[attr="class","woo3"]
This time, the Gulpin would find itself grabbed out of midair as it lunged at one of the trees. Then it would see a large glowing red eye glaring at it, revolving wildly in Edward's head. As it flailed in the grasp of the Dusclop's floating hands, Cardamom walked up, yawning.


"Do they really have to come at night?" she asked. Sighing, she reached out and bopped the Gulpin with a Pokeball. It didn't even wriggle, the Pokemon apparently considering it a better way to escape this situation than being held in Edward's terrifying grip.

[attr="class","woo4"]

[attr="class","woo5"]pronouns; she/her

[attr="class","woo5"]tags;spiral and shiv's baby

[attr="class","woo5"]notes some notes go here

[attr="class","woo3"]
As the Makuhita crept towards the unguarded trees, it seemed as if nothing would get in his way. However, just as he reached towards one of the berry bushes, a gentle tap suddenly landed on his shoulder. Slowly, the Makuhita turned around, to see a Dusclops looming ominously over him, red eye spinning wildly in his head as he let out a cackle. The Makuhita stumbled, tripping backwards, only to be knocked even more flat with a Shadow Punch between the eyes. As he staggered upright, the last thing he saw was a Pokeball flying towards his face.[break][break]
"Good job there, Edward," said Cardamom, walking closer to pick up the Pokeball. "Did you have to be so dramatic about it, though?" The Dusclops just shrugged, and she sighed, patting his shoulder. "Thanks for the help, anyways," she murmured softly.

[attr="class","woo4"]

[attr="class","woo5"]pronouns; she/her

[attr="class","woo5"]tags;spiral and shiv's baby

[attr="class","woo5"]notes some notes go here

[attr="class","woo3"]
As the group's songs mingled and merged together, Cardamom felt the beast being drawn towards them, even as it pulled them towards it. As the eyes appeared, burning bright in the sky, he felt himself take one step, then another, unbidden, reaching up towards them. Nash growled by his side, his own eyes glowing as he Leered back at the beast. The milky eyes gleamed in the darkness, shining bright, and as he looked into them he thought of-of his brother, Luke, the way his eyes shone with excitement whenever the two were making a plan together.[break][break]
"Luke..." he whispered softly.[break][break]
"Cardamom...?" came a voice from behind him. The boy spun around, to see the person he'd just named standing behind him, eyes wide with worry. "How did you end up here? You told me you were going to be safe-" Before he could say any more, a sharp talon impaled the boy through, blood spilling down his chest and from his mouth as he coughed in shock.[break][break]
"Luke!" screamed Cardamom, spinning to run towards his brother. Nash lunged, grabbing Cardamom's sleeve in his teeth and pulling back. Even as he did so, more claws came into view, each bearing the body of someone he loved-the last three ones bearing the bodies of Melody, Ruby, and Cobalion. And underneath it all, a deep laughter rumbling through everything around him.[break][break]
"No! Let me go, Nash! I-I have to help! Please!" he begged, sobbing as he saw the bodies of those who should have been safe. "I have to do something to help!" Edward grabbed onto the boy's other arm with his now nubby hands, desperately tugging as well. Even Hum did their best, hooking one of their points onto Cardamom's sleeve and tugging him back as well. One of his other points glowed, firing off a Power Gem at one of the claws, which was followed up by a creeping Night Shade from Edward. Cardamom watched as the blood flowed, running towards him and collecting at his feet. He slowly collapsed to his knees, sobbing as if overcome by all the world's sorrow, even as the Pokemon desperately tried to fire off more attacks to dispel the illusion.
[break][break]
tl;dr: Cardamom is drawn towards the monster, which reminds him of his brother. As he calls Luke's name, he sees a vision of his brother, who is then stabbed through the chest by the beast's claws, along with many more people he knows and loves. His Pokemon manage to hold him back, until he collapses, sobbing. The Pokemon fire off their attacks to try and dispel the illusion. Also fulfilled the prompt.[break][break]
o37s1sp_+??

