Bolin Honghui
Keme
The Counselor is a TIGER
Curse not the darkness-- light a candle.
Posts: 127
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Post by Bolin Honghui on Sept 13, 2010 19:45:49 GMT -5
Bolin sighed. It felt nice to relate this story to someone other than his brother, who couldn't understand the situation like Vincent could. Zhiqiang was young, barely out of college. Vincent was a father.
Bolin had to squeeze his eyes shut for a moment and collect his thoughts. Vincent's hand on his shoulder helped him to do so, and he stood tall a moment later.
"Well," he said, reaching forward to set up the second fishing rod. "Story time turned out to be interesting."
With that sentence, Bolin put up his old countenance. The ruggedly nonchalant front that he was known for. "Let's get to fishing, eh? The biting's best at dusk and dawn."
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Vincent Hawk
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Sexy British Professor of Music
~ Sing like no one's listening ~
Posts: 722
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Post by Vincent Hawk on Sept 13, 2010 19:51:04 GMT -5
"Indeed it did." Vincent smiled somewhat awkwardly and nodded, lowering his hand from Bolin's shoulder. A distraction from their woes would do them good, and fishing was what they had come here for, after all. He grinned again as he picked up the fishing rod Bolin had already finished preparing. With luck they'd catch something edible.
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Bolin Honghui
Keme
The Counselor is a TIGER
Curse not the darkness-- light a candle.
Posts: 127
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Post by Bolin Honghui on Sept 14, 2010 10:00:09 GMT -5
The dock creaked under their weight, but the planks held strong as Bolin set the tacklebox and rod into the boat.
"Lifejackets are under the seat if you want one," he added, almost as an afterthought as he held the boat steady for Vincent to board. "I find I swim better without one, but I don't think Diana or Ariel would forgive me if I didn't at least give you the option of wearing one." He grinned.
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Vincent Hawk
Ireth
Sexy British Professor of Music
~ Sing like no one's listening ~
Posts: 722
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Post by Vincent Hawk on Sept 14, 2010 10:08:59 GMT -5
Vincent laughed as he boarded the boat after his friend. He reached under the seat, finding one of the aforesaid lifejackets with his free hand and pulling it out. "No, you're probably right. Better safe than sorry."
He shrugged the lifejacket on and buckled it up, then got himself settled comfortably in one of the seats, his fishing rod laid across his lap for the moment. He couldn't help but grin in excitement; this was going to be fun.
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Bolin Honghui
Keme
The Counselor is a TIGER
Curse not the darkness-- light a candle.
Posts: 127
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Post by Bolin Honghui on Sept 14, 2010 10:15:19 GMT -5
Bolin nodded and pushed away from the dock with his heel before settling himself on the seat. He would have used the motor, but the fish closer to the shore were skittish-- frightening them would alert the bigger fish at the center of the lake. No, the motor could be used in the morning.
Bolin took the oars in his hands and rowed in steady, powerful strokes that had them nearing the center of the large lake within a few minutes. Bolin reversed his strokes to slow them down, then lowered the concrete block of an anchor slowly and carefully into the water.
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Vincent Hawk
Ireth
Sexy British Professor of Music
~ Sing like no one's listening ~
Posts: 722
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Post by Vincent Hawk on Sept 14, 2010 10:42:56 GMT -5
Vincent waited until the boat was at a stop before picking up his rod again and casting his line carefully into the water. He held the rod firmly, looking around them in silent appreciation of the beauty of the lake.
The setting sun and multicolored sky were reflected in the still surface of the lake, painting the water with streaks of pale pink, orange and dusky blue with a scattering of lavender clouds. The only sounds were those of the gentle breeze on the water, the sound of waves lapping softly against the sides of the boat, the hum and whine of dragonflies chasing mosquitoes over the water. This was peace at its best.
---
A pale, sleek figure swam lazily far beneath the surface of the lake, her hair floating up as the water caressed her naked breasts, sides and fishlike tail. She had seen the cement block sinking rapidly into the depths, and heard the slight disturbances close to the surface caused by a pair of oars.
Fishers. How she hated fishers.
She didn't notice that one of them had cast a line until she felt the snag and pull of something in her hair; finding it quickly with her fingers, she realized it to be a fishing hook and lure. Grimacing, she gripped the line and gave it a sharp tug. If they wanted a bite, they'd get one.
