[Dolly]

Word Count: 781

In the desert dunes just five miles west of the shack in which Dolly and her scavenger group met the infamous radio host "Wolf" - a handle he claims to have always used, despite most people not remembering those kinds of details - Dolly was contacted by the man himself via a machinated carrier pigeon. It was a confusing sight, seeing a common bird, one that usually frequented the Yggdrasil-fed woodlands and greenery, soaring about the desert plain of the Wilds. Dolly did her best to communicate with the pigeon, but it was as if she was opening up a mental connection with a stone wall. Nothing. No response, just hollow air. This wasn't a beast of any kind. Down came the pigeon, revealing itself to be an automaton that would occasionally drop by Wolf's place and offer its services. Strange devices like this were popping up all over Gaia's Wake, and though Dolly and her group were curious as ever about any new event regarding the status of their new, wild homeland, food and shelter came first. Wolf had allowed them to stay there for a night, which he mentioned in the letter gripped in the pigeon's talons:

"Now I gotta thank you folks for dropping by and giving old Barb and I an update on how the world is. We haven't been more than five miles out for fear of losing our home to those beastkind, so it's nice to have visitors who can keep us and informed. You people rushed out in such a hurry, I couldn't explain to you what I'm going to now. There's a desert gator out in the Wilds that Barb and I have been trying to pin down and have killed for at least two weeks. Showed up last month, ate one of our newborn chickens. Barb scared him off with a shotgun, but it didn't look like the type that would stay away. So, for the care we gave ya last night, we was wondering if you'd take care of old Gaterbrains for us, since you folks hunt beastkind anyway, and we'll call it even. I know you're good folks, so I've given you a watch attached to the pigeon which you can probably broker back in Miracle, if ya ever head thatta way. Thanks kids.
- With Love, Wolf

Since Dolly was the supposed wise-woman of the group, she was asked how they should go about handling this. They certainly had nothing else better to do and it would be rude of them to run off with the watch and ignore Wolf's advice. Also, the way he functioned, Dolly had already surmised he was a man of more importance than he led on. She seriously doubted it was just him and his old lady back at that shack. He probably had a million wandering souls stop in and find themselves indebted to him. Luckily for both parties, the group had actually taken up a few of these offers in the past, from wayward Yggdrasil communities scattered all over the wasteland. They had killed monster chicken-snakes, massive Gem Pincers that they had been able forge jewelery out of and have Rocky go into town and sell them, and all manner of other beasties. Never anything like this though. Wolf made it sound like something he couldn't handle, and his pretend "best-buddy" attitude would fool you from thinking he was capable of handling anything. Dolly had seen him raise the earth with a flick of his wrist when the group arrived. He made a plateau of earth and stuck a guestbook on it, and said jokingly, "If I get too many more of you folks, I'm gonna have to start chargin' ya to pass!" The group laughed. Company was more than desirable these days. But Dolly, forced to be quiet by the curse of her Virtue, could only watch and observe his ways. He let on more than he told. But who knew? Maybe he couldn't handle the gator, and was really just looking to cash in a favor from more capable friends. Dolly decided to feign ignorance and believe that. The group set out to find this creature, doing more or less the same thing that they always had; mindlessly wandering onward while Rocky created a mental map in her head. It was then that they came upon an oasis of sorts with a small Yggdrasil tree no more than four feet tall built up strong beside it, and made camp there for the night. The water was welcome in this hot, dry place, and the group was tired after a long day of walking.

[Owen Night]

A blue Sky...

A bright Sun...

Hottness...

The desert brought all of these things, in the most unwelcome way. To say the least, Owen was panting and sweating like a wet dog. He had been 'passing' through the desert when he got attacked by some beast and charged to the very middle of it.. Now he had no idea where to go. He had been walking for hours and hours and hours. No he had seen trees, so that has to be good. He marched and marched until after about an hour he finally got into the trees. Oooo. Was it cool. The moist air that hit his skin was welcome. He heard running water, which meant animals.. and water! Cool.. Coool.. Water.

