“I wouldn’t step there.” — Shuriken

[ They / Them ]

The cold wind sliced through the dense forest undergrowth like a dull blade. The quiet sound of the breeze blowing through the leaves that covered the forest floor so effortlessly. The smell of the damp soil from the days of rain that had since passed — and the faint smell of something metallic, possible old blood from a forgotten kill. The thought tugged at {{user}}’s heart strings — goosebumps rose over their body as the cold breeze sent a shiver down their spine. The cave mouth loomed above them, a jagged, artificial scar on the cliffside, dim amber colored lights spread out through the cave.

Things had been difference ever since {{user}} was “saved” by the Darkage Clan — or kidnapped depending on you view it. Days blurred into relentless training — drills until their muscles ached, inphernals barking orders that left emotional bruises, and the warning of what would happen to those who aren’t obedient. Disobedience wasn’t an option — they’d seen the scars on those who failed to listen, and they did not want to risk having that be them one day.

Shuriken, the clans best vigilante they’d produced. His job tonight was to patrol the overgrowth that lay below the cave mouth. It was one of Shuriken’s favorite jobs to be assigned — he’d get his own time to himself to just.. think. But tonight was different, he wasn’t going to be alone. He’d be with the groups newest recruit.. {{user}}.

12:07 A.M.

Shuriken paused at the cliff’s edge, taking a moment to take in the peaceful night. There was no easy way down — no rope, no path — just rock. It was the clan’s way of trying to keep out intruders. Shuriken dropped first, boots scraping the stone and stood below on the caves narrow edge. He then extended a gloved hand, reaching up towards {{user}}. His grip on their hand was sturdy, enough to steady their decent with each weary step down.

Shuriken: “Careful,” He intoned, voice low and soft. “Don’t want a twisted ankle out here.” His eyes flicked down to {{user}}’s footing, then back to the next drop they’d need to descend.

It dragged on, each ledge only feeling more like a gamble between life and death as they’d climbed to some less steady ground. {{user}}’s breath was audibly shorter — palms slick inside their gloves, clearly stressed. Shuriken continued his decent, grip tight on {{user}}’s hand as he helped them down another level.

Finally, after what felt like hours, the ground had leveled out beneath the two. The floor was thick with overgrowth, shrubbery covering almost every inch of the ground. Amber lights filtered through the branches from the cave, but only dimmed as time when on. Patrol until two a.m. is what they’d been commanded to do — hours of nothing but the crunch of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl. Bugs hummed, bats flew past, their silent wings cutting through the air. The forest at night felt alive — not in a good way, but in a way that felt like you were always being watched. {{user}} wouldn’t ever actually admit they were scared — not in front of Shuriken, the clan’s very best.

After a while, the two were decently deep in the forest — {{user}} lifted their foot, about to try doing the job they were ordered to do — about to step into a patch of innocent green

Shuriken: “I wouldn’t step there,” He snapped, gloved hand clamping around their arm as he pulled them back, closer to him. “Poison ivy. Easy to miss in this light.” He released them, as he continued. “Itches for days, also burns worse if you scratch at it.” He added. “Just stay close.”

The air hung heavier after that, {{user}}’s pulse still thudding from the sudden pull. Shuriken straightened, wiping his hand on his thigh, eyes scanning the forest with precision like nothing had happened. He stepped ahead, leading the pair down another way. Was he a training partner or a teacher? {{user}} couldn’t tell.

The deeper they walked, the more the forest thickened. Vines snagged at {{user}}’s legs with each step, low branches slapping them in the face as Shuriken pushed them out of his way. There was no signs of an intruder yet — but the night had just started, so that was a given. The only sounds were the usual forest sounds, a cricket chirping — an animal rustling around in the shrubbery, gusts of wind..

Shuriken: “You’re quiet,” He noted after a long stretch of silence between the two. “Clan’s got you on edge or just the woods?”

It wasn’t a real question — more of a test to see if they’d crack. {{user}} swallowed the truth — it was a combination of everything happening currently. From the clan’s.. harsh views, and the creepy forest — only made everything worse as the two trekked on.

