Unknown Surroundings (Open)

[deshitana3]

After the encounter with the strange man that called himself Razfahd at the church back at home, the rest of Marlene's week had gone normal. Everyday passed without any signs that her father, Tifa, or the others would come back. Despite the disappointment, she kept her hopes up and kept the bar ready for when everyone got back. Visiting the church and the bar had become routine for her and even though she found no one each time she went, it still brought her comfort to just be in the two places.

In any case, it was on a morning visit to Tifa's bar that things went wrong for Marlene. One minute she was walking down the street and the next, she was falling and tumbling through darkness. She continued to tumble until she hit something solid and hard in the darkness. Whatever she hit had stopped her roughly. Trembling from the ordeal, Marlene stayed still in the darkness taking in deep breathes to calm down.

After a few moments of calming down and understanding she was not going to fall anymore, Marlene moved in the darkness until she was sitting up. Feeling her way along what felt like a rough floor, she kept moving until her head bumped into something solid. She stopped and rubbed her head a bit before reaching out again and feeling the surface. Slowly her hand found what felt like a door knob. Pausing to get to her feet and dust herself off, Marlene reached again for the knob and turned it as she pushed the door open cautiously. As soon as the door was open wide enough for her to see, she had to shield her eyes from the light of the setting sun.

She gave her eyes a few moments to adjust to the strange light. As she did this, she took note of the smell of the area. It didn't smell like the city. In fact it smelt like...like...like something she couldn't put her finger on. As a nice breeze washed over her, she lowered her arms and looked out on her surroundings for the first time. All Marlene could do was gasp softly at what she saw as her wide eyes took in everything around her. Before her stretched a sandy path that led to a bridge that led to an island with a strange tree on it.

Beyond it was water. Marlene looked to her left and saw more of the sandy beach stretching on until it came to a stop at a door. When she looked to her right, she saw a large house like structure and a dock further out. There was more to see, but from her position, she couldn't kiss anything else. Unconsciously, she began to walk forward crossing the bridge until she was next to the tree. She stopped at the tree and reached out touching its rough bark. She looked up and saw the tree had a strange fruit hanging from it.

One of the fruit shook loose and fell to the ground with a light thud. Marlene reached down and picked up the strange fruit examining it. She wondered what it was. She looked at the fruit for a while longer before lowering it and looking out across the vast ocean that was turning deep gold due to the setting sun. As she looked across the huge ocean, she began to feel small and afraid. Where was she and how had she gotten here? Where was her home and everyone else when she needed them? Trying to hold back tears and be brave, Marlene continued to look out over the ocean, wondering what she was going to do and if she would ever see her family and friends again...and if she'd get home again. As she stood there, a single tear went down her cheek as her scared mind tried to wrap around what was happening to her.

[verka]

"It's a paopu fruit," A strange keyblader called over from trees over. Verka leaped across the first tree, and grabbed another one by the leaning truck, and swung across it like a monkey bar. He landed softly across from the young girl, and nodded to her, smiling.

"They're yummy," he cooed, as he picked one himself and began to eat it. These islands were a new place to Verka as well, yet he had been there for long enough to obtain information about the native fruits and trees. The beach was pleasant to him, though he wondered how he would get back home. "You seem... upset. What's the matter?" Verka tilted his head at the girl curiously. The young keyblader had not seen her on the islands before. Then again, it didn't surprise him... he knew he hadn't been there long. But he hadn't seen anyone on the islands, for that matter...

Verka was intrigued. Who was she, and how in the world did she get there? He wondered if she got there like he did, by being shoved through a dark portal into nothingness, to appear by the beach. Who knew... maybe she had her own means of getting here.

[deshitana3]

Marlene was pulled out of her thoughts as she heard a voice from somewhere near by. Startled, she looked around the area before looking up and spotting a strange young man in the trees. He was swinging from the trees as if it was natural to do so. Marlene was hypnotized for the moment by the older boy, wondering if he lived in this place. He sure did seem comfortable here, so maybe he did.

In any case when he mentioned paopu fruit, Marlene frowned for a moment, confused. Paopu fruit? What was that? As the boy landed on the ground and then nodded at her with a smile, Marlene blinked a couple of times to clear her head and focus on the boy's next set of words. He told her that this paopu fruit was yummy. Still a bit lost, she watched as he picked one of the strange star shape fruit and then bit into it. Marlene blinked again and then looked at the star shaped fruit she held in her hand. So they were food? Well at least that was good to know. Still she did not eat hers as she looked back at the boy, who had asked her a question.