He had walked and fell right into the bank, falling into the water and busting his nose. Now.. It hurt like the devil. He rubbed his nose and frowned, he was all wet. He took his crystal from his sack and held his right hand over his nose and grunted when it snapped back in place. Reaturning it to it's confy confines he began to undress, leaving only his boxers on. Setting his boxers by to sun dry, which was the only good thing about the desert. Jumping into the water and welcoming the cooling tempature it brought. He swam with his hair dripping wet when he bumped into something. Opening the eyes he didn't know he closed, he was it was a GIANT alligator. "AHHHHHHH!" Echoed out through the oasis as he splashed backwards with the alligator in tow. "Why now of all times!?" He asked himself as he raced up the river. He doubted anyone would be around to save him.. this was NOT the way he was going to die. No.. Not Gonna Die!

Green Scales...

Yellow Eyes...

Giant Teeth...

Then Light. What had happened?

[Dolly]

Word Count: 1247

After they had discovered the oasis, Dolly had her group had gone to form some semblance of a shelter using the trees in a nearby forest. Though it would normally be unnatural to see a small woodland in the middle of the desert like this, many people in Gaia's Wake had become accustomed to the Yggdrasil producing their own environment wherever they sprouted. The group had actually been extremely fortunate to find an Yggdrasil of any size out in the middle of nowhere like this, with no one already comprising the resources it produced fro their own gain. The woodland was layered with shimmering grass tinged blue by crystal deposits underneath the earth. Grope proposed that they do a little digging before they left, but Rocky mentioned that there was barely enough to constitute a crystal and that we already had quite a few back-ups in case Clarice's ran out. Besides, they had a mission now, and there was no need getting side-tracked when the gator could be just a few miles in any direction. So, that night, they feasted on few fruit that had grown from the tiny Yggdrasil, which Clarice seared nicely over an open fire, citing some culinary schooling in her past life, and the group went to bed.

They awoke in the morning to a cry. It was solitary, masculine scream that echoed out through the sparse trees from the direction of the oasis, which was surprising since the group very rarely saw other wanderers. If this person was in any danger, it couldn't be beastkind related, because the Yggdrasil should have kept the oasis warded from those monsters. That's why the group felt safe enough to sleep on the grass nearby, because beastkind rarely tread on it. All the same, once Rocky rushed out of the treeline to investigate further, she saw a young man in the water and the gator was there with him. At least, it only seemed logical that this would be the gator Wolf had mentioned, being relatively near his shack and all. Dolly and the others quickly gathered their things, with Wanda, their Humilitas, leading the pack. She was adept at controlling water best out of all the natural elements, and was probably best suited for this kind of operation. Dolly gave Grope a look and he nodded, rushing in to rescue the young man. Wanda separate the waters of the oasis, leaving the boy in a dry spot while the gator viciously snapped through the barrier of water created by her rift. "Very Moses of you, Wands!" Rocky shouted, always the team mascot if nothing else. She had acquired a few weapons of her own, but wasn't trained in the use of any of them, besides her dagger which had a pretty straightforward usage anyway. The whole group knew they should get the gator on land before making any sort of move, as well as ensuring the boy's safety. Grope had that covered. He easily threw him over his good shoulder with one arm and climbed over the edge, setting him down in the grass and turning to Dolly for what she guessed was a command.

It was interesting, the amount of respect she had garnered from the group lately. Grope was relying on her more and more everyday for her guidance, and whereas the old Dahlia Camina might have resigned all her power to the nearest male in her past life, the new Dolly was enjoying it. She nodded to Wanda, who was doing her best to keep the wall of water up as the gator tried to snap through. "It's huge! Like, ginormous!" Rocky shouted,  jumping in the air and holding onto her cap as she did so. She was so young and naive. Dolly loved her all the more for it.

Reel him in, Wanda. Dolly said, mentally of course. Wanda nodded vigorously, fighting to keep the gator at bay. A bead of sweat had gathered on her brow. She was already an older woman and her vice made her all the more feeble. Though her abilities were strong, she had probably been dealt the shortest straw out of the group, next to Grope's lack of an arm. She reached out with her hands and the crown on her shoulder glowed radiantly as she channeled all her energy into the next move. "Get out of the way, everyone!" she barked, though only Dolly and Rocky were in the direct line of fire. The water rushed toward them and they ducked off to the side as the gator and a sizable wave battered the blue-tinged grass. "How is this thing even on the grass?" Rocky asked, always the inquisitive even in the heat of battle. She charged at it, rashly, and stabbed into its scaly backside. The knife sunk in and the gator nearly snapped around to bite her, but Dolly held its eyes on her. It's will was weak, that much she could tell. It was a struggle for it to be this close to the Yggdrasil, like being in its vicinity actually took a toll on it. Dolly refused to break contact as the group tore it down from behind, and the beast was forced to take it. Why are you here? Dolly asked, not in words but in feelings. She could only hear a feeble attempt at aggression. An empty threat. It was actually sort of sad.