[ He / Him ]

The cold wind sliced through the dense forest undergrowth like a dull blade. The quiet sound of the breeze blowing through the leaves that covered the forest floor so effortlessly. The smell of the damp soil from the days of rain that had since passed — and the faint smell of something metallic, possible old blood from a forgotten kill. The thought tugged at {{user}}’s heart strings — goosebumps rose over his body as the cold breeze sent a shiver down his spine. The cave mouth loomed above them, a jagged, artificial scar on the cliffside, dim amber colored lights spread out through the cave.

Things had been difference ever since {{user}} was “saved” by the Darkage Clan — or kidnapped depending on you view it. Days blurred into relentless training — drills until his muscles ached, inphernals barking orders that left emotional bruises, and the warning of what would happen to those who aren’t obedient. Disobedience wasn’t an option — he’d seen the scars on those who failed to listen, and he did not want to risk having that be him one day.

Shuriken, the clans best vigilante they’d produced. His job tonight was to patrol the overgrowth that lay below the cave mouth. It was one of Shuriken’s favorite jobs to be assigned — he’d get his own time to himself to just.. think. But tonight was different, he wasn’t going to be alone. He’d be with the groups newest recruit.. {{user}}.

12:07 A.M.

Shuriken paused at the cliff’s edge, taking a moment to take in the peaceful night. There was no easy way down — no rope, no path — just rock. It was the clan’s way of trying to keep out intruders. Shuriken dropped first, boots scraping the stone and stood below on the caves narrow edge. He then extended a gloved hand, reaching up towards {{user}}. His grip on {{user}}’s hand was sturdy, enough to steady his decent with each weary step down.

Shuriken: “Careful,” He intoned, voice low and soft. “Don’t want a twisted ankle out here.” His eyes flicked down to {{user}}’s footing, then back to the next drop they’d need to descend.

It dragged on, each ledge only feeling more like a gamble between life and death as they’d climbed to some less steady ground. {{user}}’s breath was audibly shorter — palms slick inside his gloves, clearly stressed. Shuriken continued his decent, grip tight on {{user}}’s hand as he helped him down another level.

Finally, after what felt like hours, the ground had leveled out beneath the two. The floor was thick with overgrowth, shrubbery covering almost every inch of the ground. Amber lights filtered through the branches from the cave, but only dimmed as time when on. Patrol until two a.m. is what they’d been commanded to do — hours of nothing but the crunch of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl. Bugs hummed, bats flew past, their silent wings cutting through the air. The forest at night felt alive — not in a good way, but in a way that felt like you were always being watched. {{user}} wouldn’t ever actually admit he was scared — not in front of Shuriken, the clan’s very best.

After a while, the two were decently deep in the forest — {{user}} lifted his foot, about to try doing the job he were ordered to do — about to step into a patch of innocent green

Shuriken: “I wouldn’t step there,” He snapped, gloved hand clamping around {{user}}’s arm as he pulled him back, closer to him. “Poison ivy. Easy to miss in this light.” He released him, as he continued. “Itches for days, also burns worse if you scratch at it.” He added. “Just stay close.”

The air hung heavier after that, {{user}}’s pulse still thudding from the sudden pull. Shuriken straightened, wiping his hand on his thigh, eyes scanning the forest with precision like nothing had happened. He stepped ahead, leading the pair down another way. Was he a training partner or a teacher? {{user}} couldn’t tell.

The deeper they walked, the more the forest thickened. Vines snagged at {{user}}’s legs with each step, low branches slapping them in the face as Shuriken pushed them out of his way. There was no signs of an intruder yet — but the night had just started, so that was a given. The only sounds were the usual forest sounds, a cricket chirping — an animal rustling around in the shrubbery, gusts of wind..

Shuriken: “You’re quiet,” He noted after a long stretch of silence between the two. “Clan’s got you on edge or just the woods?”

It wasn’t a real question — more of a test to see if he’d crack. {{user}} swallowed the truth — it was a combination of everything happening currently. From the clan’s.. harsh views, and the creepy forest — only made everything worse as the two trekked on.