Marlene took a moment to figure out how to answer this and then with a sigh, she settled on the truth. She did not know this person before her, but he seemed nice enough and more importantly he seemed to know more about the place than she did. So following her heart, she decided to trust the young man.

"I'm lost and confused," she said. "I don't know how I got here, and I don't know how to go back home. I don't even know where here is," she said with a look of defeat on her face. She tried to pull her spirits back up as she looked up at the older boy and asked,

"Do you, mister? Do you know where this is? And how did you get here?" she asked. The questions were building in her head and she wanted answers now. She was in panic mode for a few seconds, but having a potential friend there made her a bit calmer. At least she wasn't alone anymore and maybe with this new friend she could find her family and friends and get home again.

As her mind whirled, her thoughts went back to her family and friends again. Was it that strange darkness that took her away from home that had taken them away too? If this was so then...did that mean they were somewhere in this strange world or...were they elsewhere? She had to find them. What if they were in danger?!

The question whirled and crashed in the young girl's mind, making Marlene feel dizzy. Doing her best to calm down, she pushed the thoughts away and just focused on what the older boy had to say. Maybe she could learn a lot from him about what was happening and figure out from there what to do next.

[verka]

Verka watched the girl and his heart sank. She was clearly lost; she had gotten there in somewhat the same manner he had... Maybe it was fate. The young keyblader liked to blame things on fate. Surely they were both there for a reason... and she was as lost and confused as he had once been, and probably still was.

"Go on, eat it!" Verka laughed. He watched as the girl observed the fruit but did not bite into it, and he simply smiled. He was cautious when he first arrived as well. He thought about where they really were, as she talked. Verka grinned, and jumped back to sit on a low-hanging horizontal tree branch.

"Come over here," he beckoned, patting the space beside him. "I'm not too sure where we are either, or how I got here. We're kinda in the same boat, to be honest." Verka explained, half-frowning. "But, I do have a journal with me. It was written by a very powerful man, a wielder of the Keyblade. He wrote and described an island much like this, calling them two things: Home, and Destiny Islands. I guess that's where we are." Verka was happy to explain things; he took pride in knowing and understanding as opposed to guessing and assuming. He shut the journal, slipping it back into his shoulder bag.

"No..." Verka started, looking at the sky. "I don't really know how I got here. One moment, I was at what I call home, and the next... I fell into a darkness so deep I didn't think I'd ever get out. And I made it here, somehow." He bit his own lip quizzically, trying to determine how he DID get there...

[deshitana3]

As Marlene watched the young man, waiting for an answer, she saw a bit of sadness cross his face. Was it because he felt bad for her or was it because he was just as lost as she was? Marlene wasn’t sure. When he mentioned eating the fruit again, she looked at it once more. She had completely forgotten about the fruit when she had asked the questions. She smiled slightly at her forgetfulness and then looked up as the boy moved. She saw the older boy grin and jumped to sit on a horizontal branch of a tree. She tilted her head a bit, wondering why he liked to jump so much. Despite the strange behavior, she let it go and just accepted it as part of his personality.

Marlene watched as he patted the space next to him and told her to come over and sit. She hesitated for a moment and then decided to take his offer and sit. She carefully climbed onto the branch and then after settling down next to the boy, she looked back out at the ocean and took a small bite of the fruit she had. The boy was right. The fruit was yummy! There was a moment of silence between the pair and for a moment, Marlene had forgotten about her fear. She found herself completely calm and safe with the young man. Even though he was not Denzel, there was something about the boy's presence that put her at ease. The thought of Denzel made her think of home again. She hoped he was okay. She hadn't seen him in a while either. Did the darkness take him away from home too? Before she could think any further, the boy spoke again.

At his words, Marlene frowned slightly disappointed at first. He didn’t know where they were or how he had gotten there either. While it was disappointing, she felt better knowing that she was not the only one lost. Maybe working together they could find a way out and back home. She had to keep her hopes up. She would get home and so would he. Yeah!

