozen counterpart to Spectrier—ignored Anubis, its gaze fixed squarely on Koa and Archie as it took a few heavy steps forward, hooves crunching the snow.

And then the frozen mask adorning its terrible face creaked open at the jawline, and the bane spoke.

"Yᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ sᴘᴏᴋᴇɴ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ."

The tone, if it could even be described as such, was neutral. A statement of fact.

 

[Weazel]

The fog lifted, no, it shifted around them, sealing off the sky while pulling away to reveal the grim scene before them. Archie couldn’t spot a body, but the trail of blood was obvious, splattered red against the brilliant white of the snow. The other spears littered around the clearing suggested a scuffle, that only ended when one struck true. And at the center of it all… That horse, was that the Legendary Glastier he’d heard so much about? Archie grabbed his Scalchops and summoned his Razor Shells, but he was grimly aware that this was not a fight he’d be able to win.

And then it spoke. Archie glanced backwards at Koa and Dustin, the latter of whom shrugged. To be honest, the Saint almost hadn’t seemed to notice the Buizel, or the Houndour for that matter, its gaze solely fixed on the Dewott and the Electrike. Who had they met that could possibly be of interest to the terror of the Wight Barrens? … Oh, right, him.

“You mean… Spectrier?” Archie asked, watching the horse for any sudden movements.

 

[Chibi Pika]

"Sᴘᴇᴄᴛʀɪᴇʀ..." the voice hissed.

Hooves stamped. The bane tossed its neck roughly, icy mane creaking unnervingly. When it was done, it again fixed its gaze on Archie, unnaturally forward compared to the typically sideways gaze of an equine.

And then the words became sharper. Clearer, as if spoken by an actual creature rather than a megaphone. Still, it was a raw voice, rusty from what might have been decades of disuse.

"Spectrier is... a useless coward," Glastrier said, her words high and bleak, like a desolate arctic wind. "A miserable, pathetic fool who thinks he might run from our past."

 

[Tetra]

Glastrier, it really was Glastrier. The weight of the icy saint's gaze bore down on Koa with nearly the same intensity he felt from legendaries back home. He found himself tensing, readying himself for a fight he was sure they couldn't win. Not with so few. Maybe with the other Wayfarers.

Its voice crept through the air like an icy chill. The other. Spectrier.

Then Glastrier spoke again.

"Spectrier is... a useless coward," Glastrier said, her words high and bleak, like a desolate arctic wind. "A miserable, pathetic fool who thinks he might run from our past."

Koa bit back a number of rude things he wanted to say. Spectrier was timid, sure, but that seemed unnecessarily harsh. Don't pick a fight. "And what past is that?" he asked in an even tone, still bracing himself in case of another attack. His gaze flitted briefly to the trail of blood, wondering if the Shinx was okay. He cast Archie a wary look. What could they even do if it did attack? No Betel, no Wayfarers... All they could do was try to not antagonize it.

~
Alpha!

Anubis would have known that voice and shock of blue fur from anywhere, and in any other situation he would have ran to his alpha's side, overjoyed to be united with him again. But faced with such a foe, he had to be wise. Ignore me, will you?

He tentatively edged around the ice-type, testing if it would pay him no mind. Perhaps he could get around it, find where the trail led. Or strike from behind if necessary.

 

[Weazel]

Archie frowned, grimly. Listening to a murderous Saint casually drag their counterpart had not been anywhere near what he expected to do today, but here they were. Was he supposed to commiserate? Defend the honor of a Saint he honestly hadn’t been all that impressed by himself? The way the horse was glaring at him certainly suggested it expected some kind of answer. Or maybe it just liked playing with its food.

“He seemed to be afraid of you,” the Dewott said.

Meanwhile, Dustin’s eyes followed after the Houndour as it crept around the Ice Type. Clearly up to something. He shouldn’t stand idle either. The Buizel edged away from the Electrike and Dewott, mirroring the Houndour’s movements on the other side of Glastrier. The more split up they were, the harder it would be for the Legendary to focus on any one of them. At least, he hoped that was the case.

 

[Chibi Pika]

Glastrier was pacing back and forth now, tossing her head in agitation. She didn't seem to have noticed Anubis or Dustin... yet.

"And what past is that?" he asked in an even tone, still bracing himself in case of another attack.

"This place," the frozen saint said, mist escaping her jaws with each word. "The place where he... where I... where everything fell apart. And I now I guard the wastes while he has become nothing more than Arthur's shadow."

'Guard' the wastes... was there some greater purpose to her tirelessly stalking the barrens?

 

[Inkedust]

The blood and scent trail seemed to lead further into the fog only to abruptly stop just after a short distance if either one of Anubis or Dustin chose to follow it further. There was a new, unfamiliar scent where the bloodtrail stopped, leading deeper into the fog.

It seemed that something far larger that swiped the shinx and, based on both sound and scent, it was close. Circling them.

Watching them.

