RP:Beauty And The Beast

Summary: The fateful day that everyone has been dreading has arrived, and it’s up to Tiber to save Lanara, as the curse has come to claim its victim. After reuniting from the hellish time they had to spend apart the evening prior, the couple moves outdoors and sets up for the ritual, both of them nervous that things may not go as planned. Thankfully, the lycan gives the witch a new curse to replace the old, the curse of the werewolf. Cinder, the beloved tikifhlee, is sadly sacrificed but will be brought back to life on the third full moon. Tiberius Lowell has saved Lanara Banks and marked her as his mate, while gifting her with a life of lycanthropy.

Part of the Lunar Tides and Silver Linings Arc

(Post 1 of 2) Lanara :: A simple cottage sits in the outskirts of Sage Forest, far away from the bustling of the inner cities, and isolated in the thickness of the surrounding trees. Those that wander to this section of the forest would pass right on by, as it's perfectly camouflaged and not many know of it’s location. Queen Lunalesca of Enchantment happened upon the tiny home several years prior, and figuring it could one day be used as a safe house if the lands were suffering political turmoil, she had purchased the lot and made some minor renovations. The stone structure strengthens the building and the solid front door has three locks, so those that dwell indoors are safe from the outside world. Upon entering, there is a modest living room, with a single sofa and two end tables, and a lantern resting atop each to provide ambience. A kitchen area is just beyond, with all the basic necessities one would expect, along with a rectangular table and two sturdy chairs. Following the small hallway which has various drawings hanging upon the walls, one would see the restroom, complete with a large clawfoot bathtub and toiletries. The last room is the most spacious, as there is a queen-sized bed in the center, a large dresser, a full size mirror, a bookcase with various reading materials, a small closet to hang garments, and a rocking chair in the corner. To the rear of the home is a small patio area with a table and chairs, a few potted plants, and a bird feeder. Although the cottage is small and sparsely furnished, it gives one the feeling of ‘peace’ once they step within, and creates a welcoming atmosphere.

(Post 2 of 2) Lanara sits upon a pile of pillows on the floor of the bedroom, her head tilted back, as Gia runs a comb through her damp locks and hums a soothing song from their native homeland. The witch smells of lavender and vanilla as she has been freshly bathed, and she is clad in a thin, white cotton nightgown that reaches her knees and hangs loosely on her petite frame. The ordeal from last night still runs vividly in her imagination and the proof of the pain she had been dealt is written across her flesh as her form is covered in cuts and bruises. A few of the slashes from the belt across her back have left large welts, there are rows of stitches across her arms and legs, a thick bandage is wrapped around her left ankle, and small section of hair had to be shaved just above her neck so that the wound could be surgically sealed. Lana’s face is so swollen that she can hardly recognize herself in the mirror, as she has a split lower lip, two black eyes, a badly bruised nose, and a broken drum in her left ear. Also, the lobes of each ear had to be sewn as during her scuffle with Nick, they had been ripped out. The witch focuses on her labored breathing, taking short rapid breaths and maintaining pressure on her sides, as she has several broken ribs. The Backstreet Bard did quite a number on her, but that is nothing compared to the pain that dwells in her heart. She had been too wounded to correctly identify her attacker, and in doing so, she had sent her twin flame to jail! “Tiber is going to hate me…” She mumbles, as tears well in her bloodied eye sockets, “I don’t think he’s going to come…I just want to see him one last time, even if he changed his mind about turning me. I-I love him...” Cinder lies on the foot of the bed, softly growling in protest every time Tiber is mentioned, as she’s quite content -without- the lycan present. Gia ignores the rambling of the woman, as this had been the chorus over the past several hours, and instead the elf focuses on placing tiny braids in various spots on Lana’s head. It works to soothe the nerves of the brunette, somewhat, but everytime she hears even the slightest noise, she expectantly looks towards the doorway. Even if her lycan shows up, it’s not as though she can run into his arms and hug him so tightly that all of her brokenness is fused back together. All of her strength had dissipated in the last hour, and the hourglass pendant seems to only have a single grain of sand teetering between the two globes. Lanara Banks is on the verge of death.