---
Vincent was jolted back to alterness as the rod jerked in his hand; sitting up straighter, he grinned and called to Bolin as he tightened his hold on the rod. "They're biting already. That was fast."
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Bolin Honghui
Keme
The Counselor is a TIGER
Curse not the darkness-- light a candle.
Posts: 127
|
Post by Bolin Honghui on Sept 14, 2010 10:49:00 GMT -5
Bolin's eyebrows rose, and he grinned. "Right on," he chuckled, looking over the edge of the boat without leaning over. The red light flickering off the water broke the form of the fish at the edges. He couldn't identify what species it was, but it looked to be a decent size. Of course, with the shifting water he had no way of telling how deep the thing was. But hell, it was a fish. The biggest thing in this lake was pike.
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Vincent Hawk
Ireth
Sexy British Professor of Music
~ Sing like no one's listening ~
Posts: 722
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Post by Vincent Hawk on Sept 14, 2010 11:00:30 GMT -5
Vincent grinned, moving one hand to the reel of his rod and starting to turn it. "Let's see what I've caught!"
---
The merrow hissed in pain as the line in her hair was jerked in response to her pull; the fisher was trying to reel her in. She kept a firm hold on the line, refusing to be landed like a common fish.
---
"It's a fighter," Vincent grinned, seeing that his line had no slack, and was jerking around in the water. "Fine by me!" He loved a challenge as much as the next man. He reeled faster, not wanting to lose his prize, and wondering what it could be. Maybe a big, juicy pike that could serve as their supper.
---
The fisher seemed bent on claiming her as a prize. The merrow fought back, holding the line with both hands and heaving on it with all of her strength. See how he (or perhaps she) felt, being jerked out of his (or her) element.
---
Vincent wrestled gamely with the fish on his line, grinning in excitement. But the tables suddenly turned on him; he was pulled forward, rod and all, out of his seat and over the side of the boat. He had the sense to release the rod in midair, but momentum propelled him into the water with a mighty splash, several feet away from the boat.
He steadied himself and trod water, pushing his hair out of his eyes as he called out to Bolin. "That's one fish gone, and one rod down. Sorry, Bolin. I'll replace it, I promise."
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Bolin Honghui
Keme
The Counselor is a TIGER
Curse not the darkness-- light a candle.
Posts: 127
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Post by Bolin Honghui on Sept 14, 2010 11:06:28 GMT -5
Bolin barked in surprise as Vincent was yanked out of the boat. He gripped both sides of the vessel to steady it, then grinned, shaking water out of his eyes.
"That was an impressive splash, Vinny," he chortled. "The rod's fine. I'll dive for it later. Are you alright?" He extended his hand to his friend to pull him back aboard, resting his own rod on the floor of the boat.
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Vincent Hawk
Ireth
Sexy British Professor of Music
~ Sing like no one's listening ~
Posts: 722
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Post by Vincent Hawk on Sept 14, 2010 14:39:00 GMT -5
The merrow ignored the rod that sank past her into the depths of the lake, her eyes on the fisher she had pulled from the boat. He was a man, and not an unattractive one, judging by the glimpse of his face she had received in the moment he was submerged. It was almost a shame to punish such a good-looking mortal.
She swam up toward him -- he was treading water now, talking to his companion who was still in the boat -- and brushed seductively against his leg, watching him curiously.
---
Vincent laughed, swimming toward the boat and reaching for Bolin's hand. "I'll be fine once I dry off. I'm not giving up because of one fish. Getting wet is all part of the ex---"
He broke off with a gasp as something cold and scaly brushed against his ankle, startling him. It was far too large to be a pike, even a big one. This thing felt huge. He looked down into the water, but the reflected sunlight dazzled him, making it hard to see anything below.
"Bolin," he said nervously, "are you sure there's nothing bigger than pike in this lake?"
---
The merrow grimaced as she heard the man refer to her as a common fish. She had to chuckle at his fearful flinch when he felt her touch, and the anxiety in his voice when he spoke to his companion. But the insult would not go ignored. She brushed against his legs again, coiling her tail around them and gripping him tightly before pulling him swiftly down toward the bottom of the lake.
---
Vincent's hand was only a short distance from Bolin's when he felt the huge, scaly something brush against him again, twining around his legs. Alarmed, he tried to wriggle free of the cold bonds that gripped him, reaching more urgently for Bolin's hand. But he felt himself being pulled viciously downward, lifejacket and all, and barely had time for a breath before the water closed over his head.