 

[Tetra]

On some level, Anubis was aware this was a significant risk. Unwise, even. He was in a strange land, with the body of a pup, with only a single Buizel for an ally. But how many a time had he watched Alpha forge ahead into danger in pursuit? Had Alpha not chased that Thief so very long ago, Anubis himself would not have been reunited with him.

So with light steps, he crept away from the icy beast, circling wider and then following the blood scent into the mists.

He drew short as the trail ended and looked up, stepping protectively toward the Buizel as he did. The water type was another stranger to him, but a friend of an ally was his ally. "Something is watching us," he growled, trying to pick out a shape in the mists. "Be ready."

---

Arthur's shadow? Had Spectrier really abandoned his counterpart? Or was that just one jilted perspective? "Fell apart... So he left his duty with you?" he asked carefully, the words leaving a bitter tint to his thoughts. What duty did they have here? By what he heard, Glastrier just attacked anyone who came near. "Is that because of Arthur?"

 

[Weazel]

Alright, so... Was Glastrier upset that Spectrier and Arthur left, or was she upset she was left  behind? What was it keeping the Legendary here? Could she leave if she wanted to? There was some kind of subtle wrongness to the Saint. Was she a specter, grimly holding on to the last bit of familiarity anchoring her soul here?

"Why do you continue to guard this place?" He asked. "Is there something here that demands your continued presence?"

The Dewott's eyes flicked away from Glastrier only briefly, meeting Dustin's own as the Buizel crept his way around the Legendary. He really hoped the Buizel had some type of plan.

---

Dustin had no plan. He only knew that if this walking corpse decided it, they were all dead. So what was the play, then? Dance to her tune in the hope she didn't turn hostile? Scatter and hope she lost track of at least some of them? How do you appease a dead God? And where the fuck was that Houndour going!?

The metallic scent of blood lingered in the air, to make no mention of the trail of it leading into the fog. Following it, as the Houndour was, would lead them to the canines missing companion. Bleeding as the Shinx was, every second counted. Dustin scowled to himself, he rubbed his face with both paws. The he crept after the Houndour.

The trail lead away a little ways, before it just stopped. Ominous. The Houndour leaned in close and practically hissed that they were being watched.

"Yeah, she's about twenty paces behind us," Dustin dryly quipped under his breath. But, the Shinx hadn't vanished into the aether, someone, or something, had grabbed him. He lifted his head and scented the air. Sure enough, an additional scent had joined those of blood and death.

The Buizel nodded, grimly, and pivoted around until he and the Houndour were back to back. He felt what little power he could summon welling up in his chest. He had half a mind to give anyone who tried to surprise them a surprise of their own... But then he thought better of it, and let the power dissipate. The last thing any of them needed was for him to accidentally irritate the horse god by blindfiring Aeroblasts.

Personally, the Buizel didn't like it when the events in his life rhymed with those of a scary campfire story.

 

[Chibi Pika]

"Fell apart... So he left his duty with you?" he asked carefully. "Is that because of Arthur?"

"Why do you continue to guard this place?" He asked. "Is there something here that demands your continued presence?"

Glastrier shook her head violently from side to side. "Our kingdom. None must set foot. One of us had to remain. It could only have ever been me. As if he would have been capable. As if a being devoid of will could ever have the strength to do anything more than wallow."

Their kingdom... the lost kingdom of Malantau...

"You're here because of him, aren't you?" Glastrier hissed, her voice growing more agitated, the words laced with uncertainty. "He was fond of you, and now..." The Wight's Bane stomped her hooves, bursts of ice radiating from the impact. "He hates and fears me because I have what he lacks. He is empty. A useless dead-thing."

But if the two were counterparts, then...

 

[Tetra]

Spectrier was fond of him? Koa edged back a step, eyeing the icy hoofprints uneasily. The last thing he needed was to upset her further. Unfortunately he also felt like she was determined to be agitated. What had happened between the two saints? "Empty?" He couldn't help the question. Spectrier had been sullen and ethereal but that just seemed normal for a ghost-type.

He shook himself mentally, then quickly added, "we're not here because of him, I promise," Koa said, trying to make his voice sound even, and placating without pity. "The only reason we're out here is because a dungeon threw us out and we got here by accident. We're not trying to even enter your kingdom," he added.

"If you show us the way out we won't set foot in it if you don't want."

 

[Weazel]

Archie’s brow furrowed, but he did his best to suppress the confused frown. Who was fond of them? Spectrier? They’d spoken all of once. It didn’t seem like there was anyone else Glastrier could possibly be referring to, though. He did have to agree with the Legendary’s assessment that her counterpart lacked anything that could even generously be described as force of will, but to describe him as empty?

As Koa stepped back, the Dewott edged sideways, shielding the Electrike a little more with his own body. At the same time, he nodded along with canine’s explanation.

“We were teleported here against our will, we mean no disrespect by our presence here,” he added. What more could be said? Numerous questions flew around his head. Why could no one enter the ruined kingdom? Why did one of them have to remain behind to guard it? How did Glastrier even know they’d spoken with Spectrier? What did she mean when she said that he was dead? But every word spoken out of turn was another roll of the dice, another chance the Saint would suffer their presence no longer.

