The Rostical Guild - Sceldrant's Comet

by Michael Rogers

  Rachael: *Her hair swayed in the gentle cool breeze.* "Sounds like we're near the beach, huh?"

  Twortz: *She took deep breaths, struggling to keep up to Rachael.* "Rachael, could we please rest?"

  Rachael: "Rest?" *She turned around without a sign of fatigue and nodded her head in realisation, as if she didn't need to rest.* (I forgot, due to Twortz's unhealthy lifestyle, she wouldn't be able to keep up.)

  Twortz: "You're probably thinking, how could I keep up with my weight?"

  Rachael: "U-Uhm? Kinda." *She smiled awkwardly.*

  Twortz: "I like your honesty. But to be realistic, we've walked for more than an hour. Even someone fit would be a little bit sweaty or out of breath by now."

  Rachael: "True." *She nodded her head in agreement and sat on her knees, playing with her fingers.* (When I'm training or paintballing, I do sweat a little.. It's weird though, I don't feel out of breath at all?)

  Twortz: "Kah-" *She collapsed to her feet, quickly placing her hands on the ground.* (It's so hard to breathe-)

  *Twortz dropped the frying pan and it hit the ground, causing a loud sound to blow the grass back.*

  Rachael: "Whoa, nice! Hehe, how did you do that?" *She smirked and crawled up to Twortz, picking up the frying pan.*

  Twortz: "It couldn't have done that. Maybe it was just a coincidental breeze-?"

  Rachael: "Ha!" *She slammed the frying pan on the ground, listening to a faint thud-like noise.* "Huh? Think you're right, Twortz."

  Twortz: "Ahem." *She nodded her head and took a deep breath, trying to recollect her professional-like composure.*

  Rachael: "It's cool. Take as much time as you need. I'm in no hurry." *She smiled, causing Twortz to smile back.*

  Twortz: (She's.. Not the same..) *She thought in a serious-like manner, continuing to fake her smile.* (She acts completely the same, but, this gut feeling I have-)

  Rachael: *She looked up, staring at the sky.* "Shame we don't have Mel, or even Lance's sister."

  Twortz: "Why?" *She frowned in confusion and slowly reached forward, grabbing the frying pan off Rachael.*

  Rachael: "Well, they're both apparently good with the stars."

  Twortz: "How would that help? I think a compass-" *She gasped in realisation, quickly patting her pockets.*

  Rachael: "What is it?" *She leant forward in an intrigued-like manner.*

  Twortz: "This-" *She pulled out a mobile phone and pressed a button, sighing in failure.* "Dang, the screen's cracked."

  Rachael: "Your phone-" *She spoke on her breath and triggered a flashback of leaving her phone in the manager's office.* (Damn.)

  Twortz: "Alright." *She slowly inhaled and stood up, brushing her knees in a professional-like manner.* "Let's continue."

  Rachael: "But we hardly had enough time to-"

  Twortz: "It's fine. The sooner we call for help, the faster I get to have a nice long bath at home."

  Rachael: "Right." *She smiled and stood up with a bounce, forming a fist in determination.*

  ----------

  Kerry-Anne: "What the hell is th-that?!" *She stuttered in fear, intensely staring at a weed-like creature with a large head.*

  Kylie: "Look at its bulbie looking head." *She stared at the thin creature's bulb shaped head, staring at its one eye.* "It looks like an ugly weed with a blue eye?"

  Kerry-Anne: *She stared at the creature and hiccuped, focusing her attention to the bottle in her hand.* "This is the best alcohol ever."

  Weed-like Creature: "Tsssst-t-t-t?" *It sniffed through two tiny slits on its face, as if it was inspecting Kylie.*

  Kylie: *She smirked and reached out, as if her fear was fading away.* "Hey, it ain't that bad."

  Kerry-Anne: "Aye?" *She took another sip from the bottle and stepped forward, staring at the creature with blurred vision.* "It's as skinny as that dickhead you once liked."

  Kylie: "Oi-"

  Weed-like creature: *It suddenly stopped its slow agile-like movement, focusing its attention on Kylie's wrist.* "Tsss?"

  Kylie: "Naww, I think he likes me-"

  Kerry-Anne: "Wanna be careful?"

