[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... uncert.png[/imgleft]Prompt 1: W2 – 100 percent sanity- Strained Lungs Neither Nor wasn’t sure what they were doing participating in this. Ok that wasn’t entirely true. The maze was far too tempting for a kin who thought themselves far more clever than those around them. Of course Neither Nor would make it through the maze, even with the sinweed potentially clouding their senses (which of course Neither Nor also believed themselves to have a strong enough will to overcome or reason out any side effects of the pollen.)

The first few yards were not of note as far as Neither Nor was concerned. Dark, uncomfortably prickly, and with that scent leaving what felt like a film inside his throat. They said this maze was hard. Neither Nor believed it was likely only fear that made it difficult for others. Without admitting why though they chose each tunneled path by how few bones each one contained. That was just common sense yes?

Crawling through one such tunnel Neither Nor came to their feet in a surprisingly open space, though their vision was clouded by the pollen that hung in the air, eddying but never seeming to actually drift towards the ground. They pressed forward breathing raggedly… surely they weren’t this out of shape? It couldn’t be. Neither Nor shook their head trying to clear the red fog that swirled both around them and inside them.

They stopped, knees shaking and shook their head again, hard. They had to get out of this haze. They just… needed to catch their breath first. Like smoke maybe, if they crouched low they could get to some fresher air. Neither Nor took the mental permission to drop to the ground, his limbs feeling less like sturdy flesh and bone and more like the water filled vines that sagged from the lowest tree limbs. Neither Nor closed their eyes. Just briefly. Just enough to get their head straight.

Their head. The head that twisted upside down the moment their eyes were closed, cranked back over their shoulders by some invisible force as their eyes shot open only to stare into the tentacled face of what may have been a kin in one life. It’s mouth opened impossibly wide and filled with too many teeth and suckered tentacles dripping with saliva. Eyes flashed as a pair of legs, jointed in ways Neither Nor couldn’t name, closed around Neither Nor’s neck.

The kimeti found air enough in their lungs to scream, regaining feeling in their legs and racing, tumbling and clumsy, through the end of the corridor. Their attacker nowhere to be seen.

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... uncert.png[/imgleft]Prompt 2: W6 – 75 percent sanity- Faces Ok. Neither nor was shaken. Their skin prickled with anxiety, feeling watched, feeling touched, feeling like that thing was watching them from the thick thorn walls surrounding them. Neither Nor kept their head low, peering around turns and into tunnels before traveling. Were there other kin in the maze? There were weren’t there? It was supposed to be a game. They were sure they heard other kin in here and that’s all it was. Just a bunch of party goers getting each other worked up and going for a spook. Right?

Once again the air opened up and the walls felt less like they were reaching for him. The feeling of being watched became very real as Neither Nor came face to face with an eerie crowd. Dull, wrinkled, warped faces stared disdainfully at them. Judging their fear and their pride. Neither Nor’s hackles raised in anger. “What? If you have something to say say it to my face.”

”Coward.” “Shamful.” The faces whispered, sneering at them as Neither Nor lifted their head high and walked past. “You’re wrong! This is all just a trick! A game to fool the foolish and laugh at the weak willed.”

”You’re wrong.” ”You’re wrong.”

The voices echoed, taking up their words in a discordant chant that grew louder and louder. Neither Nor picked up speed, needing to outrace the judgemental beings as their words tore at Neither Nor’s mind and heart.

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... uncert.png[/imgleft]Prompt 3: F1 – 50 percent sanity - The Spider They sunk. Deeper and deeper. It didn't alarm them though as they were warm and lethargic like a lizard sunning on a rock. Neither Nor's progress had slowed to a stroll, the scent of the sinweed no longer nauseating but mellow and and enticing, like warm honey. The voices that taunted him had also changed, becoming soothing and affectionate. For a kin that generally held themself aloof from the affections of others, Neither Nor found themself being put at ease, comforted and almost trusting in a way they rarely did. Where had this lover been? Would that they could stay here with them but one small, sane, voice was still pushing them onward even if it was just to walk at this presence's side. They barely remembered that they were in a maze and must find their way out. What was out? Nothing aside from this warm being that walked beside them really existed or mattered. Only that it was important they stay there with them.