 

[Inkedust]

For just a split second, both Anubis and Dustin could make out a vague shape in the fog. Impossible to discern any details, all the pair could note was that it was large, much larger than the both of them, and it seemed to be comprised of several tendril-like appendages that billowed in the wind. It watched them, curious, before it leapt deeper into the fog. Whatever this thing was, it was fast, giving chase would quickly prove to be a vain endeavour. It headed westward; the direction Glastrier was facing.

Just what was it doing? Who was it watching? Glastrier or the Wayfarers?

 

[Chibi Pika]

Glastrier kept shaking her head with a horrible creaking sound. Her tail lashed about, causing the icicles to clatter against each other. "It doesn't matter how you arrived. Leave now! None must... none must..." Her words trailed off, as the frozen Saint was no longer looking at Koa or Archie, staring off into the mists, as if suddenly aware than Anubis and Dustin were no longer here.

"The others have escaped," Glastrier said in a low, rattling voice.

Without warning, the Wight's Bane reared back, slamming its hooves into the frozen earth and letting out a bone-chilling wail. Giant icicles condensed out of nothingness overhead, at first just two or three, but then rapidly multiplying until they crowded the air.

"Wʜᴇʀᴇ ᴀʀᴇ ᴛʜᴇʏ?" the beast screamed, fixing its piercing stare on that strange silhouette in the fog.

 

[Tetra]

Why couldn't they have run into one of the nice Saints? Why did it have to be the violent horse that hated everyone? Koa watched, tensed, as she paced and rambled, trading uneasy glances with Archie. "We'll leave-" he started to say.

"The others have escaped,"

No no no- He opened his mouth to say something, draw her attention, but it was far too late. Koa winced as Glastrier's scream rang out and fought down the rising panic in his chest. Fight or flight? His ears flattened and his instincts cried out for him to flee, except he didn't know where to flee to. Pouring on a burst of energy into his wearied legs, he shoved Archie to the side, away from the icicles.

"We're not your enemy!" he shouted. It was probably pointless, but anything to slow or dissuade Glastrier to give them time to escape was better than nothing.

---

Anubis made a split second decision as he spotted shadow in the mists. "Come on!" he barked sharply to Dustin. "We must get back!" Wherever the Shinx was, he couldn't find it now. And whatever was out there was heading back where Alpha was. He wouldn't abandon Alpha in this strange place and strange form. Better to handle it as a pack.

Pausing only long enough to be sure the Buizel was with him, Anubis took off toward where Alpha had been.

 

[Weazel]

Wha- Tendrils? Was it that weird mural monster again? But as quick as he’d spotted it, it was gone, vanished back the way they’d came. No sign of the Shinx – possibly dead? – and then the dead horse was screaming.

“Shit.” Dustin muttered to himself. He’d just found Archie, Spencer would never forgive him if he let the Dewott die. The Buizel ran after the Houndour as quick as his legs could carry him.

---

“No, they’re not a threat, they-!” Archie shouted in vain. Too late, Glastier was already going on the offensive, and Koa was shoving him aside, trying to reverse their roles. He grabbed at the Electrike and tried to haul him away, but where would they even go? There was no cover, and it was impossible to tell in the fog which way lead to freedom, and which lead back to a sheer cliff wall…

Wait, where was the Legendary looking, exactly?

 

[Inkedust]

Silence. Whatever Glastrier was yelling at chose not to deign her with an answer. It stood there, staring at her, and then...

A pair of eyes flashed in the fog.

Koa, Archie, Dustin, Anubis, everyone— would suddenly feel this deep urge, a deep implacable desire to run away; distance between themselves and Glastrier becoming the topmost priority. The creature in the fog took several steps forwards, allowing for a clearer view of its form. Lithe, vulpine, quadruped, those tendrils being nothing more than tails, and something was strewn across its back.

The sound of clicking, like a lighter, broke the silence in time with the flash of blue-white sparks within the figure's mouth. Deep blue embers raced from its paws, carving circles in the snow between Glastrier and the others. Milliseconds later, fog erupted into steam as everyone found themselves separated from the saint by a wall of fire, hazy and distorted by the clashing of extreme temperatures.

Between the chaos, a concentrated blast of fire, was aimed at Glastrier's icy mask. The silver ninetales responsible glared at Saint in challenge, the bleeding shinx on his back frightened for his life.

"You have strayed too close to the border," Seir stated matter of factly. "Go. Return to the kingdom from whence you came."

 

[Chibi Pika]

Glastrier reared back from the blast, a guttural snarl escaping its mouth as it righted itself. Footsteps pounding, the frozen saint raced back and forth along the raging wall of blue flame, tossing its head at each turn, the icicles clattering all the while. Once or twice it paused, staring murderously at the newcomer before letting out a tortured whinny and bolting again.

But the spoken words were true. This was much, much further east than the Wight's Bane usually patrolled. And so finally, with a howling wail like a baleful winter wind, the frozen saint broke into a full gallop back across the frozen wastes from whence it had come.