(Post 1 of 2) Tiberius stared in the mirror that morning. A laced, purple bruised eye with a cut in his lip. His face had been swollen hours prior, but the curse he held was able to heal down the swelling. At least he had been freshly bathed as he smelled of soap, mint, and maybe a tinge of whisky. Amber eyes lock to the reflection in the mirror. An expressionless face. An empty face. With any decision, always comes doubt. No doubt that he would be content with the beloved girl with the perfect brown eyes, but only the doubt of her ‘what-if’ death sentence. Was he making a mistake not letting the girl crossover peacefully rather than in agony? Was it selfish still? Even if the two lovers had come to an agreement? There would be nothing peaceful if he did go back on his decision. Nicolai Garter had done the worst to make Lanara leave faster from the few days she had left, so he decided. He was going to carry on what they had planned. As every formation goes, clothes eventually become tattered and torn, so the man decides to put on a cream, loose tunic he found in his dresser and a pair of cotton pants. The Kelvarians had been gracious to let him stop at the apartment in Cenril to rest before heading to find Lanara, but did he actually sleep? On and off, for the lycan woke up in several panics that he would be too late to find the witch. While getting dressed, in said dresser, a pink stone illuminates, and the man picks it up, he stares at it--mostly just cursing mentally that he had left the gem in there for so long before stuffing it in his pocket before slipping out the door for the ‘ritual’, it was.

(Post 2 of 2) Time through the forest made the man even more nervous. What if Lanara was right? Could he live with himself if he took her breath away? He tries to remain steady as he passes through thickets. He makes sure he is quiet enough not to draw much attention towards himself. Through Northern Sage until he comes upon the hidden cottage Maude had mapped out to him. Once he comes into the clearing of the covered cottage, he gazes around before knocking on the door gently. Once he was let in, he would be directed to where the witch was. A swollen face, stitched lobes, stitches across her body, a bandaged ankle. He should have murdered him. He still would after seeing the image he sees right now. Rather than dwelling, Lanara was dying. Her limp body. He knew she was getting close to the end. “Hey, pretty girl,” his tone is easy, silken and careful. He inches towards his girlfriend tentatively before getting on his knees to kneel by her side. “How’re you doing?” What kind of question was that? She is -dying-.

Lanara refuses to crawl over to the full length mirror and peer at her reflection, because despite how curious she is to see fancy braids that Gia had meticulously been working on for the past hour, she’s terrified to see herself in this battered state. As the door is answered and her lycan is let inside, she inhales sharply and tears spring to her eyes, because she fears that he will find her repulsive to gaze upon. Haunted hues lower as Tiber kneels at her side, gently coaxing his girlfriend from her broken shell as she hesitantly forces herself to lift her chin and lock onto that even amber stare. “I’m sorry… I didn’t know he was following me and I had to run back to my old apartment to get something for Maude and Gia as they are practicing conjuration and… He just attacked me!” Lanara can see slight swelling in Tiber’s cheeks, a slit in his lip, and the bruising around his eye, and if this was any other day she would have joked about what Nick must look like, but she only feels guilt. “It’s my fault… Are you okay?” She ignores the fact that the Grim Reaper’s scythe is about to be steadily brought down upon her chest, and she forgets that Gia and Cinder are in the audience, as she lifts her hand and gently cups the Catalian’s cheek in her palm. “I never meant to accuse you, Babe. I was so dizzy and sick and I took a really bad hit to the back of my head that I just kept seeing double.” A single tear trickles down the side of her face as she weakly leans a little closer, “I wasn’t sure if you would want to see me after that…” A clearing of the throat pulls the witch from their moment and Gia rests a large duffle bag before the bed, addressing the lycan she says, “There are a few changes of clothes for the both of you, just basic cotton garments, nothing fancy. I imagine this won’t be pleasant for Lana, so there are lots of things in here that you can probably use, Tiber. Also… Um. There is a shovel propped against the back door, for that thing that Maude and you discussed. I’ve stocked the pantry with food and drinks, also.” The blonde bends to place a peck upon Lana’s brow, “If things don’t pan out, I will keep my promise. But! We have to stay positive, right? Good thoughts bring good things.” With a nod to them both, she exits the room and locks the house up on her way out. The lycan and his witch are left alone in the spacious room and the silence that follows is unnerving. Should she say goodbye -before- he attempts to turn her into a wolf? Do they do this in the bathroom? On the bed? “I’m not sure what to say…”