He struggled vainly in the grip of the thing that held him and pulled him steadily downward, not even looking to see what it was as he thrashed, reaching uselessly for the surface of the lake. Fathoms below, they halted; one clammy, webbed hand clamped down on Vincent's shoulder, and another gripped his chin, forcing him to look at what was holding him.
A merrow. A bloody merrow. And it wasn't even summer anymore. Oh, how he hated the Fae sometimes. He squirmed harder, pulling at the coils of tail that bound his legs together, knowing he didn't have long before his breath was used up. Where was Bolin?
"Happy with your catch, are you, fisherman?" the merrow asked him, in a cold gurgling voice. "Or did you hook more than you hoped to?" She looked steadily into his eyes, staring him down. "Such a shame to mar such a pretty face..."
She released his chin and ran her hand down his cheek. He shuddered at her touch and turned his face away, eyes lifted toward the all-too-distant air. She caught him by the chin again and leaned close, pressing her body against his; he shuddered again and closed his eyes, already starting to feel lightheaded from lack of oxygen. He needed air, now! Where was Bolin?
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Bolin Honghui
Keme
The Counselor is a TIGER
Curse not the darkness-- light a candle.
Posts: 127
|
Post by Bolin Honghui on Sept 14, 2010 16:15:01 GMT -5
Bolin watched the ripples on the water where Vincent had been moments before, dumbfounded. No, he was certain there was nothing bigger than pike in this lake.
But.
Bolin dove into the water, slipping beneath the surface with barely a ripple and cutting through the murky depths with the ease of practice. Deeper, deeper he went, following the thin trail of bubbles to the bottom.
There, Vincent, in the grips of...
What the hell was that?
Bolin cut through the water, approaching from behind the creature. He wrapped his hands around the thing's head, his nails digging into flesh as he wrenched the thing's head back with all the strength he could manage underwater.
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Vincent Hawk
Ireth
Sexy British Professor of Music
~ Sing like no one's listening ~
Posts: 722
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Post by Vincent Hawk on Sept 14, 2010 16:40:58 GMT -5
Vincent opened his eyes and looked up as the water above him was disturbed, and had to force himself not to go totally limp in relief at the sight of what must have been Bolin's silhouette slicing easily through the water toward him.
He tracked the murky shape with his eyes, still clawing at the tail that held him with fumbling fingers -- the cold was starting to get to him now, deep underwater as they were -- and struggling to hold his breath. Tiny bubbles slipped out from between his lips, trailing up toward the surface. He jumped at the merrow's scream as Bolin grabbed her head, but just his luck, she didn't let go. How much longer could he hold his breath?
The merrow screeched in pain as something grabbed her from behind, wrenching her head backward away from her victim. She twisted her upper body to face the newcomer, not releasing the man she still held with her long, sinuous tail. Another man, just as handsome as the first, and with twice as much fight. This would be interesting.
"Lost something, have you?" she asked in the same chilly voice she had used on the first man.
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Bolin Honghui
Keme
The Counselor is a TIGER
Curse not the darkness-- light a candle.
Posts: 127
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Post by Bolin Honghui on Sept 14, 2010 17:01:50 GMT -5
Bolin snarled. This creature had to be Fae. It had to be.
He lashed out again, grabbing a fistful of the thing's hair and dragging her head forward. He pulled the necklace he wore-- a simple steel chain-- and cuffed it around the skin at its neck.
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Vincent Hawk
Ireth
Sexy British Professor of Music
~ Sing like no one's listening ~
Posts: 722
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Post by Vincent Hawk on Sept 14, 2010 17:12:47 GMT -5
The merrow screamed in pain at the burning sensation of steel against her bare skin. It wasn't as strong as that of cold iron, but it still hurt badly. She thrashed in the man's grip, trying to hit him, to make him pull the steel away from her. Still she did not release her hold on the other man.
Vincent was jolted around in the water by the merrow's desperate thrashing, and her scream rang in his ears. He could feel the blackness starting to pulse at the edges of his mind now, threatening to close in. He didn't have much time. His fingers were numb, no longer pulling at his bonds.
His mind flashed back to those he loved, waiting for him back at Dunehelden. Had he told Ariel he loved her? Had he kissed Diana goodbye?