  Kylie: "It's kool-"

  Weed-like Creature: *Its eye suddenly split open, revealing four sets of razor sharp teeth.* "Tssst!"

  Kylie: "What the fu-?!"

  Weed-like Creature: *It violently bit into Kylie's arm and ripped it off, causing her to scream in agony.*

  Kylie: "Argh!"

  Kerry-Anne: "Maybe this isn't the best alcohol-?"

  Kylie: *She whimpered with watering eyes, taking a step back in shock.* "My.. My arm...?" *She screamed in terror and disbelief.*

  Weed-like Creature: "Tss-" *It mauled on Kylie's hand before spitting the arm towards Kerry-Anne.*

  Kerry-Anne: *She looked down, spitting out a spray of alcohol in disgust.* "Holy fuck-"

  Weed-like Creature: "Tssk-t!-" *It suddenly struck like a snake, biting into Kylie's neck.*

  Kerry-Anne: "Kylie!-" *She stepped forward, as if she wanted to help.*

  Kylie: "R-Run.. Ck." *She spat out blood and her eyes rolled back, causing her to fall into the creature's arms.*

  Kerry-Anne: "Fuck this!" *She screamed and spun around in a drunken-like manner, awkwardly sprinting away from the creature.*

  Luna: *She ran into the small clearing, instantly noticing Kerry-Anne.* "Kerry-?"

  Kerry-Anne: "Run!"

  Luna: *She looked awkward and started to run after Kerry-Anne.* "Where's Kylie-?"

  Kerry-Anne: *She started to cry, causing Luna to stop her questions.* "The dickhead, he just ripped it off."

  Luna: "Ripped wat off?"

  Kerry-Anne: "Garharharh." *She cried and raised the bottle, trying not to spill any alcohol.*

  Luna: "Kerry-Anne?!"

  Kerry-Anne: "It-, it-, it-" *She looked behind her and grunted in fear, trying to find the creature.* "I-I can't see it."

  Luna: "It?" *She spoke on her breath and started to inhale deeply, looking at Kerry-Anne in confusion.*

  Kerry-Anne: "Behind-" *She slurred in fear and continued to run, keeping a fixated stare behind her.*

  Luna: "Behind-?" *She looked over her shoulder and stepped off a small hill, accidentally falling on top of a woman in warrior-like armour.* "Gah-"

  ?????: "Argh?!" *She stumbled back from Luna and fell to the side, causing a girl with pink hair to look shocked.*

  Pink Haired Woman: "Sister?" *She reached over her shoulder, holding onto a large wooden bow with was tied to her back armour.*

  ?????: "Grr." *She gritted her teeth and angrily stood up, glaring at Luna.* "How dare you!"

  Luna: "Gah-" *She slowly stood up, glaring at the woman with yellow hair.* "My bad-"

  ?????: "No!" *She gritted her teeth, flicking her yellow hair out of her face.*

  Luna: "Pssht, settle down, bitch."

  Pink Haired Woman: "How dare you talk to her like that! I'm number forty-"

  ?????: "Wendy, enough."

  Wendy: *She swayed her pink hair, looking at the yellow haired woman in confusion.* "Cindy?"

  Cindy: "I know I'm only a vice captain, but I've been practising Rostical."

  Luna: "Rostickal?" *She spoke in disgust, as if she didn't care what she had to say.*

  Kerry-Anne: "Wha-?!" *She tumbled off the small hill, landing face-first into the ground.*

  ?????: "What an idiot." *A woman with short green hair with a large green wooden mallet tied to her back walked down the road path.*

  Luna: *She glared at the woman with green hair and rolled her eyes, focusing her attention to Kerry-Anne.* "You OK-?"

  Kerry-Anne: "Gah?" *She sighed on her breath and closed her eyes, falling unconscious.*

  Luna: (She just passed out-)

  Wendy: *She looked at the woman with short green hair and sighed.* "Mindy, late as always."

  Mindy: "What have you got here?"

  Luna: "I dunno. I'm lookin' at three stupid bitches that need to back off, aye."

  Cindy: "Talk to me or my sisters like th
at again, and I'll blast you in the face with Rostical!"