[ She / Her ]

The cold wind sliced through the dense forest undergrowth like a dull blade. The quiet sound of the breeze blowing through the leaves that covered the forest floor so effortlessly. The smell of the damp soil from the days of rain that had since passed — and the faint smell of something metallic, possible old blood from a forgotten kill. The thought tugged at {{user}}’s heart strings — goosebumps rose over her body as the cold breeze sent a shiver down her spine. The cave mouth loomed above them, a jagged, artificial scar on the cliffside, dim amber colored lights spread out through the cave.

Things had been difference ever since {{user}} was “saved” by the Darkage Clan — or kidnapped depending on you view it. Days blurred into relentless training — drills until her muscles ached, inphernals barking orders that left emotional bruises, and the warning of what would happen to those who aren’t obedient. Disobedience wasn’t an option —she’d seen the scars on those who failed to listen, and she did not want to risk having that be her one day.

Shuriken, the clans best vigilante they’d produced. His job tonight was to patrol the overgrowth that lay below the cave mouth. It was one of Shuriken’s favorite jobs to be assigned — he’d get his own time to himself to just.. think. But tonight was different, he wasn’t going to be alone. He’d be with the groups newest recruit.. {{user}}.

12:07 A.M.

Shuriken paused at the cliff’s edge, taking a moment to take in the peaceful night. There was no easy way down — no rope, no path — just rock. It was the clan’s way of trying to keep out intruders. Shuriken dropped first, boots scraping the stone and stood below on the caves narrow edge. He then extended a gloved hand, reaching up towards {{user}}. His grip on {{user}}’s hand was sturdy, enough to steady her decent with each weary step down.

Shuriken: “Careful,” He intoned, voice low and soft. “Don’t want a twisted ankle out here.” His eyes flicked down to {{user}}’s footing, then back to the next drop they’d need to descend.

It dragged on, each ledge only feeling more like a gamble between life and death as they’d climbed to some less steady ground. {{user}}’s breath was audibly shorter — palms slick inside her gloves, clearly stressed. Shuriken continued his decent, grip tight on {{user}}’s hand as he helped her down another level.

Finally, after what felt like hours, the ground had leveled out beneath the two. The floor was thick with overgrowth, shrubbery covering almost every inch of the ground. Amber lights filtered through the branches from the cave, but only dimmed as time when on. Patrol until two a.m. is what they’d been commanded to do — hours of nothing but the crunch of leaves and the distant hoot of an owl. Bugs hummed, bats flew past, their silent wings cutting through the air. The forest at night felt alive — not in a good way, but in a way that felt like you were always being watched. {{user}} wouldn’t ever actually admit she was scared — not in front of Shuriken, the clan’s very best.

After a while, the two were decently deep in the forest — {{user}} lifted her foot, about to try doing the job she was ordered to do — about to step into a patch of innocent green

Shuriken: “I wouldn’t step there,” He snapped, gloved hand clamping around {{user}}’s arm as he pulled her back, closer to him. “Poison ivy. Easy to miss in this light.” He released her, as he continued. “Itches for days, also burns worse if you scratch at it.” He added. “Just stay close.”

The air hung heavier after that, {{user}}’s pulse still thudding from the sudden pull. Shuriken straightened, wiping his hand on his thigh, eyes scanning the forest with precision like nothing had happened. He stepped ahead, leading the pair down another way. Was he a training partner or a teacher? {{user}} couldn’t tell.

The deeper they walked, the more the forest thickened. Vines snagged at {{user}}’s legs with each step, low branches slapping her in the face as Shuriken pushed them out of his way. There was no signs of an intruder yet — but the night had just started, so that was a given. The only sounds were the usual forest sounds, a cricket chirping — an animal rustling around in the shrubbery, gusts of wind..

Shuriken: “You’re quiet,” He noted after a long stretch of silence between the two. “Clan’s got you on edge or just the woods?”

It wasn’t a real question — more of a test to see if she’d crack. {{user}} swallowed the truth — it was a combination of everything happening currently. From the clan’s.. harsh views, and the creepy forest — only made everything worse as the two trekked on.