When the boy spoke of a journal and then pulled the book out of a bag and opened it up, Marlene titled her head as she listened to what the young man said. A powerful man had lived here? Did he mean someone strong like Cloud and her dad? Or did he mean someone scary like Sephiroth and the three silver headed warriors that had captured her in the past? She continued listening. A frown slowly spreaded across her face. Keyblade? What was that? Was it a weapon or was it a key? The idea of a key that was a weapon floated across her mind, but she quickly pushed that thought away. Keys weren’t weapons…were they?

In any case, she did understand the last part about the place being called Destiny Islands. A strange name for a strange world. She wondered if the name had any meaning. Was being here destiny...or was it something else?

Marlene's mind whirled with thoughts and questions as the boy put the journal away, he spoke again, saying that he did not know how he got there again. She listened to his experience and nodded. It was like her own experience. Odd and confusing. She watched as the older boy frowned as he seem to try and figure out something. As he went into his thoughts, she looked back at the ocean with frown of thought on her face too.

“I wonder what that darkness is,” she wondered out loud and then fell silent, thinking for a moment as she finished off the fruit. After she was done, she looked back at the boy and asked.

“Who was the man that lived here? Was he a good person? And what is a keyblade anyway…um?” she paused and then blinked. Now that she thought about it, she never got the boy’s name.

“Um…what is your name?” she asked with a small attempt at a smile on her face. She had an expression of apology and embarrassment on her face for not asking earlier.

[verka]

"The darkness..." Verka said, almost to himself, as the girl asked what it was. Such a naive question from such a young girl, but at the same time... it wasn't naive. What was the darkness that had overcome them both? Verka's heart was strong; a place for light to reside and thrive. Why had darkness taken him? Was it purposeful?

Verka's hair blew slightly forward and he tilted his head out to sea, almost contemplating this question at first before answering her. He didn't really know how to describe it himself... the darkness. What was it, where did it come from? In any case, Verka turned to the girl.

"I don't know. It was probably a dark place in both our hearts that lead us here, and for a reason." He explained with a soft tone, facing the girl. "There is darkness in every man's heart," Verka said, recalling what this Sora had said. "I guess... ours came out." Verka finished, and turned back out to sea frowning. Was that what he needed to say to the girl? Maybe not... the young keyblader sighed.

Verka's ears perked up, however, as she asked about the boy that lived here. "Oh yes," Verka said in a childlike voice as he leaned back to look into the sky. "Sora was a brave and virtuous young boy with an incredible heart. He was and is a hero. This was his home. He saved the world from darkness many times over, I assure you." Verka closed his eyes and smiled. He'd love to meet Sora one day... it would be a treat, for sure. Then, the keyblade... could he show her the keyblade?

Verka leaped again from the tree, landing softly on the sand. He turned to the girl, winked, and held out his hand as if beckoning her to come closer... but no, that was not the intention. A dull white glow appeared and there was a quiet click as a winged blade with a full circle hand guard appeared nicely in Verka's hand. "You see," he said, swinging his keyblade down once. "This is a weapon of the light." Verka didn't know too much about his keyblade himself, but he explained what he knew. "People like me use it to help people like you." The boy smiled at her and the keyblade disappeared.

"I'm Verka," the keyblader said, walking back to her. He held out his hand meaningfully this time, as if to help her off the tree.

[deshitana3]

Marlene watched the older boy as he said the words "the darkness" softly as if he was speaking to himself. She studied the boy carefully and could pick up that whatever the words meant made the boy become puzzled… no….uncomfortable. As the wind blew and the boy's hair got in the way, Marlene looked at the sandy ground, wondering what the darkness really was...or rather what it meant to the boy. Just when she was about to ask the boy if he was alright, he looked at her and spoke.

He told how he wasn't sure what the darkness was, but it was something in every person's heart and that it was because of this darkness that they had been swallowed up and placed here.

"The darkness is bad?" Marlene asked with a look of concern on her face. "And this pretty place is punishment for us doing something bad?"

While logically this did not make sense, to someone as young as Marlene it was the only way she could think to understand what the boy was saying and this situation. The whole thing was very confusing and a bit more than she could handle. Still despite this, she wanted to know the answers. Even if she didn't understand what it all meant now, she would one day.

When she saw Verka sigh, she watched him with worry wondering what was wrong; however, the boy seemed to cheer up as he changed the subject to the man that had lived here. She listened and found herself smiling as the older boy told her about the boy called Sora, who had a strong heart and was a hero that had saved the world many times with his strength. Marlene’s hope was boosted with this piece of information, and she found herself hoping that wherever this boy named Sora was that he was safe.

