Memoirs of a RAFian

[Gaz]

Mist mode sure does come in handy.

[Cloak]

And no more overpowered than the Martian Manhunter's intangibility, either.

Still getting over my giddiness over the Pokémon reveal this morning.

CHAPTER TEN:
Taming the Wereferret

"He's . . . gonna kill us, isn't he?" AniDragon said.

"Only another Realm Walker can kill me," Cloak pointed out.

"Well, that's comforting," Gaz remarked dryly.

"It will not come to that, I believe," Cloak said gazing between his mark. An idea was being born there.

"Cloak, that may very well be Wild, but his mind has clearly gone!" AniDragon insisted. "He is pure beast now."

"Could you drain some of his power?" Gaz asked.

"Who do you think I am? Rogue? My powers don't work that way. I cannot strip some of their physiology, except for some incredible rare condition and circumstance that even I'm not familiar with? Why did you think I was helpless when Madre de --" AniDragon remembered who she was speaking to, and did not finish the thought.

Cloak interceded on AniDragon's behalf, and said, "I do not believe that's not necessary. I believe that Wild's mind is still very much alive, but dormant . . . and surpressed."

"How can you tell?" Gaz said seizing on this change of topic.

"Simple," Cloak said, gesturing to the "mindless" beast before him. "Excluding the intial pounce, during this lengthy dialogue, he has not made one attempt to strike us, nor had he ran away."

It was true. Wild sat there, looking rather like Toothless, if he were a bearferret instead of a Night Fury.

"Alright, then," AniDragon said, thinking, "but how do we get through to him?"

Wild let out a low growl.

"We'll use the Marks as an interface," Cloak said, pondering their next move. Then he extended his hand pointing his Mark towards Wild, who snarled angrily. The other two followed suit.

"To release the warrior within, you must tame the beast without." Cloak said.

All three Marks glowed brightly, reminants of the old Great Power seemed to stir. The other two joined in.

"To release the warrior within, you must tame the beast without."

The Marks grew brighter as the Great Power begun to awaken. Wild's Mark also glowed brighter, and he shook it frightfully.

"To release the warrior within, you must tame the beast without."

This continued in this vein for some time.

[Cloak]

Another chapter, I think, since I've the time and energy.

CHAPTER ELEVEN:
Bestiality and Rationality

"To release the warrior within, you must tame the beast without!"

Wild's Mark was soon glowing as brightly as the trio's he grunted and winced. But the pain wasn't coming from his Mark. Something within was struggling . . .

"To release the warrior within, you must tame the beast without!"

The grunts were more frequent and the bearferret was holding his head, as if enduring some massive headache.

"To release the warrior within, you must tame the beast without! To release the warrior within, you must tame the beast without!! TO RELEASE THE WARRIOR WITHIN, YOU MUST TAME THE BEAST WITHOUT!!!!"

With the finality of a monstrous roar, the bearferret shut his eyes tighty and reared up to his hauches with his paw-hands on his head, breathing ragged. Then his breathing stabilized and steadied, and he calmed, as his Mark's glow died a bit and so did the others. His eyes opened, and it was clear that there was an intelligence, a rationality, behind them.

"Wild, are you in control of yourself?" Cloak asked.

"Yeah," the bearferret replied with a husky, gruff, deep voice. "But . . . it's dawn. How come I'm . . . how come I'm not human?"

"We believe you to be in some sort of organic stasis-lock." AniDragon said.

"Wh-what happened?" Wild asked.

"You remember Malice's machine?" AniDragon asked.

There was a pause. Then he said, "Yes . . . yes, I remember now. The machine was totaled. Twisted and useless. In my . . . my savage state of mind, I began to treat the prison like a den. But I -- I went after Malice and the traitor."

Very few RAFians referred to Itellsya by name any more, just epithets like "the betrayer" or "traitorous scum". Cloak could not blame this attitude. The sense of betrayal was deep-seated.

"Will I ever be human again?" Wild asked.

"I do not know," Cloak said, "even in my 271 of your years, this a new one for me."

"Let's get you back to the forum," Gaz said, kindly.

"Yeah," Wild concurred.

[Cloak]

Again, have enough energy and it's rainy out -- although it oscillstes every time I look . . .

Anyway, chapter 12.

CHAPTER TWELVE:
Failures and Setbacks

"It's not working," Wild said, sounding somewhat disappointed.

"No, it doesn't seem to be, does it?" Aquilai said. "Don't worry, we'll find a solution."

"You said that hours ago." Wild said, unable to keep the dejection from his voice.