Tiber makes sure that he does not falter when she tries to move and apologize. The man shakes his head slowly. “The guy is a creep. The only thing I wish you would’ve done was let me worry just a tad more after those gifts were left for you at our apartment.” He furrows his brows at the thought which causes a dull ache to touch his features, so he turns back to the softened state again. “I’m okay,” he smiles slightly. A hand gently lifts to touch her head gently. “Not my first time in the clinker. Hell, the guard knows who I am… says something, right?” He teases, although it had been an intense twenty-four hours. As she tries to lean closer, Tiber makes sure he moves closer and gently places lips on the side of her cheek. Very gently before reaching for the woman’s hand to press against his lips gingerly. “Do you remember that I love you? How hard did you get hit in that noggin?” Should he really be teasing her right now? His smile fades into a grim line, and he shakes his head, and he is about to part his lips again before Gia interrupts the couple’s moment. He stares at the woman who gives him direction on what is in the duffle, and he nods slowly. “Positive is what we are still holding onto.” As Gia leaves, the silence carries them and Tiber is almost speechless himself because he is -not- saying goodbye--stubborn as he is. “You don’t have to say anything. Here, I was…” he reaches down in his pocket and pulls out a chain with a rose quartz stone at the end. “You know, I saw this… the day I said ‘I love you’, and you know, I forgot all about it. Then again, you were… dying, so it didn’t seem like the right moment.” Pause. He holds the necklace up to his view and stares at the stone. “I know you’ve been hurting, and you’re… scared,” amber eyes look down at the woman, “but… this stone brings peace and inner healing. I want you to feel peace right now and… when the time comes to turn you. I want you to wear this through the ritual. After… even. Because even though you’re nervous even with us, I want you to know that this stone also resembles how beautiful you are. It resembles how much I love you. You’re more myself than I have ever known, and to hell if you think I’m going to let you get away so easily after I just got you back and realized I’m mad for you. That’s stupid.” He offers her a boyish grin. Tiber was not saying goodbye, for the man was saying 'see you soon'.

Lanara follows Tiber’s motion as he reaches into his pocket and pulls out a necklace, which he holds before her to examine. “It’s so beautiful…” The warmth returns to those nearly lifeless eyes as the witch extends a hand to feel the rose quartz pendant, the chill in the crystal bringing a smile to her cracked lips. Little does the lycan know, that this particular stone is often drawn to the witch, and vice versa. One of the six skulls that had been used to resurrect Valrae had been rose quartz, and it had chosen Lanara to be its keeper! “You’re right… This is the stone of unconditional love.” Her voice is thick with emotion as she witnesses that boyish grin, “It’s worn over the chest, because it opens the heart chakra.” It seems he had chosen well, and whether or not he researched the powers of the stone, it seems that he had struck his target as intended. “I love you with all my heart, Tiberius Lowell.” Tears splash onto her bruised cheeks as she pulls her hair over to her right shoulder and motions for him to secure the clasp on the necklace, “Thank you… I shall cherish this and wear it every day.” Lana feels a little of her hope restored with that simple gesture, and she narrows her gaze, ignoring the twinge of pain in her head, “Wait. So this has been in our apartment for -months- and you are just now giving it to me?!” How had she not seen it when putting away laundry or cleaning? Is the lycan hiding other shiny presents? Lana is determined to get through the next few days so that she can ‘up’ her snooping game and search for other things that Tiber may have ‘forgotten’ about. Meanwhile, Cinder is lightly clawing at the blankets on the bed, cackling in her feline way, “If you think -THAT- is something then you should see the presents -I- left for dog-boy in his closet!” Taking Tiber’s hand in her own, she trails a trio of kisses along his inner wrist, and she gives his hand a gentle squeeze. “Are you ready to do this? I don’t think I have much longer…” The hourglass pendant is cracked in several places and the final granule of sand is nearly through the small deposit that will slide it into the lower globe. “I figure I can sit on your lap and use my remaining energy to urge you to shift? And after you bite me, I can move away from your reach, until you shift back into your human form?” Will she even be able to maneuver herself in this state? “Should we use the chains?” Lana licks her lips and cups his hand over her heart, “You are certain you want to do this?” His wants and needs are her top priority, and if he wants to back out, now is the time. “I want to try, I want to spend my life with you, but only if -you- are sure.”