  Luna: "Aha! Sure, why not?"

  Mindy: "Cindy, you're not meant to use Rostical unless you're captain level."

  Cindy: "I know.. But, who's going to tell on me?"

  *Wendy and Mindy looked at each other with grins, as if they wouldn't tell.*

  Luna: "If you're finished ya stupid Rostickal shit, can you fuck off please?"

  Cindy: *She ground her teeth and stormed up to Luna, forming a fist.* "I haven't unlocked my potential yet-"

  Luna: *She faced Cindy and readied to fight.* "I deal with stereotypical bitches like you all the time-"

  Cindy: *She tightened her fist, causing a spark of electricity to flash around her knuckles.* "You asked for it!"

  Luna: "Wat was that light?" *She looked to the side, as if she didn't know it came from Cindy's fist.*

  Cindy: "Hah!" *She punched towards Luna's face and a swirl of fire shot her in the eyes, causing her to scream in pain.*

  Luna: "Gah-?!" *She stumbled back and fell onto her back, covering her eyes in pain.*

  Cindy: "Tssk-" *She frowned and shook her wrist, as if she was in pain.*

  Mindy: "Cindy?"

  Cindy: "I'm okay-"

  Wendy: "The Rasticplash?"

  Cindy: "Yeah."

  Luna: "What the fuck was that?! Argh!" *She yelped in pain, crying out tears of blood and puss.*

  Cindy: "Bind her mouth to shut her up and let's take her back to Sorrowprax."

  Wendy and Mindy: "Yes!"

  ----------

  *Rachael and Twortz continued to walk across large empty meadows, watching gentle waves crash on a sandy beach to their side.*

  Rachael: *She looked down, staring at bright green grass before focusing her attention to the golden sand on the shore.* "The beach looks awesome, hey?"

  Twortz: "Indeed it does." *She spoke in a professional-like manner, keeping her attention ahead.*

  Rachael: (She didn't even look-..) *She sighed to herself, as if she was bored.* "So.."

  Twortz: "Could I ask you a question?"

  Rachael: "Shoot?"

  Twortz: "Don't take offence to this, but were you always this hyperactive?"

  Rachael: "Hyperactive?"

  Twortz: "Always, upbeat?"

  Rachael: "I've always had a lot of energy. Working two jobs and doing my Hapkido, it usually keeps me busy."

  Twortz: "I see."

  Rachael: "Besides, just because you say, don't take offence, doesn't mean what you're saying is any less offensive."

  Twortz: "Oh? My apologies."

  Rachael: "Hehe, I wasn't offended, but I'm just saying."

  Twortz: *She noticed smoke rise from tall thin chimneys of a distant town, causing her to smile.* "Finally, civilisation!"

  Rachael: "Awesome." *She smiled in determination and unintentionally walked faster.*

  Twortz: "I'm famished." *Her stomach growled, catching Rachael's attention.*

  Rachael: *She placed her hand on her stomach and looked curious.* (When I woke up, I was starving too.. But now, I'm not.. Like, at all?)

  Twortz: *She noticed a bright brown road-like path, causing her to look happy.* (I was a little worried we would be stuck in the middle of nowhere for a while-) "Rachael?"

  Rachael: "Ah?" *She snapped out of her train of thought and nodded her head with a smile.*

  Twortz: "Looks like, if we follow this road, it'll lead directly to that city."

  Rachael: "What are we seriously waiting for?"

  Twortz: "My extra cargo?"

  Rachael: "Extra-?" *She awkwardly paused on the word, as if she realised what Twortz meant.* "Hehe, alright."

  ?????: "Oh, fish-cakes! This isn't good." *A man wailed in a sarcastic-like manner, instantly catching Twortz's attention.*

  Twortz: (Well, he sounds gay-)

  ?????: *He shook his bottom to each side, sighing in a defeated-like manner.* "What horrible timing."

  Rachael: *She stared at the man's back, noticing he stood on the side of the road-like path.* "Hey?"

  Twortz: "Don't go up to him-"

  Rachael: *She ignored Twortz and walked further down the path, catching the man's attention.* "What's up?"

  ?????: *He turned around and noticed Rachael, causing him to step back with uncertainty.* "How can I deliciously help you?"