"Don't worry," Goom said bracingly. "We'll find a way to unlock this -- this stasis-lock thing."

"Well, when you do, come get me." Wild said, walking sullenly to the door and exiting.

"Did you say something, Wild?" Yarin asked.

***

"Don't do it," came a voice as Wild looked from the threshold of RAF's border. He sat hunch-shouldered, looking downcast.

He didn't look up, but knew it was Cloak who spoke.

"Don't do what?" he asked, surlily.

"Don't given to despair," Cloak said, leaning onto a nearby tree . . . which wasn't there before. "Do that, you give in to hopelessness. That's not place you want to be."

"How would you know?"

Suddenly, the tree was gone, and Cloak stood upright arms folded across his chest.

"How do I know that?" he repeated, emotion tinging his voice. "How do I know that? Wild, I've been there! When my mother disowned and disavowed me, I fell into deep depression. I thought I would never see my little Shadow again. I wanted to kill myself. I hit my lowest point, felt my basest instincts."

Cloak closed his eyes, took a deep breath, unfolded his arms. Then he continued, voice more even, "I felt worthless, nothing to live for. But I found my own worth. I found who I truly am. I realized I truly have friends and support. Why do you think I chose to live here, rather than the Nexus? I still get flack about it by other Walkers -- but you know what I don't care. I don't despair -- not as much as I used to."

"So what." Wild said, self-pityingly. "You don't have a monster in you."

Cloak glared at him.

"I -- if no one else, Wild -- knows what it is like to have a sleeping monster within." Cloak said, with a voice of determined calm. "Don't you think the Elements ever want to break free and go wild? You've never seen me lose control."

Cloak did not elaborate, but turned and began to walk away, feeling that he'd better leave the pep talks to AniDragon. He spoke over shoulder to Wild, "I know this wasn't the pep talk you need, but you need to remember -- you're not alone."

With that, Cloak walked away, leaving Wild to his thoughts.

[Cloak]

Hmmm. . . . Is this the fifth or sixth chapter I posted today?

*shrugs*

Oh, well. Here's short Chapter 13.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN:
Despair and Depression

Wild hadn't moved from where Cloak had left him. He was still having fits of deprecating thoughts and melancholy. It was not a good situation to be in.

Who was Cloak kidding? No one knew what he was going through. Aquilai, Goom, and Yarin would never free him of this condition. He woukd become a social pariah, an easy target for the Knights, the butt of jokes.

He couldn't stand the pity and the oversensitivity to this condition that his fellow RAFians were sure to show him. He was starting to wonder if he was better off as a mindless beast.

He could not stand it anymore, though he was unaware how distorted this line of thinking was.

Unable to bear it any longer, he ran. Ran from RAF, ran from the situation, ran from himself. But he could never outrun the latter two.

"Wait! Wild! Wait! Don't . . . go . . ." AniDragon said, running to the threshold of RAF. Then releasing that there wasn't any hope of her catching up to Wild. He was just too fast.

***

It would be a lie to say that Cloak had not suspected this to happen, though he wasn't aware of Wild's flight. This is why he sought out AniDragon -- she seemed to be rather good at this pep talk thing. So good that it was practically a superpower.

But he could not find her right away, unaware that she had been to late to the scene. He knew that he had probably made Wild feel worse, and that he might flee any time.

Then he found AniDragon at the edge of RAF's grounds. Her hand was outstretched, but then it dropped and her head drooped, as Cloak realized what this spot was. It was were Wild was not more than a hour or two ago.

"He's gone, hasn't he?" Cloak said immediately, addressing AniDragon.

"Yes," AniDragon said. "But why . . .?"

Cloak's eyes darkened with the memory of his own descent to the bottom, he replied in a low, hollow voice, "His thoughts are distorted. His perceptions are misperceived. He gave into despair -- something very easy to do in his position."

[theyoungphoenix]

Awww... Poor Wild.....

Anyways, creativity must be falling from the sky today, huh?

[Cloak]

Well, I thought I give you guys some more because I don't how much I'll be able to post next week, if at all (I'll try a chapter a day but it won't be until the afternoon, as my mornings are booked).

EDIT: I was goin' to post another chapter, but my idiot neighbor thought it was prime time for his drums. And I cannot even hold my hand still, I'm so royally p!ssed. . . . Fortunately, I don't have to wake up at six (0600) tomorrow like would Sunday night.

[spoiler]At least now the idiot is doing it outside. But it is still really loud.

GOD! We're not even supposed to play damn instruments at this time of night. Why the bloody hell does he think he's so special?! I don't care if its because he's been drinking and his hearing has dulled. I went fir 28 years without a drink, and I'm just fine!