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Bolin Honghui
Keme
The Counselor is a TIGER
Curse not the darkness-- light a candle.
Posts: 127
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Post by Bolin Honghui on Sept 14, 2010 19:11:39 GMT -5
Bolin felt his form shifting. His clothes tore as his muscles writhed and bulged, shaping him into something different. Something massive and striped.
Bolin dug his claws into either side of the creature's torso, pulling her towards him. He opened his jaws and closed them around her throat.
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Vincent Hawk
Ireth
Sexy British Professor of Music
~ Sing like no one's listening ~
Posts: 722
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Post by Vincent Hawk on Sept 14, 2010 19:24:44 GMT -5
The merrow watched in anguished awe and horror as the man with the steel necklace began to writhe, growing and changing shape, becoming huge and feline. She had little time to wonder before the tiger-man dug his claws into her flesh; the last thing she saw was his mouth gaping wide, fangs aimed for the kill. Her coils loosened from around the man's body as she died, her body drifting listlessly in the blood-clouded water.
Vincent was barely aware of the merrow's grip on him slackening as the water was darkened with blood. He couldn't see Bolin anymore, and fear stabbed at his heart. What had happened? What was going to happen?
Air! came the desperate plea from his burning, starving lungs, and he tried to move, numb from the cold, weak from lack of oxygen. He was already rising, buoyed slowly upward by the water and his lifejacket.
Not fast enough. Vincent went fully limp, the blackness swallowing him quickly along with his thoughts.
Bolin...
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Bolin Honghui
Keme
The Counselor is a TIGER
Curse not the darkness-- light a candle.
Posts: 127
|
Post by Bolin Honghui on Sept 14, 2010 19:32:35 GMT -5
Bolin's powerful limbs propelled him upward, after what he could see of Vincent's rising form. His furry head broke the surface almost a full minute after Vincent's must have.
Seeing the man's head hanging limply onver one shoulder, Bolin snagged one of the straps of his lifejacket with his teeth. He dragged him ashore and ripped the lifejacket off, pressing one sinewy paw carefully to the man's diaphragm. He added pressure in a one-two-three pulse, trying to pump air back into his friend's lungs.
A low, patchy growl rumbled from his chest. If he were a dog, it would have been a whine.
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Vincent Hawk
Ireth
Sexy British Professor of Music
~ Sing like no one's listening ~
Posts: 722
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Post by Vincent Hawk on Sept 14, 2010 19:59:49 GMT -5
The world came rushing back to Vincent in a wave of pain. Something was pressing down on his body, thudding rhythmically, like a strange heartbeat. One-two-three. Barely conscious, he coughed and sputtered, water gushing from his lungs and out of his mouth as air was forced in. Tears of pain welled in Vincent's eyes as he struggled to breathe, gasping and choking, almost gagging.
Finally his lungs were clear. Vincent breathed again, shakily, but deeply. Slowly his other senses started to return. He was cold and soaking wet, lying on a firm surface. A low growling noise was coming from above him. He lay still for a while, trying to gather his thoughts. He was out of the lake... what had happened to the merrow? What had happened to Bolin?
The last thought made him gasp in fear, and he opened his eyes, trying to see what was going on around him. Below and around him was wet grass; above him was dusky blue dimness, blotted out by a hulking shadow. Vincent blinked, trying to focus. The shadow had stripes, a head, a face. Two eyes flashed in the darkness like the eyes of a cat.
Oh... yes, a cat... that was exactly what it was. Vincent smiled weakly, recognizing Bolin even in his feline form. He moved one hand, slowly placing it on top of one of his friend's huge, wet, furry paws. Somehow or other Bolin had saved him.
"Thank you," he tried to say, his voice hoarse and faint. His chest still burned with pain, but that would fade. He was alive, and that was enough.
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Bolin Honghui
Keme
The Counselor is a TIGER
Curse not the darkness-- light a candle.
Posts: 127
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Post by Bolin Honghui on Sept 14, 2010 20:09:35 GMT -5
Bolin blinked and nudged the side of his friend's ribcage with his muzzle. Vincent should dry off and put on warm clothes. It would be best for him to use the one-man tent for the night, where the wind could not chill him further.
Bolin's ears twitched. He turned to look at the lake over his shoulder, then padded up to the shore before galloping into the water. He dove, slicing back down to the bottom. The silvery glint of the creature's scale caught his eye.
