Little_Cuddles

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It's kind of sad that, when we think of "Hordes," we immediately think "Bugs."

Ants tend to work like this. Hornets, too.

Beetles? Spiders? Hell no.

Of course, so do people if given sufficient numbers. Heck, sometimes we don't even need the sufficient numbers, we just need time and neglect. Look at the rain forests, for instance.

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So you fell for that, huh?

Look again. You truly think the jungle (call it what it truly is) doesn't reclaim land?

The workers who till the land in Brazil will tell you the jungle reclaims the land at a pace actually notable after only a week.

If the humans truly have been claiming the 50 acres per day the E-wackos claim. We would have no amazon jungle NOW.

The e-wackos have been wrong so often, I pity anyone who actually believes them.

In starship troopers, the antagonists were called 'spiders' or 'bugs'.

Star, you're right. This is VERY much like that.

Two differences:
1>the SST 'bugs' were tunnellers and this 'horde' does not appear to be.
2> As a race, this 'horde' seems to have an exaggerated version of dark miasma. Their ability to drain the life energy from their opponents was not present in SST.

THAT was worth the wait.

There can be no better way of saying it. Anything else would be an insult.

Well, we finally have some discription of the horde. As guessed earlier by some posters... they're HUGE bugs. The terminalogy reminds me of the bugs in another game called STARCRAFT, tho in that game, it's zergling- not hordling.

I like this also.

Continue please.

Ya know, this kinda reminds me of Saperhagen's BOLO series. That was typified by self-aware robots of extreme size dedicated to protecting humanity.

That clock-worked ritki mother ship may walk, but it still reminds me of a BOLO.

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I'm picturing ravenous bugs.

Like locusts, only as big as ponies and horses.

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Too small and not enough of them.

Odviously, THIS is the invasion the oroboros have been hinting about.

Very good story. I am SO glad CK finally is able to clear his concious (and gain some fame in the bargain). Penny brought his humanity (at least, the good part of humanity). Now he can fight for humanity.

Odviously, Hope is about to join him and she will prove worthy of her name and heritage.

OUTSTANDING!!!

EXCELLENT!!!

WOW

I hope this isn't all.

Well, I doubt there will be a rush to use that name any time soon. I wouldn't feel right doing so until I read the finish of what Blue is writing.

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It's actually a little common in English, too.

I've known a few girls named Hope.

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In some states; Hope, Prudence, Honor, and Precious are ALL in the top twenty female names.

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Hey, that's the best kind of story. I've got one I'm working on right now that I find myself asking "Who besides me is going to want to read this?" and every time the answer is "Who cares? I want to read it!"

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I agree. As Rip and a couple of other writers have also encouraged me writing my little story; I encourage you to write what YOU would like to read.

I like this very much.

Continue please.

this is precious.

I know how that girl feels (felt?).

I suspect Jill has powers as well.

How long you gonna leave us hanging? Or is THIS the end of the story?

It has been 29 days or almost a full month (with that month having 31 days).

Oh, what an excellent finish to an outstanding episode (not an end to a story, mind you).

Bravo!

He and Purvia were among more than 150 human/feline hybrids created by the ritki when the ritki over ran a zoo during the first ritki war.

After hero 1 and company shut the portals; regular human forces retook the zoo. During the fighting, Purvek saw his family (lioness mother and siblings) slaughtered by humans.

Though he survived the fighting, a mental block went up in Purvek, thus he was sub-consciously 'refusing' to learn the language of those he saw as his family's killers. In truth, he did learn the spoken language, but never realized it.

Both Ailia and Thomas discovered this during their many mind-to-mind 'talks' with Purvek; but they told no one and did not try to peirce the block.

Fortunately, Purvia was fashioned by the ritki to provide 'team-glue' (all human/lionesses were--only Purvia survived) and she learned the language easily.