(Post 1 of 2) Tiber :: The notion of ‘unconditional love’ brings a soft ache to the man’s chest. Even if the worst came, the man would be bound by the woman… even if she did not walk upon the earth longer. She would still leave a lasting impact on him, and everyone she touched around her. The witch speaks of the heart chakra, which he was not clever enough to know that one, but fate had it that he chose the right stone for the right witch. “I love you, Lanara Banks.” The man reaches around her to clasp the necklace, fingers delicately trace her mocha skin before he leans down to kiss her shoulder. His easiness fades, however, when she starts spitting that he forgot about the necklace. Was he hiding other gifts…? He could not remember. Best find out later. No wonder Nick called him out on his gift giving. He forgets everything. And now, he was forgetting that she was bewildered that he left such a stone in the drawer because now she is squeezing his hand. He is back in the moment. Her kisses ignite a small fire within his core, and he squeezes her hand in return. “I’m ready,” as he will ever be, he thinks, but best not let her know that. The man looks around the room as she speaks to him about how he can shift. There is a pang of nervousness with that small fire in his gut. “Err,” he looks at the duffle. “We do need to use chains… or else the sentence that we are hoping for… won’t--” best not finish that thought. Eyes trail around the room and then he is encaptured when she places his hand over her heart. Eyes land on her. “I want you. I think you’re the surest thing I know in my life. I’m just not sure about the other side of… myself.” His change. “I don’t know how much these dressers are going to work…” He looks around again. “There’s a tree near the entrance of the cottage. I can lay some blankets out for you, and bring you out. It’s going to be a while until I can shift back. Once I do, I can bring you back inside.” The man would gently place his lips against her hand one last time before breaking free and standing tall. He reaches for the duffle. “Here, stay here. I’ll go set up the chains. I’ll get some blankets and pillows outside, and then… I’ll come back for you.” He does not waste anymore time as he shrugs the duffle over his shoulder. He walks over to pull a few throw blankets off of some furniture before heading outside to set up.

(Post 2 of 2) Once outside is set, the man comes back in about ten minutes to meet the woman again. “The chains are as secure as I can make them,” he brushes his hair timidly. “We don’t really have much time anymore.” He looks frazzled for a moment. The time was coming. It was either life or death. “Are you ready?” On cue, he would gently slip his arms underneath her to carry her like she was a bride before carefully carrying her outside the cottage. Outside, there are several thick blankets laid out with a few pillows to make a make-shift bed. He tried. It was not the perfect image of comfort, but he was sure that she would not be feeling comfort here in the next course of time. Everything that a lycan was was… discomfort. Especially for the beginning. A new change. He carries her towards the tree before kneeling them both down to the ground. The treeline around them covers the two, so no one would be able to see what was going on. His back presses against the trunk of the tree and at this point, he was sure she was in his lap. He takes each cuff to lock them around his limbs. Both ankles and both wrists before handing the Kelvarian the key. “Keep this on you for when I’m… me.” The nerves were setting in and his face looked distant. He was scared. Scared he would fail. Scared of what she was about to witness and become victim to. “Before we do this… are you -absolutely- sure? Because when you wake up, I don’t think you’ll ever feel yourself again.” There would be no going back after this. Death or a new curse. It was her choice. New challenges, new raw emotions. And the pain of turning… Did Lanara know what she was getting herself into. Would she really do this for love? Because Tiber was going to. Tiber was going to be selfish today.