Bolin gripped the end of the tail in his jaws and hauled the corpse upward, dragging it to the surface. His necklace was still hanging around the thing's neck. And, he would realize as soon as the bulk of the body was on shore, Vincent's fishing pole was still tangled in its hair by the line.
Bolin went back out a last time, this time paddling along the surface to tow the boat back. That done, he clambored up onto the dock and shook the water from his fur, snuffling as a few droplets ran down his nose.
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Vincent Hawk
Ireth
Sexy British Professor of Music
~ Sing like no one's listening ~
Posts: 722
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Post by Vincent Hawk on Sept 14, 2010 20:21:49 GMT -5
Vincent smiled as Bolin nudged his chest with a furry, whiskery muzzle, then watched listlessly as his friend headed back toward the lake and dove in, surfacing with the merrow's tail clamped in his jaws. As Bolin dragged the body ashore, Vincent saw that its throat had been torn out, no doubt by tiger teeth, and the fishing rod was still caught in its hair.
He shivered as the wind picked up, slicing through his wet clothes and cutting to his bones. He glanced briefly after Bolin as he struck out into the lake again, then attempted to sit up. He needed to get dried off and warmed up before he caught hypothermia.
Sitting up was a success; Vincent shifted to all fours, crawling over to his duffel bag and hunting through it for a towel and a fresh outfit. He pulled off all his wet clothes and set them aside, towelling himself off before getting dressed again. Much better. He picked up his wet things and stood carefully, looking around for a tree branch that would be good to hang them on to dry.
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Bolin Honghui
Keme
The Counselor is a TIGER
Curse not the darkness-- light a candle.
Posts: 127
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Post by Bolin Honghui on Sept 14, 2010 21:03:58 GMT -5
Bolin moved forward even as he shifted back to human form, grabbing clothing from his own bag. He slipped on boxers, jeans, and was digging around for a new shirt when he gave up and loped over to Vincent.
"How are you doing?" he asked, relieved to see the man standing on his own two feet.
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Vincent Hawk
Ireth
Sexy British Professor of Music
~ Sing like no one's listening ~
Posts: 722
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Post by Vincent Hawk on Sept 14, 2010 21:13:24 GMT -5
Vincent politely averted his eyes from Bolin as he shifted back to human form, waiting until the sounds of the man rummaging through his bag had stooped before looking at him again and smiling.
"Better now that I can breathe," he answered, his voice still a little scratchy. "I see you took care of the fishy bitch." He nodded briefly over to the merrow's corpse. Then his face sobered as he met Bolin's dark eyes again. "I owe you my life, Bolin. I won't forget this. I hope I'm able to repay you someday."
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Bolin Honghui
Keme
The Counselor is a TIGER
Curse not the darkness-- light a candle.
Posts: 127
|
Post by Bolin Honghui on Sept 14, 2010 21:17:05 GMT -5
Bolin gave a genuine smile and squeezed the man's shoulder.
"You're my friend. There's no tab to keep up with."
Then he rather ruined this noble image by walking over to the corpse and kicking it.
Honestly, the changes in this man's disposition were so confusing sometimes.
"What the hell was this thing, anyway?"
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Vincent Hawk
Ireth
Sexy British Professor of Music
~ Sing like no one's listening ~
Posts: 722
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Post by Vincent Hawk on Sept 14, 2010 21:25:19 GMT -5
Vincent returned Bolin's smile, watching with amusement as Bolin unexpectedly approached the merrow's corpse and kicked it.
"A merrow," he said in answer to Bolin's question. "Water-dwelling Fae often confused with merpeople. Can belong to either Court, but given the season and this one's disposition, she was Unseelie."
He scowled down at the body, wrinkling his nose. He really hated Fae sometimes.
"Well," he went on, changing the subject, "I think we should make camp before it gets too dark. But first I think we should dispose of that." He nudged the dead merrow with his foot. "It's going to stink to high heaven by morning."
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Bolin Honghui
Keme
The Counselor is a TIGER
Curse not the darkness-- light a candle.
Posts: 127
|
Post by Bolin Honghui on Sept 14, 2010 21:30:30 GMT -5
"She tasted like a goldfish," Bolin commented, with the expression one usually had after tasting play-dough.
"I'll get rid of the body if you set up a fire ring," he offered. "There's a little shed about fifty yards past the treeline. Firewood's kept there. I'll help with everything else once I get back."
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