It seemed Sora was out there fighting also…just like her loved ones. Marlene was quite for a moment, lost in happy memories. She was drawn back to reality, when Verka moved from the branch and landed back on the ground. She saw him winked and then hold at his as if he wanted her to come closer; however, before Marlene could really understand what he was doing, there was a glow and then a light clicking sound as a strange winged item appeared in the boy’s hand! While the item did look similar to a sword in some ways, there were other things about it that reminded her of a key. Without him even having to tell her what it was, she knew it was a keyblade.

Something about the strange weapon gave her hope… but also scared her. As the boy swung the weapon down, she could sense the weapon’s power. How odd and frightening it was! Just what was the strange weapon really? When the boy said that it was a weapon of light used to help people, Marlene found the fear disappearing and a smile spreading across her face.

“That sounds like a good thing then!” she said happily. “The bad guys can’t wield a weapon of filled with good power right?” she asked as she looked up at the older boy to see him smiling at her. It seemed her guess was a good one then. Great!

In any case, just as quickly as it came, the weapon was gone and Marlene was left with questions about the blade, but she kept them to herself for now and just listened to what they boy had to say next. The boy introduced himself as Verka and then held out his hand. Marlene took his hand and then hopped off the tree.

“I’m Marlene,” she said with a genuine grin. The young girl had become comfortable with the young man in a short time and now trusted him a bit more than a stranger. As the introductions were finished, Marlene looked around at the island, wondering what to do next.

[verka]

"The darkness is..." Verka looked into the sky as he pondered her seemingly naive question. However... it was more intuitive than he realized. Nevertheless, a deep question. "It's bad, yes, but it exists nonetheless right... here." Verka pointed a finger to where his heart was. "It will always be there. But it's up to us to decide whether or not we yield to it. Get it?"

As his keyblade disappeared, Verka flashed her a toothy smile. "I think we're here for... a reason. Maybe we're supposed to help each other!" Verka suggested, motioning the young girl called Marlene to follow him along the beach. He rested his arms behind his in a relaxing manner, thinking about how in the world the two would get out. As they walked in silence for a few feet, Verka stopped and took a knee. "Bad men will never be able to wield the Keyblade."

Though he wasn't quite sure of what he was saying, Verka felt bad for the young girl. She didn't know where she was or how she got there... just like himself. He frowned, then met her eye. "I'm going to help you get out of here and back to your friends. Okay?" The boy smiled.

[deshitana3]

Marlene watched Verka as he thought how to answer her question about the darkness. When he finally did, she listened. She watched as he pointed to where his heart was saying that the darkness existed in the heart, but it was their choice to let it take them or not. She nodded to his question as she spoke.

“Got it!" She gave him a small smile. Marlene would be strong for her new friend, her other friends, and her family. She wouldn't let the darkness take her and she prayed the darkness would not take her loved ones either. When Verka answered her question as to why they were there, she felt relieved. Maybe he was right. Maybe they had been brought together to help each other out. The thought made her smile even more. When the boy gestured for her to follow him, she did so. She walked by his side in silence for a moment, taking in the beach and the surroundings.

When Verka stopped and kneeled down becoming level with Marlene, the young girl stopped walking as she looked into his eyes as he spoke.

"Bad men will never be able to wield the Keyblade," he had said. Marlene took in the words and then with a smile that showed belief and trust in the boy, she nodded. That was very good to hear.

Her smile faded as the young man frowned and became serious. She tilted her head questioning him, and then he spoke. He told her that he would help her out of the place and also help her find her friends. She stared at him in shock for a moment and then grinned truly thrilled by the news.

“Thank you!" she said happily. “I'll do my best to help you too!"

Then she looked around the beach.

"You think we're alone here? Maybe someone can give us some more information," she said as she looked over at a few structures that might have people in it. She was ready to go and find her family, but also help Verka. She knew in her heart that if Verka was at her side, she was sure she would be safe. She believed in him and trusted him. His presence gave her strength and courage much like her friends and family did. For Marlene, this was good and needed in such a strange situation. It felt great to have a friend at her side again.