(Post 1 of 2) Lanara can sense the distress that stems from her lycan, and all she can do is hope that this works. If it doesn’t… She is going to leave behind a brokenhearted man who will never have a chance of finding a new mate, as he will have wasted his mark on a dead woman. They truly are twin flames, as they are only following through with this madness because they are both greedy when it comes to each other. They feed their connection with love, fueling each other with intoxicating gazes, sweet words, innocent caresses, and the allure of never quite getting enough. Will their love be sated on this fateful day, or will their flames extinguish, never to reignite? The witch watches as Tiber moves around the room, his amber eyes bearing a look of uncertainty, the confidence in his tone less sure, and the ruffling of his wavy hair doing little to ease his discomfort. Yet, he says he wants this, and that he has never been more sure of anything in his life. Those words are the match that brightens the face of the brunette, a small smile and nod to encourage him that they are on the right path. It’s when he leaves the room and exits out the back door, bringing along all the necessities for the ritual, that the worst case scenario occurs. The shred of life that had been clinging in the tiny vestibule of the hourglass sinks to the other side, joining the rest of the granules that had each taken a breath, a drop of blood, the remaining energy that sustained the life of the woman that wears the pendant. Immediately, Lanara feels the effects of the necklace draining from her frame, the illusion fades, and she seems to shrink dramatically into the pillows. The time has come, and she only hopes that there is enough time left to turn her, before she fully passes from the realm.

(Post 2 of 2) The woman cannot recall being lifted into the lycans arms or being laid atop his lap, for her heart is racing and her mind is clouded in worry. It’s only when he offers her the key to the lock that binds him to the tree, that she unclutches her hand from the hourglass pendant. Big brown eyes widen as they both see shards of glass in Lanara’s hand, a few droplets of blood staining the white sand, “I’m… Dying.” She trembles in Tiber’s arms, gripped with fear, as she drops the fistful of glass to the grass and merely begs the man to hold her for a minute. How long does she have left? Five minutes? An hour? She -should- have let Tiber finish that bastard Nick off, because no one is prepared for this, least of all the woman that bears the curse. A life for a life it called for, and it was the only way to ensure that the elves in Kelvar wouldn’t fall victim to an early grave, plus, it was the only way to avenge the harm that her own daughter had cast. Lanara struggles to breathe as she fights off a panic attack, her nails digging into Tiber’s shirt as she sobs, “I’m… Dying. Tiber… It’s really happening…” She thinks of Tiberius Lowell. Next, her little sister, Talyara. Following, are thoughts of Meri, Penelope, Kyori, Gordyn Whamsey, The Backstreet Bards, Venin, her kin from Kelvar, and a few others that she considers to be her friends. The animal sanctuary she founded brings fresh tears, as does the thought of never being able to wield her magic again. The last vision in her mind as she takes a momentary trip down memory lane is the same as her first, a glimpse of the handsome Catalian, her one true love; Tiberius Lowell. For him, she will live, and all of the other things she loves, she will not have to say goodbye to, should this ritual work. “I’m positive. Mark me, Tiber… I love you, no matter what happens.” Lana longingly gazes into his eyes one last time, she presses her lips against his for a final passionate kiss, and she chokes back a sob as her heart beats wildly against his own, whispering promises to love him forever, in life and in death. “Okay. Ready?” Lana holds her right hand against Tiber’s flesh as she forces herself to imagine all of the things that make her angry, sending her ire into the form of the lycan. If her powers last long enough and if she has enough strength, the male will hopefully shift, and in turn she will lift her left arm and he may aim a bite on her wrist. The little witch places all of her trust in this man, she doesn’t fear any pain or changes that the wolf will bring. She only fears death, because it means their love story ends.