It had even begun to solidify, Neither Nor could feel the huff of it's breath on their neck as they nuzzled it. Their tail curled tightly around that of their new lover as they stopped walking, a sound breaking through their love drunk fantasy. Wings? Had a legendary come to bless their union? Of course it had. It was what they were doing yes? Looking for a blessing...

The shadows gathered around them, anticipation melding into alarm as like snakes, the shapes slithered into the air and gathered in a writhing mass above them. Larger and more solid it grew until Neither Nor's vision was filled fully with eight massive glittering eyes. They roared. No! This was their mate to protect! With no hesitation, Neither Nor lunged at the great beast.


Neither Nor:
Health - 40HP
Attack - 2d10 -6

Giant Spider:
HP:20
Autodamage: 2

[blockquote]Rolled 2d10 : 3, 10, total 13[/blockquote]

Neither Nor:
Health - 38HP
Attack - 2d10 -6

Giant Spider:
HP:13
Autodamage: 2

Neither Nor was woefully lacking in natural weaponry unlike some of their kimeti brethren but in the defense of their lover and with the aid of the pollen dulling their pain response, they slammed hard into the massive predator. Hooves scraped against exoskeleton and they felt a satisfying crunch. Falling back and spinning around, Neither Nor raced towards their attacker in another lunge.

[blockquote]Rolled 2d10 : 8, 2, total 10[/blockquote]

Neither Nor:
Health - 36HP
Attack - 2d10 -6

Giant Spider:
HP:9
Autodamage: 2

Their second attack was clumsy, the giant spider swiping at Neither Nor and knocking them off their feet. Rolling on the ground, Neither Nor lashed out with their hind legs, terrified of those fangs getting near their stomach.

[blockquote]Rolled 2d10 : 5, 8, total 13[/blockquote]

Neither Nor:
Health - 34HP
Attack - 2d10 -6

Giant Spider:
HP:2
Autodamage: 2


There! Another solid crunch as Neither Nor's hooves connected, breaking off one of the fangs. They rolled, scrambling to their feet and could see that somewhere in the battle the spider had lost use of a couple legs, the appendages crooked but still attached. Neither Nor struck out again, they could do this!

[blockquote]Rolled 2d10 : 8, 3, total 11[/blockquote]

Neither Nor:
Health - 32HP
Attack - 2d10 -6

Giant Spider:
HP:0
Autodamage: 2

SMASH. Dead on hit. Neither Nor felt their feet sink into the spider's face and the massive creature shuddered and collapsed to the ground. Panting, Neither Nor turned around to check on their lover only to see nothing. Emptiness crashed around them as reality snapped like a dry twig. Neither Nor whipped forward again and the body of their foe was also gone. Nothing but a tree, caked in old webs and dead leaves, with hoofmarks in the flaking bark of it's trunk, stood before them. The clearing was empty and quiet of everything but the soft orange glow of the sinweed.

No. No. This couldn't be reality. This was the fever dream of sinweed. They weren't alone. They had just saved their mate from a giant spider. They had to find them. Further. Further in the maze. Their mate was further in the maze.

[imgleft]http://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/image ... uncert.png[/imgleft]Prompt 4: W11 -25 percent sanity –Trip They weren't alone they weren't alone they weren't alone they weren't alone. They were in the maze they had to be they saved them from the spider. the spider that was a tree the tree that was empty the empty tree that was their lover. Or was it the spider? No they were their lover. No. The tree. No. Where were they? Each footfall sunk through the ground beneath them and touched their back. Light tickles along their spine. Their lover was missing yes. They were safe they were free they were not here Neither Nor was alone.

No. Not alone. They were there. With the others. With themself. With the voices. The voices that shouted at them. Loud and soft deafening whispers of shame, of judgement, of love and of victory. They had beat the maze. They had found their way out. Their legs were impossibly long. Longer. Taller than the surrounding maze. Neither Nor looked up and could see themself stepping high overhead, walking with ease over the walls of the maze. They were free! Everything would be ok their love was free. They had succeeded in saving them, rescuing them from the weed that overtook their mind and their senses. Their hooves slipped off the smooth curve of their back and they stumbled but it was ok because they were free. They just had to find the door.

...What's a door?