((Blah! Muse died right at the end. >.< Sorry for such an ungraceful post. ))

[verka]

OOC: No sweat, my post prior to this one was muse-less. xD

IC:

Verka chuckled as the young girl enthusiastically nodded and said she understood what he meant. That was good... Verka sensed that her heart was filled with light, and that resisting the darkness would always come easy to her. For him... it had not always been so. The young keyblader's heart sunk a bit as he thought about the times he had succumbed to the darkness in order to make things easier... even if they were only small decisions.

Regardless, Verka walked on down the beach, his waist-cape billowing in the small breeze. He noted that they were coming to a few straw and wooden structures; ones he had not been to before, though he had been to some. The girl suggested they should look for signs of life, and a way out, and Verka nodded, agreeing.

"Yeah, we should find some help." Verka said reassuringly. Though he had been to and peered in some buildings before, he said nothing about it. In fact, before the girl had arrived, he had not found any other signs of life... Verka bit his lip carefully. He turned to face the girl, and cocked his head to insinuate that she should follow him. Instead of taking the ramp, the boy jumped over the first landing onto the platform that held a few of these structures. "I'll check this one," Verka said, and pointed to the one opposite. "You check around over there."

Verka immediately peered in through the opening, and was disappointed to find absolutely no one in there. In fact, he found no signs that anyone had been in that exact hut-structure in a long while. It was simply empty. Hopefully his young friend would have more luck, but Verka sure didn't. The keyblader yawned and leaned against the post. He was beginning to get worried...

[deshitana3]

((XD. We're going to have to start bribing our muses to get them to work, eh?))

Marlene followed Verka and was happy that he agreed with her about finding help. As she walked along at the boy's side, looking around the area for signs of clues, Marlene did not notice that Verka was trouble by anything at all. She returned her gaze to the boy as they neared some of the house like structures. She saw him gesture to follow him, so she did. While the boy jumped up to the platform, Marlene used the ramp to get up to the higher landing. There were more houses here. Verka said he was going to check one and asked her to check the other on the opposite side. She nodded and headed over to the other house. She had use a box to peer into the window, but found no one. Frowning in disappointment, she climbed down and headed towards Verka once more.

As she did this, she was cut off as a strange black creature with glowing eyes came out of the ground, wiggling its antenna. The creature reminded Marlene of a giant ant, but a scary one! The creature twitched here and there watching her. She saw more of the strange shadows appear and saw some appear around Verka.

[FF20FF]"Verka! Watch out!"[/color] she called as one behind the boy decided to leap into the air and try to strike the boy. As soon as she let out the warning, the strange shadow in front of her hopped a bit as it turned to her fully and made a swipe at her. Instinctively, Marlene moved back and out of the way. The strange shadow, twitched again and came forward. Marlene backed away in fear. Just what were these things anyway?! And why were they here all of a sudden? Once again, Marlene wished her dad and the others were here to help.

[verka]

OOC: Yup! xD Hahaha.

IC:

Verka, disappointed, yawned again as Marlene called out to him in terror. The boy's ears perked up, and he saw her waving in his direction, pointing to a black shadow with bright yellow eyes... Oh no, Verka thought, outstretching his hand, and summoned his Keyblade. Heartless... here? But this has to be a place of light... it's so peaceful!

Verka leaped over the first heartless, completely ignoring it in order to save Marlene from the one attacking her. As simple as these heartless were, it took a simple two cross-diagonal swipes to finish the one that threatened Marlene. Surely she was a civilian; no magic or weapons benefit her. Verka's blue eyes met her's with a sense of peace, and he smiled. "You stay right here!" Verka said, and dashed backwards to where he had previously come from.

The heartless were multiplying and surrounding Verka. He had read about these... They were simple, dull-minded creatures: they would be very easy to kill. Nevertheless, the surrounded him in seemingly great numbers, and Verka only wondered how in the world they had appeared so quickly. Had... something summoned them?

Shaking off his thoughts, Verka cast a Thundara spell on two of the heartless, eliminating them immediately. Then he followed through by dashing - nearly like a ballerina with his feet rarely touching the ground - in order to make a few swipes against the others that remained. He came straight forward in a downward arc on one of the last ones, and it seemed as though the heartless were completely gone... Verka lowered his Keyblade and sighed, laughing over to Marlene. "This isn't good..." the keyblader said under his breath.