ONE more time and I''m callin' the police on this inconsiderate bastard.
[/spoiler]

[Underseen]

The worst part is that he doesn't care about what you say. That is truly rude for a person who lives quite close to you.

[Cloak]

Actually, the worst part is that he has the memory, intelligence and learning curve of a goldfish.

[redtailedsaffa]

Couldn't you complain to someone? At least, over here if you have a competent enough authority (which we usually don't) that does the job...

[Cloak]

I did try that -- all he gets is basically a slap on the wrist. He's no stranger from prison from what I gather -- gets arrested (probably due to noise violations), goes to jail, gets back, is good for a couple of days, binge drinks, and it starts over again. Again, he has the learning capability of a goldfish. I wish they'd make it illegal for both him to buy alcohol or make it illegal to sell him alcohol.

Or just confiscate his drums.

Anyway, let's get back on topic.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN:
Search Posse

"This has to be dealt with," Cloak said immediately. "There's no telling who would or how they would take advantage of him in his current state of mind."

"I want to go," AniDragon said boldly.

"Sorry, AniDragon," Cloak said, declining her request, "but I need trackers."

He turned to find the RAFians he thought best able to track Wild with him.

***

"Why have you gathered us here?" Hunter asked, looking relatively bored.

Cloak was facing Parker, Hunter, and Saffa on the precipice of grounds of RAF. Cloak stood still, a gentle breeze causing his cloak to sway ominously. Hunter leaned against a tree, picking his claw with what appeared to be a Bowie knife. Parker stood at attention, but in a somewhat relaxed way, with his helmet beneath his right arm. Saffa sat upon the ground with her legs crossed. The sunlight was just starting to wane a bit.

"Wild has fled," Cloak said. "You guys are the best trackers currently at RAF, apart from myself."

"Very well," Saffa said. "Where do we start."

"As much as I hate to say it, and hope it does not come to it, we may need to make use of your Pychopterran morph, Saffa, providing we find him first." Cloak said heavily. Unlike his mother, he would take responsibility if this plan went south.

"What's that mean?" Parker asked.

"Psychopterrans emit a wave that stimulates happy fantasies in others. Not Realm Walkers, of course, because it is a form of mind control." Cloak explained rather badly, but he insisted, "We'd better get going. Hunter and I can track him by smell and sound. Parker can use thermographic scans I assume."

"And me?"

"Hawk, or owl," Cloak said. "Aerial reconnaissance."

"Done with talkin' yet?" Hunter asked. "Yeah? Then let's get this done."

[redtailedsaffa]

Going owl, Chief. But won't the Mark protect Wild from the Psychopterran's waves?

[Cloak]

Yep, but I do forget to consider things, and considering urgency of situation  people do not always think clearly.

That being said -- don't think you won't be using them, although the target . . . well, I've said too much.

Now, another chapter (as Mother's Day no longer has any meaning to me -- at least, not until I get married).

EDIT: Accidentally posted when I meant to preview.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN:
Adjustments Adjusted

"-- And that should do it!" Aquilai said, woth an air of triumph.

"Do you think we might've gone too heavy on the weight of it?" Goom asked, conversationally.

"No, I don't think so," Yarin said. Then he addressed Wild, who, of course, wasn't there, "Sorry it took so long, Wild, but -- uh, where'd you go?"

"Just noticed, have you?" came a cold voice. Female.

"Huh? AniDragon?" Goom said.

"Yes, me. Do you realize how hurt Wild was?" she said, chatizing them in a rather disapproving-motherly way. "He's run away. He believes you incapable to curing his condition."

"But --" Aquilai began, at a loss for words.

"We always find the solution in the end," Goom said. It was true, too.

"You guys are looking at this too rationally," AniDragon countered. "You're not considering his emotions. Emotions are not logical. They tend to swing to the negative and distort the reality percieved by the feeler."

"We know about emotions, thank you very much." Yarin sniffed, while Aquilai looked crestfallen -- as if he knew he should have taken it into account, but had forgotten.

"Do you, Yarin?" AniDragon said, with her hands on her hips. The Pemalite, so usually fun-loving, was wearing a very cross expression. "Is that why Wild isn't here? Is that why he's decided to give into despair and depression?"

Aquilai felt as AniDragon's words were knifes piercing him -- but Regeneration couldn't save him from this.

"You're right, AniDragon," Aquilai said somberly.

"Yes," Goom said. "We're sorry about it and regret our actions. We've gotten so overconfident with our successes we discounted the failures and Wild's feelings. But how do we find him?"