[attr="class","woo4"]

[attr="class","woo5"]pronouns; he/him

[attr="class","woo5"]tags;

[attr="class","woo5"]notes some notes go here

[attr="class","woo3"]
Soon enough, the group was reunited, though much smaller than before now, it seemed. Cardamom's breath caught in his throat as he saw Ruby unconscious, breathing a sigh of relief as he saw that she was still breathing. He murmured a prayer for safe travels as Melody took hold of her, the two escaping on Cobalion's back. But now...it was up to the rest of them to face this monster. He held out a hand to Nash, the Absol gently using a claw to scrape away the black ice from both their wounds as Pangur spoke. Cardamom gasped as he felt the piece of horn grow in his hand, extending into a gleaming quill.[break][break]
"Thank you," he said, bowing to Pangur. "I'll use it well." Nash gazed up at the quill, growling softly but affectionately. He was proud, that broken as it was his blade could be put to better use. He still had his teeth, and his claws, and he would put them to whatever use he could.[break][break]
He blinked a little when Hideo received...a gun? Well, if Pangur thought the boy could handle it, who was he to argue? And he could see everyone else being blessed as well. He gripped the pen. Pangur had mentioned that it could alter the present...he wondered if that meant he couldn't guarantee everyone's safety by writing that they would all live. In that case, he'd just have to keep his eyes out and be careful.[break][break]
Cardamom felt his other two Pokemon hovering closer, nodding at both of them before he clasped his hands together. Almost unbidden, a tune and words came to him, and the boy opened his mouth to sing:[break][break]

Turning and turning in the widening gyre[break]
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;[break]
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;[break]
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.[break]
And what rough beast, its hour come round at last,[break]
Slouches towards Cerulean to be born?

[break][break]
As he sang, he felt the red strings being drawn closer to him, wrapping around his arms and legs. He stood still, not wanting himself to get tangled more, but could already feel something pulling at him, pulling him close even as they summoned it to this place. Next to him, Edward let out a panicked cry. Cardamom's eyes flew open, and he saw the Dusclops twist and flail before shrinking back into a Duskull, his red eye rolling around his skull in panic.[break][break]
And he knew it was only the beginning of what the beast could do. Gripping the pen, despite the ropes tangling him, he wrote down his first sentence with the pen: The beast hesitates to attack.
[break][break]
tl;dr: Cardamom prays for Melody and Ruby's safe travels before taking the pen. Nash scrapes the black ice off himself and Cardamom's wounds. Cardamom sings a "holy verse" that is basically a shortened and slightly edited version of Yeats' The Second Coming, getting tangled in the red string and drawn towards the beast. He uses the pen to hopefully make it pause before attacking.[break][break]
fb6LmTef

[attr="class","woo4"]

[attr="class","woo5"]pronouns; he/him

[attr="class","woo5"]tags;

[attr="class","woo5"]notes some notes go here

[attr="class","woo3"]
Cardamom slowly bent to pick up the shard, balancing it carefully in his hands. He sighed as he felt the radiance surrounding him, nodding at Pangur. "Thank you," he said, bowing gracefully to the feline. Faith...he could do that. He clasped his hands together as he watched the bonds of fate dance and split around them, praying softly under his breath. Schilds, sejern, saiges...Guard us in our walking, guide us in our doing, pierce the veil of lies... He nodded at Hideo Kino and Ruby Walker as they were sent in different directions, smiling reassuringly and reaching out to physically ruffle Hideo's hair. "We'll see each other soon," he said, before turning at last to Melody Miro and Cobalion.[break][break]
"It'll be okay. We're almost done," he said, as the two of them followed the legendary...before Cobalion stopped and let out a cry. It seemed that they planned on holding the line here. Cardamom didn't object, simply nodding.[break][break]
"Alright," he said, immediately charging further into the brambles. Arguing here would just leave them more vulnerable. Though...he noticed Hum hanging back, glowing again with Cosmic Power and spinning in place, apparently trying to make himself a target. Edward was staying with him, his Poltergeist abilities shifting the last of the vines out of the way, as was Nash, teeth bared and eyes glowing with Future Sight. He sighed in relief as they finally reached the lantern. His hand reached out to it...and suddenly from around where the lantern sat metallic barbs sprang free like a bear trap, drawn to his ink-stained hand like a magnet.[break][break]
Cardamom let out a cry, making both Pokemon spin around to look at him. At the same time, though, he could see more shadows intruding into this clearing. "I-I'm alright!" he hissed. "I-I can do this!" With the barbs still digging into his hand, he slowly reached down to open up the lantern once more, hissing as each movement sent more pain through his hand. Taking hold of the Litwick's Pokeball once more, he sent it forth, and let out a cry of triumph as the light flared brightly.
[break][break]
tl;dr: Cardamom prays for everyone's safety before heading off with Melody to light the lantern. As Melody distracts the monster, he ends up triggering a trap (+30) and hurting himself. Nash and Edward distract the monster further (+30) as Cardamom lights the lantern at great personal cost. (+30) Also bonuses from the codeword (+30) and the secret (+20).[break][break]
tahIAjd_+140