(Post 1 of 2) Tiberius can hear the clinking of little flecks of glass. The shards. The man stares down wide-eyed at the hourglass. The silent beat between the two lovers--not even a breath had been heard. No birds chirping. No critter crawling. Pure silence in the beat. ‘I’m… Dying’. Through her panic, he grips Lanara’s biceps to hold her steady. Golden eyes try to catch her worried gaze. The reality was setting in. “Shh,” he coos and shakes his head. “No, no you’re not. You’re here. You’re here with me. We’re in the moment. Be in the moment, Lana,” his voice is stern, but soft as if not to startle the woman and ramp up her anxiety. The lycan was trying to bring her back down to earth with him. His hand moves to catch her cheek, “Look at me.” A gentle command. “Breathe. You’re breathing, right?” There is a small smile, but still fear is behind that usually confident gaze. Right in front of him, she is deteriorating, but the man is too stubborn to let her go, nor believe that she could go. “I love you, and I will always love you, Lanara. You’re going to be okay. It’s going to be okay. We’re okay,” and then he stares back into her brown-eyed gaze. Fearful, longing, strong. His lips instantly collide with her own and he breathes her in as if he was breathing her in for the last time. Her kiss was like oxygen to him. Oxygen ignited the flame inside him. Enough to keep the greed going. Instead of whispering promises, he brushes her hair gently and shakes his head at her. She had to stay. Stay. Stay. “Ready.” Stay. In a blink, her hand is pressed against his chest.

(Post 2 of 2) Tiber was unsure what he would feel at that moment, but the pulse of her hand came with an emotional tidal wave. The last wave of magic that Lanara produced brought Tiberius in a sea of red. Swimming in red until he was pulled under. A man staring in the face of a snarled wolf within his own psyche. Luca. Tiberius can feel the agitation on the back of his neck and the veins in his neck begin to bulge. The thought of Nicolai Garter who battered his lover, Alastor Ambers the one who brought Tiberius to be the way he was while torturing others, Skitch for setting the couple up and trying to kidnap his beloved. The fall of Catal. The loss, and unknowing location of his brother. The curse from Kelvar. Lanara’s history. Endless bar fights. Lanara dying. The thought of being beaten again, and again, and again. Amber eyes light up in a flash and they glow their golden hue. A long scream echoes through the forest, and surely pierces Lanara’s ears from the rage that came beneath it. It was not a roar. Not yet, but a long scream of agony from the red behind his gaze. Chains tighten from the slack they had as he tries to extend his chest forward. His back arches as the man whines in the pain he is under. The anger he is under. The beast inside awakens, and golden brown fur begins to grow from his skin. Teeth begin to grow like canine fangs. Tiberius is not in his ordinary werewolf form, but his lycan form. Bones were snapping which caused cries from him, “Help--” and then the shift emerged. Tiberius Lowell was gone, and whatever this beast was… was raging. The hand that is pressed against his form irritates the beast so much that he snaps down at the woman’s left wrist before feeling a beat. The anger that was felt halts in a warmth in the beasts chest--although, mind you the beast is freaking out. In the conscience of this beast… a voice echoes… Mate. After the connection arises, Lanara is pushed from his form forcefully to get her away from him. Eventually, the full shift takes place, and the lycan is now on its hind legs tightening the chains to pull away from the tree in a frenzy. The beast howls, snarls, and is incredibly threatening. Best keep away for now, Lanara.