However, the unexpected happened. There was an echoing chuckle around the small straw huts and houses, and then - in a flash of dark light - a large Grim Reaper heartless appeared, axe swinging. Verka broke into a cold sweat and jumped backwards to avoid its first immediate strike. He turned anxiously to Marlene, and screamed. "Run!"

[deshitana3]

Just as the shadow tried to swipe at her, Verka took it out. Still scared, Marlene met the boy's eyes for just a moment and saw him smile. The feeling that washed over her was a peaceful one that eased some of her fears away. As he told her to stay put, she nodded and then watched as he went to take out the others that had gathered.

She watched as the boy seemed to take the creatures out effortlessly. When they were gone and Verka laughed in relief, Marlene moved from her spot to head over to him, relieved the battle was over; however, she froze in her tracks as she heard a laugh follow Verka's. The laughing was dark and sent chills down her spine. As she heard the laughing, she looked around the area for the source. What was that?

In a strange flash of blackish light, a large strange creature holding a huge weapon appeared in the area. The fear that ran through Marlene froze her for a moment and then she heard Verka shouting at her to run. Marlene didn't have to be told twice. Ducking under a swing from the large creature, she ran around the creature and down the ramp. She ran a short distance before stopping. She couldn't leave Verka alone. She needed to help him or that monster would hurt him. Looking around the beach, Marlene began to searched for something that could be used to help Verka out. She had just found a large stick she could pick up and was about to head back, when more of the strange shadows surrounded her.

"Go away!" she yelled at them as they circled her a bit. The creatures did not listen as they watched her. Feeling scared, but angry because they were in the way. Marlene did her best to scare them away, but failed. One of the creature's leaped forward at her and tried to swipe at her. On instinct, she raised the stick to protect herself; however, the blow was heavy and knocked her onto her butt. Marlene winced in pain, but had no time to worry about the small injury. The three heartless that surrounded her leaped forward at once attempting to destroy her. All Marlene could do was make herself as small as possible and protect her head as she close her eyes, hoping that the creatures wouldn't kill her....

[verka]

Verka breathed heavily as he dodged the Reaper's twin-headed axe; then, he turned in Marlene's direction to see that she had gotten away safely. It looked as though she had... but what was she doing? Verka was distracted, and the giant Heartless got a good hit on him, sending him flying back into a wall. Verka yelled out in pain, then fell to the ground. He stood quickly, however; readying his keyblade for another assault. He charged carelessly, yelling with anger, and flipped into the air. He beelined straight down and swiped across the creature's arm. The young boy followed through with a hit across the waist, then Verka grabbed the heartless's arm and flipped himself over, now standing on it's arm.

Confused, the heartless tried to flick Verka off, but when the arm came, Verka timed his jump just right to where he was able to land safely on the next arm. He held tight onto it like a monkey bar and swung around it, soaring into the air. From above, he cast another thundara spell, then finished the combo by diving straight down with his Keyblade.

The heartless made a strange noise, but he was not finished by any means. He swung straight across with his axe, and Verka wasn't recovered enough to dodge it. The boy was sent flying back again, but this time, recovered in the air, and landed softly on his feet. His leather boots clicked against the wood as he landed.

Verka had seemingly forgotten about Marlene... he looked over to where she had run off to, and saw many heartless atop her. "No!" He screamed. He ran down the ramp and jumped over the railing onto the sand, where the small ant-like heartless where. "Get off of her!" He shouted, swinging with adept skill to hit every target except Marlene. Once most were cleared, Verka stood in a defensive position in front of Marlene as more heartless appeared, and the giant Grim Reaper followed them...

[deshitana3]

Marlene thought she was finished as the small shadow like creatures piled on top her, trying to eat her. Despite, the creatures' scratching, she somehow survived. A warmth from within her seemed to give her strength and keep the strange coldness that wanted to swallow her away. Whatever the power was that kept her safe faded away as she heard Verka's voice and then the creatures were being destroyed.

She had a split second to feel relieved as she saw Verka there, but the relief was snatched away as more of the shadows came and the larger creature began to make its way towards them. With Verka in front, Marlene turned with the stick in hand to face the heartless behind them. Back-to-back with Verka, Marlene watched the strange creatures carefully. When one lunged at her, she swung the stick as hard as she could and managed to smack it in the head. The creature backed off again. Keeping the stick ready, Marlene kept the strange twitching creatures in sight as her mind wondered how they were to escape this...

((o.o;; A short one. Sorry about that.))