[attr="class","woo4"]

[attr="class","woo5"]pronouns; he/him

[attr="class","woo5"]tags; Melody Miro

[attr="class","woo5"]notes some notes go here

[attr="class","woo3"]
As the red thread appeared, Nash immediately rushed after it, barking at Cardamom to follow. The boy hurried after, gasping in relief as he clambered into the strange space atop the trees, seeing Ruby Walker and Hideo Kino present as well. "Hey guys," he said with a relieved grin. "Thought I lost you back there. Good to see you're all okay." And then, of course, his attention turned to Pangur, watching them and speaking in a familiar voice. He couldn't say where he'd heard it before, but it certainly made the large cat feel more trustworthy, somehow.[break][break]
"This is a ritual, isn't it? Like the one before?" he asked. "That creature...it's vulnerable to fire, or light, isn't it?" There were signs the previous ritual had used fire as well, after all, and Pangur was all glowing light compared to the beast's inky blackness. He didn't expect to be answered, already turning to the Litwick before he suddenly heard the sounds from below. At the same time, Nash let out a warning howl, his blade vibrating as he spun to face whatever might be approaching. Cardamom watched as, as if in slow motion, the cracks in his blade lengthened and deepened before shattering, sending pieces of bone scattering everywhere.[break][break]
"Nash!" he cried, rushing towards the Absol, ignoring the still-vibrating pieces of horn on the ground. "Are-are you okay-what happened?" he cried, voice rising into what was almost a wail. Edward crowded closer as well, eye spinning worriedly, while Hum hovered back and forth in the background, jittering anxiously and glowing with even more Cosmic Power. Nash shook his head, staring up at the Litwick, and dashed away from Cardamom's side before springing into the air, teeth closing down in a Bite to grab the floating candle and drag it back to the ground before presenting it lightly to the boy.[break][break]
Cardamom frowned at the Pokemon's seeming disregard for his own health, but reached down to pick up a Pokeball nonetheless, holding it out and tapping the semi-conscious Litwick with it, watching as it was sucked in. "Now for the symbol," he murmured, standing up, only to find his marked hand suddenly tugged forward by some strange power. He let out a yelp, but followed the energy drawing him forwards until his hand ended up impacting against a metallic circle. Tugging, he felt a resistance before he managed to separate his hand from the metal. "Strange..." he muttered with a hiss, staring at the marking as it continued to twist and spread down his arm, before looking up to see an unlit lantern standing above him. Sighing in relief, he grabbed the Litwick's Pokeball and shoved it forwards, sending out the candle Pokemon and watching as its ghostly flame ignited the lantern.
[break][break]
tl;dr: First, points for the codeword and the bonus. (+80) Next, Cardamom decides to try and attempt the ritual, trusting Pangur and making a deduction about the monster, before catching a Litwick, finding the symbol, and lighting a lantern. (+60) Last, in doing so he also discovers the magnetic properties of his marking when it's drawn to the metal symbol and continues to spread. (+20)[break][break]
3vFCzLWy+160

[attr="class","woo4"]