Meanwhile, Clarice knelt beside the boy and looked for any wounds she could heal up. There were none, though, so he focused on getting him conscious and speaking instead. Dolly heard her ask him what he was around these parts alone. Dolly was mostly preoccupied with keeping the beast at bay, which was actually becoming too difficult for her to handle. What had been feeble aggression was now a growing fury. It was overpowering her, was a surprise. She had been able to keep most beasts stable, but this one might have touched her somehow, with its very normal, very vulnerable feelings. She hesitated at just the wrong moment and a claw swiped out in her direction, throwing her to the side. She watched, on the ground with claw marks at her ribs, as her group batted at it furiously. It was unstoppable though. Now, with nothing to keep it at bay, it unleashed its rage, snapping at Rocky who barely leaped out of the way with a squeal. Dolly saw Clarice running toward her, as Wanda helped to pull the boy off to the side with her. "Grope and Malachai can handle this, Dolly." she muttered, pleasantly. Rocky was, of course, cheering the two boys on as they dealt with the gator. Malachai was another Industria they had met, one who remembered Wanda from his past life, but not the nature of their relationship. He was more mature, as well, and suffered from deafness as payment for his effectiveness with large, sharp things. While Grope didn't enjoy blood, and therefore used bludgeons, Malachai got a thrill out of it, and had crafted what appeared to be an enormous butcher knife, which he wielded with ease. He was an interesting old coot.

Dolly rolled over the boy as Clarice tended to her wounds. Who are you and what are you doing here? she asked, unsure if he had answered Clarice before. She wondered absently if he would know the source of the thoughts in his head. She gave him a wave, for good measure.

[Owen Night]

Owen heard shouting in the background. His eyes lids felt very heavy like all he wanted to do was crawl up and go to a deep sleep, because he also felt others around him, who could possibly be hurt and he couldn't rest in this situation. But he felt heavy hands on him so that had to be a good sign. But what was a gator doing here? He should have been somewhat repeled by the trees around these parts.. or was he not beastkind enough? Owens thoughts were all jumbleded then he heard a voice in the back of his mind. It just sat their for a moment until it sunk in.

His eyes opened little by little as he was blinded with the rays of the bright sun. Something told him he wasn't hurt but the others could be. "Yeah. Im fine. Thanks." He replied back to the voice. It was probably a Patentia since she was communicating by telepathy. He sat up and looked around, noticing the gator. But he didn't fight so all eh could do was medic the fight out until they won. His eyes scanned the people. He shook his head and splashed water everywhere. It wasn't just the woman but others as well, it seemed like a group. Then a thought hit his head like a boulder. 'These are the only people since Violet that have actually helped me, and didn't want me to birthgive for them first.' These others have already gotten on her good side for this deed, he would owe them with a debt. He would offer his services. No one woman ever refused that before. It was really all he could give, he didn't have much else of anything.

All they fought, he went back and grabbed his clothes. It might have seemed selfish but he would be there if they needed healing, it was his personal vice. He wasn't a fighter, that was left to others, he was a healer. But despite this, the ones that are least able in one thing, excel in others. He was the best at what he does. He has done both things for 7 years on end to get by. It was nothing new, nothing shocking. This cycle wasn't a fist. He offered his services for a day or two in return for help. Putting his clothes back on, after airdrying a little he walked back to the group. Ready to help if they didn't already have a Castitas that healed everyone.

When he walked back and saw they were done he got on his knees, forgetting to check if anyone was hurt. "Arigato. Thanks for saving me. I am in your debt. You can request of my services if you'd like a pay." He said as he bowed down, somewhat in fear of them, somewhat in respect.