"Cloak's already on the case," AniDragon said quickly.

[Cloak]

Okay -- has interest in this died? *shakes head* Maybe I'm leaping to negative conclusions again.

Anyway, I might get two chapters up today, but don't hold me to it.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN:
Double Trouble

"I'm the boss, and I'm sick of waiting." Queen announced imperiously. "I want Wild! And, this time, don't screw it up!"

Yorick rolled his eyes subtly, as Aloth sighed heavily. But neither could resist the impending song, with the unseen chorus singers.

These singers sang the chorus:

"Prepare for trouble,
Make it double.
Prepare for trouble.
Make it double."

Yorick sang:

"We'll be the roughest rogues of all time."

Queen sang, haughtily:

"I'm the creator of a grand design."

Then this unseen chorus sang their namesake again.

"Prepare for trouble . . ." Queen said menacingly.

"Make it double," Yorick replied, inexplicably holding a rose he hadn't a second before.

Queen sang jauntily:

"To blight the world with devastation!"

Then Yorick sang:

"To unite all trolls within our nation!"

Queen sang acidly:

"To denounce the evils of truth and love."

Yorick sang:

"To extend our grasp to the stars above."

Queen and Yorick announced their names while Aloth watched them like a young child and a television.

The chorus joined in with Queen -- quite bold actually, for them.

"Team Banned blasts off at the speed of light."

Then the chorus sang with Yorick now.

"Surrender now or prepare to fight!"

Aloth added, "That's right!"

Then the chorus started singing:

"Team Banned is rockin'.
Talkin' trouble,
Walkin' trouble.
Double trouble.
Big trouble's gonna follow you.

Team Banned is rockin'.
Talkin' trouble,
Walkin' trouble.
Double trouble.
Big trouble is gonna follow you."

"We're gonna capture Wild, too." Queen and Yorick said rhythmically.

The chorus went back to the first chorus, before adding at the end:

"We're Team Banned."

"We're Team Banned, and we fight for what's wrong," Aloth explained rhythmically, "for mayhem, and madness, and rare vengeance, mon."

"I'm so genius." Queen said aloud.

"I'm always the man," Yorick said, taking on a stereotypical "cool-guy" pose.

"You just a player," Queen snarled rhythmically, "in my master plan!"

Then the chorus went to the second chorus. Then the three Banned said rhythmically, "We're gonna capture Wild, too."

The chorus and Yorick sang:

"We're always gonna try it.
No one can deny it.
We can cause a riot in RAFian school.
We'll have you believin'.
The truth can be deceivin'."

Then Queen and Yorick sang alone:

"'Do unto others'
Is our golden rule."

"Shh!" Aloth said suddenly, abruptly stopping the song. "Here they come!"

[Cloak]

Well. I'll just keep writing. . . .

I finished off the chapters of Book 166, and I am currently two chapters in on Book 167.

Now, to this book.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN:
Trackers, No Tracking!

Saffa had gone to owl, while Cloak and Hunter searched for Wild's scent as Parker searched for some relevant thermographic evidence. Hunter thought he had the scent . . . but, being unable to Earthsight an identify the creature ahead of time, he was just following an ermine-like critter.

But, in the end, Saffa's keen owl sight spotted Wild walking onward rather listlessly, with his head bowed and shoulders haunched.

She circled over his position, and Wild, so deep into his despair, did not notice or care.

<Guys, I got him!> Saffa called. Then she described the location. <Hurry, I think there's something going on. I hear something . . . wait, is that singing?>

"Wouldn't surprise me," Cloak replied drily as the three approached the location Saffa indicated. Saffa had to land and demorph.

"Wild!" Parker called out.

"Go away," Wild said surlily.

"We will NOT," Cloak said so firmly that Wild turned and eyed him with a stony glare.

"Leave me alone," he said warningly.

"Cloak . . ." Hunter said, unsure, but Cloak waved it away.

"Wild, you do not need to push us away," Cloak said, knowing just what probably was going through Wild's head. As he said before, he had lived through this kind of thing before. "Wild, we're your friends."

"We care for you, Wild." Saffa said, in human form.

"No one can love a monster," Wild said.

"But you're not a monster," Saffa insisted.

"Yes, I am!" Wild snarled. "Those three will never find a way to let me be human again!!"

"You don't know that, Wild," Parker said, reasonably. "They could have already found a way to --"

"Stop your patronizing!" Wild snarled. "Don't go trying to give me false hope! You know as well as I how hopeless this situation is. Just . . . leave me alone, okay?"

Then Cloak Earthsighted something he should've been aware of, but he was careless.

"WILD, NO!"