Finally, when Lupia threatened Purvia and her unborn child in this story; Purvek could not protect them physically. His only recourse was communications and the mental barrier was destroyed by the need. His first reaction to the need was to roar his first human words at his mate's attacker (Lupia).

Dang. How does one TRY to say how much one loves a story without detracting from its quality?

In this story, not possible to express. I will only say "WELL DONE."

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Damn. I thought it would end something like this, but I was hoping it wouldn't.

At least Manx finally got release.

Damn that doc.

If Manx had a little life experiance, maybe it could have been different. That was NOT to be.

Now which story arc is that doc in? red or blue? I have several toons I'm itching to show to him.

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Blueside. Philipa Meraux. Level 30-35. You can find her in Founder's Falls.

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Thank you.

WONDERFUL!!!

The doc got almost everything he deserved. Almost? Well, he could still use the mirror and hear sounds.

THAT would have made his fate full.

I know I can be a mean witch; but that doc deserved a mean fate.

I could continue this.

But I am not sure if ya'll REALLY want to know WHY Purvek didn't speak english for so long. The rest of the story would just be Purvek's new life with a daughter (and her siblings to come).

I know I left many unexplained mysteries (like what happened to the attack on the lodge Lupia was waiting on). I don't know enough of the groups in that battle to explain very well; but the CoT was joined by the Carnival of Shadows and they found themselves facing the land, itself (Somewhat like the 'devoured earth').

Also, Purvia had another bunch of people helping. Purvia now owes some others a big favor. Purvek will have to pay it; since HE has the correct equipment for what the others want.

a hint:
Purvek/Purvia, Ocelass/Oceladd were NOT the only human/feline hybrids the ritki made.

Damn. I thought it would end something like this, but I was hoping it wouldn't.

At least Manx finally got release.

Damn that doc.

If Manx had a little life experiance, maybe it could have been different. That was NOT to be.

Now which story arc is that doc in? red or blue? I have several toons I'm itching to show to him.

Wow! The can-can man has a real advocate in Sister Psyche.

I always considered psionics to be THE master power set (in game and in RL). Sister Psyche has proven it... again.

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If I can just make it out of the complex I’ll be safe! She’ll never find me once I’m in the city! I’ll be safe!

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Not very smart of him. Appearently he forgot WHO and WHAT he's running from. The city would favor HER, not him.

She could follow his scent or follow on the rooftops.

She could leap over many obstructions he would have to go around.

She is truly better much prepared to chase him in the city than he is to flee from her.

Of course, not everyone thinks clearly when their life is on the line.

"Jenna, why are we here?"

"Come on, Hank. I need an unusual interveiw to get hired at the station. That means I need an unusual hero. All heroes come thru atlas park and they all use the yellow line."

"True, but getting another hero's veiw isn't that new. Hasn't been for quite a while."

"But... oh, drat! You're right. What do I do? The editor wants a new look at the first ritki war, now that they're back. Where else can we go?"

"Hmmm... I don't know about that; but aren't those hellions quite a ways off their stomping grounds?"

"Yes, Hank. They are. What are six hellions doing next to the yellow line in Atlas park? One's a damned, too. This is serious. I came here to talk with a hero and now that one's needed, none around. Just my luck."

"Jenna, those hellions aren't just roaming around. They're after that guy and his mother."

"I wonder why. Can we... too late to warn them. Now what? Hank, get out your camera!"

"GEEZ! Look..."

"Whoa! What she'd do to them? Is THAT a ritki blaster?"

"It ain't a water pistol. Jenna, this is your story, if you can get her talking."

"Three hellions running, one hellion underfoot, another down holding his knee, and she's holding the Damned on his tip-toes... with a finger? That is one heroic woman!"

"Uh, Jenna. Let her finish before we ask for that interveiw. I don't think she'd appreciate the interruption."

"OK, ok. Just get this on disk."

"I am, I am. Uh? She's letting them go? There's a scene you don't see very often. A damned carrying two of his buddies with his tail between his legs. That is one tough lady."