[Dolly]

Word Count: 764

Clarice bent deeply over Dolly and pressed her palms gently over the section of ribs the gator had gotten a swipe at. No one was at fault but herself, and Dolly would remember to be more careful next time. This world taught her more and more things every day, and though some days she found herself loathing this painful existence of hazy memories and no direction, she could silently admit to herself that there was enjoyment to be found. And love. And peace, in small amounts. This group had offered her many moments of solace, allowing her to gather her thoughts and recuperate while they picked up her slack. Many a night she retired early, the toll of remaining always voiceless, always unable to defend herself in the way she wanted, and she cried herself silently - her signature - to sleep. Somewhere, she had a son, who would never hear her voice. And in that past life, she felt the resignation and defeat at he hands of a man, and how she had been just as voiceless then as now, in a way. Her life had been twisted, copied over, and then pasted into this unforgiving world. It made Dolly thankful for the little things, which felt cliche to consider, but true nonetheless. Company and kind words meant the world to her, and meeting new people like this was something of a miracle. There were so few people wandering out in the Wilds like this, still alive. They had come across many a rotting, half-eaten corpse, bring bile to Dolly's mouth and sick visions of what fate might have befell the poor individual. She was glad they could rescue this one before he ended up just like all the others.

Once she had ensured he was well, Dolly gave him no further interrogation. It helped that it took a little more effort to pester a person when a mental connection was in the mix, and one couldn't merely blurt out anything they first thought of. That, in small ways, could be a blessing. She watched closely as he made his way back over to the oasis, steering clear of the fight with the gator. It had shifted away from the oasis, now taking place atop a sand dune. Dolly imagined Grope was leading the beast away from the Yggdrasil, for fear it may do it harm, she supposed; what else were they supposed to think, having always thought beastkind weren't allowed near the healing trees. This was troublesome, indeed. Another mystery in the enormous pot of mysteries that made up this existence.

The boy returned after a short while and offered his service, which Clarice quickly discredited by explaining that she was the group's Castitas. Dolly didn't blame her for her finickiness. She was more than aware of her weakness in the group, being the newest member and the least stable emotionally. She did a suitable job keeping the group taken care of, but her own insecurities had led her to believe she was in danger of being left somewhere. Though Dolly had reassured her countless times that they would never leave her, or anyone in the group behind, Clarice never seemed to fully accept an answer like that. As if there was always a chance she wouldn't be good enough, if it came down to choosing her life over another's in the group. Dolly wondered about that, too. She hoped she would never have to make that decision. But, Dolly noticed there was something unusual in the way he phrased 'services' that gave her pause. Clarice went on explaining how she was the newest member to the group, but that she had been traveling as a "member" for months. Member. Like this was some sort of exclusive club. Dolly did tire of her immaturity, at times, even if her words had good intentions. Perhaps they didn't, however, since it seemed like she was going in the direction of barring him from the group.

Dolly lifted a finger toward Clarice, who, like the rest of the group, had learned to watch for any move by Dolly. They had come to respect her for her lack of speech, and were extra-sensitive toward any other form of communication she utilized. What kind of services do you offer? she asked Owen, privately. Look at me, as if you are speaking, but think the answer. No need for anyone else prying into your business. Clarice reddened, nodded hastily, and moved to sit by Wanda. The two of them watched as Dolly attempted to open communication with the young scavenger.

[Owen Night]

The group was quick to dismiss his offer. But Owen got the feeing they got the wrong idea of what he meant by services. The girl continued on, explaning that she was a Castitas. Something told him that she'd never serviced anyone with their needs before or she had just put it behind her, it was most likely the first with the way the girl talked. She said she was traveling with the group but only recently become a real true member of this group. The others seemed more.. what was the word.. aquainted with each other than with the girl. He would never know the loving of a family, but these guys were as close to family as you can get without actually being related by blood, or so it seemed.

The boy blushed a bit at the telepathy he was receiving. He never had to explain himself before, he just healed and everyone knew what he meant. "hat kind of services do you offer?" Look at me, as if you were speaking but think the answer, no need for anyone else to pry into your business." Owen looked at the women, his cheeks burning red, blushing. "Im a Casitas as well. We are birthgivers so if you would like to use me for a night to pay you off for saving me, id do it." He thought the answer over very very carefully before he added,

"It's okay, it's what I have done since the start to live. Truthfully you are the first people to save me first and get a debt later. Most others see me healing someone then ask for my services in return for food or shelter. I thank you, now let me do this for your group to pay it off. I have nothing else to give." He was offering this to the whole group if they had plenty more people that this on him so it would be like breathing for him by now. Something that comes naturally and without a thought. Though it had been awhile since he got to enjoy himself. Actually, only him time with Violet were the pleasnt ones.