[attr="class","woo5"]pronouns; he/him

[attr="class","woo5"]tags; Ruby Walker Hideo Kino

[attr="class","woo5"]notes some notes go here

[attr="class","woo3"]
Cardamom felt strangely at peace as he followed the feline higher into the branches, Hideo Kino and Ruby Walker close by his side. It was easy for Hum to follow, floating and weaving through the trees, while even Nash could leap from branch to branch fairly easily, eyes glowing with a Future Sight to protect his charge. Edward moved slower, shifting past the branches carefully, almost as if his phasing wasn't quite working-or perhaps as if the branches were not quite in the physical world.
[break][break]As they climbed higher and higher, the smell of smoke started to deepen, combined with what might be flickering flames or ashen dust. He frowned, trying to figure out where the fire might be, but it seemed to be all around them, yet nowhere close to actually touching them in any way.
[break][break]Climbing onwards, it almost felt as if they were leaving the whole world behind. There was only the climb and the chase. For a moment, the smoke seemed to swirl around them, obscuring them all completely, and when it cleared Cardamom could see none of his companions. "Ruby?" he called, worried. "Hideo?" But there was no answer.
[break][break]Only his Pokemon were left by his side, Hum and Edward floating closer while Nash crouched and growled. The Absol's eyes darted back and forth through the branches. His street instincts were screaming at him, and in the flashes of orange and red he saw the shapes of eyes, watching the group from their hidden boughs. Even the bark around them seemed to be carved with eyes, watching them from all angles. The markings almost seemed to shift, once you looked away.[break][break]
Meanwhile, Cardamom was in no shape to notice what his Absol had, as his injured hand suddenly throbbed, making him grab his wrist and cry out in pain. Wincing and stumbling, he carefully unwrapped the binding, to see curls of what looked like black ink now spreading across his hand, swirling outwards, and even as he watched, slowly reaching tendrils down to wind around his wrist. Edward floated closer, making worried noises, but with no idea what to do against this sort of injury. Hum darted around, looking extremely confused, while Nash crouched by the boy's side, prepared to counter any attack that might come.
[break][break]
tl;dr: Cardamom keeps following the cat, Nash still using Future Sight, until smoke surrounds him and leads to him getting lost (+20) and separated from the group. Nash notices that they're being watched with both physical eyes and strange markings. (+10) Cardamom doesn't notice this because the ink from his injury is now spreading. (+10) Also points for the codeword (+30) and the prompt. (+25)[break][break]
9oFrKBE3+95

[attr="class","woo4"]

[attr="class","woo5"]pronouns; he/him

[attr="class","woo5"]tags; Hideo Kino

[attr="class","woo5"]notes some notes go here

[attr="class","woo3"]
As more and more people whispered secrets to the cat, the world of the library warped around them, the bookcases shifting and altering themselves into something else. Not only that, but there was music playing now, soft music that summoned up even more memories and feelings. Even the cat changed, going from a vague form to a solidified species. And then he saw the heart shapes and the letters within coming out of nowhere, and let out a tiny squeak of surprise, quickly hiding his face in his book as a blush passed over it.[break][break]
However, it seemed that the memories were not only summoning positive things. There was the sound of hissing, as serpentine creatures appeared, moving threateningly among the branches of the book-trees. Still, Pangur Bán's name had been revealed, and something told him that following it was the key to solving this ritual. Getting up and tucking the book under his arm, he rushed first to the tree the Persian had been climbing, laying a hand against it and then frowning at the stickiness. As he tried to pull his hand away, he felt the residue cling at him, and a harder tug made him let out a sudden yelp as the bark scraped against his hand. Hissing, he grabbed his wrist, his hand clenching at the pain.[break][break]
Edward and Nash immediately rushed forwards, the Ghost-type holding Cardamom's hand gently and inspecting the nature of the damage. A quick use of Poltergeist seemed to imbue the residue with ghostly energy, making it intangible and floating it away from Cardamom's hand. Nash leaned forward to lick at it gently as well, before Cardamom pulled a hand towel out of his bag and wrapped his hand in it. Hum floated up last, staring with what seemed to be confusion at the blood seeping from the boy's fleshy skin.[break][break]
Before he could do anything else, he heard Hideo Kino cry out as well. Immediately spinning around, he hurried to the younger boy's side, brows furrowed with worry. "Hideo, the trees got you too?" he asked, pulling out another hand towel. "I've got something you could use as a bandage," he offered, holding it out and waiting for a response.[break][break]
This close, however, he noticed some more carvings on the trees-carvings that had nothing to do with revealing his secret crush. No, these were runes in some older language, runes that coiled around the tree and upwards into its spiraling branches. They seemed to be preparations for some previous ritual, to perhaps purify the beast. But the sour smell of smoke that surrounded them suggested that whatever the ritual had been intended to do, it had failed. He frowned, turning back to Nash.[break][break]
"I think we need some forewarning," he murmured. The Absol nodded, eyes glowing as he prepared a Future Sight to watch out for any upcoming dangers. Cardamom knew the potential price of it, but it felt important to be as forewarned as possible right now.
[break][break]
tl;dr: Cardamom is extremely embarrassed by all the hearts on the trees, but decides to follow Pangur (+10), touching a sticky tree (+10) and getting scraped up. Edward uses Poltergeist to remove most of the residue, and Cardamom ties up his injury with a hand towel as well as offering one to Hideo. He also notices signs of a failed ritual (+10), particularly smelling smoke (+10). Nash uses Future Sight to be forewarned of danger. Also points for the codeword (+30) and the secret (+15).[break][break]
nQbisFDh+85

[attr="class","woo4"]

[attr="class","woo5"]pronouns; he/him

[attr="class","woo5"]tags; Hideo Kino

[attr="class","woo5"]notes some notes go here