(Post 1 of 3) Lanara isn’t sure what to expect as she had never even considered being turned into a beast at any other moment in her life, but it’s horrific to watch. The painful shout that is a mixture of animal and human pierces her tapered ears, and that broken drum sends an agonizing jolt of pressure up and down the side of her face and jaw. She is barely holding onto her powers, and when Tiber asks for ‘help’ she considers pulling back, because even causing her beloved a miniscule amount of discomfort is too much. “I’m so sorry…” She is a fraction away from removing her hand upon his fur-sprouting flesh when Tiber shifts and chomps down on her left wrist. The incessant throbbing in her temple plays two words on repetition; Asha. Mate. Perhaps later she can think more on the meaning of the name of her inner wolf and the imprint with Tiber, once the pain subsides. The witch is no longer merely an elf, nay, she is in the process of welcoming the curse of the wolf to take over her body. Lana’s bottled up fears burst as she screams so loud that the sounds of the forests instantly cease. Birds stop chirping, insects quit buzzing, the deer in the area lift their heads in silent wonder, and it seems as though the nearby stream even pauses in its constant trickle. Hot tears sting the woman’s eyes as a full blown panic attack ensues, and she is paralyzed with a combination of fear and pain. Is this death? She surely hopes so, because she cannot continue in this state of numbness and semi-consciousness. Tiber pushes her from his form, the strength of the shove enough to send Lana sprawled out upon the bed he had made of thick blankets and pillows. The key falls from her grasp and lies on the grass, as Lanara helplessly crawls a few feet further from Tiber. All she has to do is ride out the pain and wait for her mate to shift back into his human form, right?

(Post 2 of 3) Lanara initially hadn’t felt much more than the pain in her head and ears, and the burning sensation from the bite, which had nearly severed her hand from her arm from the sheer force of the werewolf. However, now she’s feeling more pain than the strongest of men could handle, and she writhes from side to side, whimpering. “Make it stop… Please…” She had died on two separate occasions and perhaps she’s going into her third and final death, as becoming a lycan surely can’t be -this- traumatic?! Lana’s bones feel as though they are alive with electricity, her magic seems to have a mind of its own as it mingles with the power of another ancient that answers the call of the moon, and every follicle of hair stands on edge. She can hear the pulse of the earth. She smells the aroma of bacon frying in the nearby village. She can see a bird nestled high in the treetops, and she’s even able to decipher each of its feathers from such a far distance! However, the pain defeats all of her thoughts and she feels as though her skin is being stretched, her throat is raw from screaming, and her nails dig into her own flesh as the witch slips into a state of unconsciousness.

(Post 3 of 3) It’s nearly two hour later when Cinder pads outside and cautiously approaches the pillows, her attention fixating on the witch. Lanara had taken the curse of the wolf into her body and at first she had accepted the change…At first. The tikifhlee watches as her mistress seems to be in a constant state of seizing, her limbs awkwardly twitching as she flails around helplessly on the bed of blankets. Cinder looks over towards Tiber and hisses, as this is entirely his fault, and she wishes he would have just let the witch pass into the other realm peacefully. “Lana…” She tries to communicate, but it seems as though her link is being rejected, as though the ‘wolf’ is refusing to allow any messages to be received at this moment. The telepathic link, however, shifts to another who is linked to Lanara. The wolf boy that Cinder blames for practically everything! “Idiot boy! Wake up! I should have known not to trust you to handle even the simplest of tasks! Lana is DYING and it’s all your fault!” The shovel is glimpsed, and Cinder knows what she must do, “To give a life, one must take a life. And with great power, comes great sacrifice and responsibility.” A disgruntled meow is given, as Cinder looks at the pitiful state of her mistress, “Kill me, Stupid. Pour my blood over Lana’s body and offer my life to the Goddess. Save a few of my hairs and on the third full moon, Lana can bring me back.” Of course the tikifhlee will lose her cool powers, but at least the witch will still have her familiar. “After you complete the sacrifice, bring Lana indoors and wash her up. Take care of her, protect her, and love her like no other...She -should- wake up in the morning, if you don’t frack this up! Please be sure to bury me before she wakes…” The tikifhlee bumps her head against Lana’s bare foot, a parting gesture, before she picks up the key and drops it before Tiber. “Hurry up, you are so slow, I swear!” He will enjoy killing her, she’s sure of it, but she will do anything for her witch as it’s the duty of a familiar.