He waited for their answer.

[Dolly]

Word Count: 925

Wanda and Clarice tried to make it seem as if they were more interested in the battle at hand, which Malachai and Grope seemed to using as extended exercise or playtime more than dealing with a threat. Rocky was thoroughly enjoying the fight as well, prancing around as usual. But Clarice, more than Wanda, glanced over at Owen and Dolly a little often. Dolly could feel her beady little eyes and pursed lips baring down on her as she tried to have conversation, aware that Clarice could not hear the two of them even if she wanted to (and she wanted to) but it was nonetheless unsettling to have her so interested. What was she so paranoid about? Dolly knew her to be finicky to the extreme, but never this worried. Her expression gave away her needless fear and her straight posture was entirely out of the norm for someone who had just welcome a potential new member to the group. She had to know that she would never be replaced. There had been too many people the group had run into on their journey that were more than willing to throw their fellow man to the side for personal gain. It was sickening, inhumane, and as far as Dolly could gather from what she had been told by Gaia, the total opposite of her plan. And if Gaia was the Mother Mary herself... Well, Dolly would act under her for now, at least. But the pressing matter at hand reminded just how important it would be to not, of all things, turn aside a strange in need. He had been through a lot, to be traveling alone out here. He must also be very capable, to walk the Wilds alone as a Castitas. Dolly had only known a few and found them to be good-intentioned but scarcely motivated. Like Clarice; paranoid, flaky, and weak-willed. Intentions meant naught without a will to action.

The group was very much out of the loop when it came to the current goings-on in the world, and the last time they had stopped in at Miracle was nearly a month ago. Back then, the city had just established a rather sizable, monster-free district set aside for craftsmen to settle down and open up shop. Rocky had purchase her dagger there, as a souvenir. She could be sentimental about those kinds of matters, especially when it seemed imperative to hold something from all these locations she would likely never return. Miracle had also been populated mostly by a small group of parading elitists, whose 'superior word' carried across the streets over speaker-phones and via hired news-callers. Birthgiving was a method of rapid reproduction utilized by the Reborn as a means to quickly re-populate the earth. Dolly didn't personally understand all the hurry in popping out babies, when there were quite enough people in need that had no ways of getting it. The poor of Miracle sold themselves over, primarily Castias, whose unique healing ability, while a necessity, is rarely used because of the healing properties of Yggdrasil products. A town can only hire so many doctors, additionally, and that put the Castita near the bottom of the chain of need, requiring that they make their living elsewhere. That was where birthgiving came in. It nearly beat out the growing problem of slavery in intensity. People were forced to have sex with others in the pure name of 'progression,' but often times the buyers were only in it for the more carnal rewards of intercourse. Dolly was unsurprised. She remembered how people had prized sex and how it was so widely spread in the media before the Fall. Now that people could freely trade bodies like a drug, justified, it was no surprise birthgiving were so rampant.

You'll be doing none of that, here. Dolly spoke to Owen, sternly. We don't support that kinda thing. Your body is your own and no one has the right to use it. It should be more important to you than the things it can buy in exchange. Dolly felt over her ribs, which were still a little sore. Clarice was adequate, but there was always soreness left over for a while after she did any sort of healing. Dolly pointed over to the boys and turned to Clarice, whose face was still wearing that same tense expression. Tell them to wrap it up, we need to get a move on to Miracle. Clarice looked surprised, probably that Dolly had suggested they go back to Miracle. The first night they spent there, expecting to have found a suitable home for a while and abandon their traveling, they were mugged. It was advertised as a community inn, free-of-charge, but they had not been informed that muggers frequented the place and took payment in the middle of the night. Grope had nearly smashed one of their heads in when he caught him trying to take a necklace off his neck, a necklace supposedly very special to him, though he wouldn't say why. Needless to say, they left the next morning, their departure sealed when they informed the 'clerk' who tried to brush the ordeal under the mat. It had been an inside job, common in Miracle. So, Dolly expected Clarice to be a little confused. She ran over to Grope and Malachai and yelled a few words at them, as they finished wrangling the gator. Do you have any family in Miracle? Dolly asked Owen, offering him a hand to help pull him from his sitting position.