"Yeah, that ritki blaster isn't a toy pistol, either. Come on! MA'AM! MA'AM! Can we talk a moment?"

"Young lady, we are in a bit of a hurry. Those punks delayed us a little bit; but we are already stretched for time."

"We got a van. We can give you a ride."

"Jenna! We don't know where they're going."

"Jenna, is it? Well, my name is Lisa. That's all ya need. This here's my nephew, Mark. If that offer of a ride is valid, ya got yur interveiw. I'll even spring fer da gas."

"Deal. Just where are you going anyway?"

"We're going to the truckstop on I-95. It's about 25 miles. I'll fill your tank when we get there, okay?"

"A truckstop?"

"Yes. The ONLY truckstop in Rhode Island. Doesn't even have a name. Half the parking lot is dirt and we truckers STILL have to pay eight bucks to sleep there."

"You're a lady trucker?"

"Yes. That is NOT a contradiction, by the way. One can just as easy be a lady or a gentleman on the road as you can be not."

"On the road?"

"Yes. That means driving over state lines, interstate, coast-to-coast, whatever cooks your cookies."

"An 18-wheeler?"

"Yes, G-- D--- it! An 18 wheeler. I run a skateboard. I used to run boxes, reefers, and pups, and even some triples; but I like the challenge of skateboards."

"Aunt Lisa, I don't understand everything you're saying. I don't think the girl understands any of it."

"What? Oh, sorry. Guess I was letting my prejudices get ahead of me."

"Your prejudices? Why?"

"Truckers don't normally like reporters of any type. It's not like we get a fair shake from ya'll."

"Oh, that is ridiculous. We don't report on truckers often, I admit. But we try to do right..."

"... right by your ratings. When was the last time you saw or heard a broadcast saying something GOOD about a truck? I can tell you of several incidents I have experianced where the newscasts were PURPOSELY skewed to make truckers look bad. The first ritki war was a shining example of it."

"What do you mean?"

"Do you city folk REALLY believe those D--- portals only opened in cities? The vast majority of them opened in open country. The invasion focused on the cities because that's where the enemy... us humans... were. But that was NOT where most of the battles were."

"A lot of those portals opened close to nothing... in open feilds and on mountain sides... such like that. Some opened close to power plants and other important locations. When the troopers started coming thru, the county mounties and super troopers didn't stand a chance alone. Luckily, they weren't alone. Mind you, those guys were brave; but there simply weren't enough of them and they were outgunned as well."

"Excuse me, my name is Hank. what are county mounties and super troopers?"

"I can answer that one, Hank. I've heard Aunt Lisa rant about them often enough. County Mounties are county sheriffs, deputies, and such. Super troopers are highway patrol. Local police are 'local yokels'. Truckers have almost their own dialect when it comes to communicating."

"So I've heard. Ma'am, I understand you even have secret names like the heroes have."

"Girly, we call them 'handles'. They're not secret any more than one of your so-called heroes is called Statesman and another Synaspe."

"So-called?"

"Yeah, I would also be a lot more prone to go into a bad situation if I knew I would be teleported out when things go wrong."

"Fearlessness is foolishness. True courage is facing that which scares the be-jezies out of ya and standing even when ya know it could be the last thing ya do."

"During the first ritki war, a lot of good men and women (not all wore colorful outfits, mind you) gave the ultimate to make sure the ritki were pushed back. Now THEY were true heroes. THEY had true courage."

"Here is our stop. Let's get ya'll filled up. I'd ask ya'll in; but I think you should come back on your own."

"I have just one more question. Where'd you get the ritki blaster?"

"Ha! From the original owner, of course. Cost me an arm and a leg."

ok. Synapse's electriity deactivated the pain implant. That's why Manx kissed him... maybe.

Now the question is what did manx do to our favorite doctor?

I'm not worried about Synapse meeting an old 'buddy'. He doesn't know it, but he has reinforcements coming and I doubt his 'friend' can handle BOTH of them.