(Post 1 of 3) Tiber :: A half an hour passed--honestly probably more, and the lycan was still trying to break free from the spiral of rage. Once the lycan was ramped up, it was hard to bring Luca down to the surface for Tiberius to take hold again. The tree that Luca had been tied to had sawed engravings from the chain on it from the amount of force. The forest was quiet due to the timid critters around the area. Time ticked, and Lanara laid back and seized upon the blankets absorbed in her own misery. The earth was quiet from the shrills of the witch, and it was not until Lanara was lifeless on the blankets that the lycan was able to come back down into a limp human state. The man rested bare and unconscious on the forest floor. The chains wrapped around his wrists and ankles had rubbed his skin raw. Tiber had been knocked for the course of the two hours. Nothing but a few twitches from the man below until a voice echoed in his mind. A bitter tone. ‘Wake up!’ eyes slowly open and his head rolls to see Lanara laying upon the blankets several feet away from him. Just out of arm's reach. “Lana,” he jolts up and pulls against the chains, but the chains keep him from moving closer to her. Frantically he looks for a key.

(Post 2 of 3) Tiber looks to find the tikifhlee in his gaze still yelling words in his mind. “You talk?” The man asks out-loud. Idiot was right. The man pulls against the chains and Cinder keeps talking. Talking of sacrifice. “Kill you?” Lanara would kill him, but then again, would she? The man looks conflicted. The bossy feline drops the key next to the man and he grabs the key to shakily unlock himself from the tree. His body is sore and he is dirty from the soil below. He moves to Lanara in disbelief that he has to sacrifice the tikifhlee. He grabs Lanara’s bloodied wrist. “Lanara. Lanara, you have to wake up. Please.” His voice is stern before he leans down to brush the woman’s face. Did he kill her? ‘Hurry up!’ The man looks at the feline hesitantly. As much as he would like to throttle the thing, he never thought he would be able to. Tiberius looks defeated before nodding. His hands rub over his face. He moves to the duffle to throw on the cotton garb Gia had left him. The man then notices in the duffle, there is a blade… Gia knew what he and Maude had talked about. The sacrifice. He grabs the knife before turning slowly to look at Cinder. “I’m so sorry…” Was he? Was he actually? “We’ll bring you back, I promise. For her. Not for you. For her.” The man would then take the knife to plunge it into the side of the feline. The man drops the knife instantly before clutching the feline gently, for there was remorse for the feline who had saved Lanara’s life. Who was going to save Lanara’s life. The creature is held over Lanara and the red drips from Cinder over Lanara’s body.

(Post 3 of 3) Tiberius finds his gaze closing and the man whispers. “Goddess, is that how this works?” A hesitant pause. “Please take Cinder for another life. Lanara’s life. She needs a better hand than she has been dealt. She needs to wake up. Not just for me, but for her friends… her family,” he was not good with the whole devout thing, for the man was not holy. “I know that I’m being selfish, but… I need her. Please,” he quietly pleads. The man then plucks a few hairs from the feline before leaving the feline behind, for the man wanted to make sure Lanara was in comfort rather than on the forest floor. The man scoops up Lanara’s bloodied form and moves her back into the cottage on the bed. Still covered in blood. The hairs are placed in a jar, and then the man then leaves the woman behind to wait, for now he has a new motive. To dig a grave for the brave. The man moves outside to find the lifeless body of Cinder. He gingerly carries the tikifhlee’s body into the deep forest along with the shovel. The grave is dug, Cinder is gently placed along with some noxious wildflowers. Tiber tried, okay? “Rest easily. We’ll see you soon.” He had only hoped before he threw the dirt back in the hole covering the lifeless body of Cinder. As much as Cinder had been a pain, she had been loyal to the beloved girl who lay on the bed back at the cottage. Tiberius Lowell would then drag his body back to the cottage and sit at the end of the bed. Waiting. Watching. Hoping. Would Lanara wake up? Or had he pushed her body to the edge?