  Rachael: "Deliciously-?"

  Twortz: "Help us? She's essentially offering her help." *She spoke in a professional-like manner, stopping next to Rachael.*

  ?????: "Oh, jinkies! I might take you up on that offer." *He giggled with boosted morale, causing Twortz to sigh, as if she didn't want to be there.*

  Rachael: "Well, I'm Rachael, what's up?"

  ?????: "You speak with such confidence. My name is Lezard." *He smiled and looked at Twortz.*

  Twortz: "..."

  Lezard: "And..."

  Rachael: "Ah? That's Twortz."

  Lezard: "Deliciously fascinating names."

  Twortz: (Is he drunk? What's with the crazy persona?)

  Lezard: "I have a problem."

  Rachael: "Well?" *She waved her hand, implying Lezard to continue.*

  Twortz: (She really is like Ashton.. Always a need to help. I like that, but.. It's.. Not the Rachael I know-)

  Lezard: "Well, I'm on walkies with my daddy and-"

  Twortz: "Okay, seriously. Walkies? With your daddy? Is that how a grown man should speak?" *She spoke in a stern voice, keeping her professional composure.*

  Rachael: *She silently glanced at Twortz.* (Twortz is very stern and intimidating at first. She used to act in a similar manner like that towards me-)

  Lezard: "Ouchies." *He pouted, causing Twortz to shake her head in an annoyed-like manner.*

  Twortz: *She stepped to the side, as if she was about to leave.* "I have no time for-"

  Lezard: "Okies. My sincere apologies."

  Twortz: "..."

  Rachael: "So, you're travelling with your father?" *She spoke with uncertainty.*

  Lezard: "Bingo!" *He stamped forward and pointed at Rachael in the face, as if she was correct.*

  Twortz: "No." *She walked past Rachael, focusing her attention to the city.*

  Rachael: "Twortz-" *She grabbed Twortz's arm.*

  Twortz: "Yes?" *She spoke in an annoyed-like manner, pulling her arm out of Rachael's grip.*

  Rachael: *She quickly glanced at Lezard in desperation.* "Do you know your way around here?"

  Lezard: "Of course! I'm a traveller!"

  Rachael: *She looked back at Twortz and smirked.* "Well, if we help you out, could you help us find a way home?"

  Twortz: "Or, instead of hanging out with freakshow over here, I could just find the local phone in the city?" *She grunted on her breath, ensuring Lezard couldn't hear her.*

  Rachael: "Well, I won't stop you." *She shrugged her shoulders and focused her attention back to Lezard.* "So, about you father?"

  Lezard: "Well, we're heading to a particular city, and he must've left without me."

  Rachael: "Why?"

  Lezard: "Well, I kind of lost our RPG bag."

  Rachael: "An RPG bag? You mean gun?"

  Lezard: "Gun? Sounds like fun." *He giggled in an oblivious-like manner.*

  Rachael: "You know, shoot shoot?" *She motioned her hands, as if she shot a gun.*

  Lezard: "Nope."

  Rachael: *She looked to her side, noticing Twortz enter the city.* (Well, hope my intuition doesn't fail me now.)

  Lezard: "Well, that's not what the problem is."

  Rachael: "Yeah?"

  Lezard: "The problem is-" *He quickly looked to the side, scanning the area in the distance.* "I heard there was a nasty bugger somewhere out there, and I don't know any offensive techniques."

  Rachael: "A nasty bugger? Like a bully? And what do you mean techniques?"

  Lezard: "Hermm? I don't know about you, but it feels like we're on opposite wave lengths today, bwarharh."

  Rachael: "Hehe." *She unintentionally chuckled at
Lezard's crazy cackle-like laugh.*

  Lezard: "I don't know how else to explain myself."

  Rachael: "So, to sum it up. You need to get back to your dad, but don't want to travel alone because of this bully."

  Lezard: "Holy fish-cakes, pretty much!"

  Rachael: "Maybe you should've just said that in the first place."

  Lezard: *He smiled at Rachael, causing her to look insecure.* "..."

  Rachael: "What is it?"

  Lezard: "I know we just met, but I have a good feeling about you."