23 - dictated

[takethat]

[It's late at night when Phoenix spots the cat, as he's traversing the halls of the castle, headed back to his room.]

Oh--uh, hey there?

[Although the creature is a little too deep in his uncanny valley, he still puts on a friendly smile. It's not that much stranger than meeting a lion here, after all, right? Probably just a new resident from some weird world with bizarre cat things.]

...are you new around here?

[But the cat doesn't say anything. Phoenix shrugs and is about to wander on toward his destination, when suddenly there's a heavy weight flung into the left side of his body; he's knocked over, the journal skidding some distance away and falling open, to record the full attack.]


What--aaaaggghh!!! Get off me! Get... get away! No!

[The sounds of a struggle are plainly evident for a few moments more, before a rustling as the journal is quickly retrieved, and desperate panting, running--]

GLaDOS!!

[He reaches her door, on the same floor as his own room but further down the hall, and bangs frantically, begging to be let in.]

GLaDOS, please please open the door, please...!

[But no answer comes quickly enough, and the cat is there again, and Phoenix takes off once more, already knowing the sprint to his own room is fruitless--]

H...help! Somebody, please--it's following me! It's--

[And then a scream filled with fear and agony... and then silence, for a long while before Phoenix speaks again.


This time, his voice is hollow.]

Oh my god...

Comments

[not_mafia]

Hey, slow down.

[Tsuna reaches out to grab him firmly by the shoulder of his good arm-- er, only arm-- to steady him.

Calmly:]

I'm in a state known as hyper will mode.

[Moving on:]

Your wound seems to be strangely clean, but I still suggest that you head to the clinic in order to get it double-checked. Can you walk?

[takethat]

...I think so.

[He tests his legs out with a few tentative steps.]

I'm a little... off-balance, but... actually, it doesn't hurt a lot anymore, either.

[And despite the fact that he's missing a limb suddenly, he really can't stop staring at fire headed Tsuna.]

[not_mafia]

Let us go then.

[He was more concerned about Phoenix's shock getting in the way of him being able to walk straight, but it seems like his dying will flame's proving to be a good distraction. Who knew?

He starts heading for the elevator, not trusting Phoenix with the stairs right now. He'll opt to stay in this mode for now, in case whatever attacked Phoenix decides to come back. Speaking of--]

What happened?

[takethat]

[To be fair, Phoenix is still shaking like a leaf, but he does seem to be holding it together a little bit better now that he has something else to focus on.

Of course, when Tsuna asks him for details, he tenses once more, scanning the darkness for any signs of something... off.]

It was... this thing. It was just sitting there in the hall, and then it jumped at me... I couldn't fight it off. It just pulled my arm--

[Completely off.]

[not_mafia]

Can you describe what it was? [slkfj SORRY PHOENIX if he were in his regular form he'd be more sensitive, but he's kind of in a... well. serious buisness state of mind, for a lack of a better descriptor.

At least he's staying somewhat close to you in case your nerves get the better of you and make you freeze up or anything?]

[takethat]

It was...

[He's deep in thought for a little while, rubbing idly at his limbless shoulder.]

...honestly, it was a cat, but it had human parts. Hands, and an arm.

[not_mafia]

[Tsuna's eyes widen for a moment before he reaches out, pressing the button to summon the elevator.]

I see.

[takethat]

Have you... ever heard of something like that before?

[Slightly worrying, now--lots of things can go wrong in an elevator, after all.]

[not_mafia]

No. But that matches the description of the creature that escaped from the well that our group found in the forest.

[Ding! Tsuna walks in and turns around, crossing his arms and waiting for Phoenix.]

[takethat]

[He's not all that cool with the elevator, but the thought of dark, spooky stairwells isn't promising either--and who ever heard of a cat on an elevator, anyway? He joins Tsuna warily.]

So you guys brought that thing here...?

[not_mafia]

[He hits the floor for the clinic, then looks at Phoenix, crossing his arms again.]

As I said, it escaped. By the time we had realized there was a living creature in the bucket that was brought up, it had already taken off.

[takethat]

Do you know anything about it?

[He leans heavily against the elevator wall; it would be nice to know something about his attacker, at least....]

[not_mafia]

Unfortunately, we don't. I don't believe anyone had ever encountered a creature like this previously.