More Than a Beast Chapter 5 (K/Z, OOG)
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mindcrackloveMore Than a Beast
Chapter 1: Violence
Chapter 2: Clearing the Air
Chapter 3: Friendly Advice
Chapter 4: Resolution?
Chapter 5: Interrogation
Author's note: So it's gonna take a little time to figure out exactly how this "main plot" is going to progress, so this might be my last chapter for a couple days at least while I do some story boarding and brainstorming.
That being said, I might take the time to make a few cute little fluffy one-shots, so you guys won't have to miss me too much. ;3
This chapter brought to you by an anon who - incorrectly - guessed that Kurt is the mastermind of the plot against Guude! I'm hoping to eliminate one mindcracker per chapter until the big reveal... And I don't even know when that will be!
Be sure to make your guesses in the comments... After you read the chapter, of course!
Suspense and Drama, Ho!
~~~~~~<3~~~~~~
With things between them almost back to normal, Kurt and Zisteau found themselves spending more time together than ever. They had agreed upon no more co-operative caving, but the one was always ready to lend the other a hand with the more tedious tasks like woodcutting, excavation or food gathering. Even things like experience farming, something that couldn't be done together, were still done with each other, for the sake of filling the boring gaps of time spent doing almost nothing.
Kurt, for his part, found himself growing comfortable around the Nether-dweller once again, even on the rare occasions they wound up walking through the nighttime dangers.
Zisteau found that even if they weren't doing something together, just knowing Kurt was around, and that they were still on good terms, made him smile. His thoughts were centered on the Farlander more than he cared to admit, and he found himself taking more than his fair share of cold showers before bed lately.
It was after one of these showers that the Pigman found himself on a late-night stroll through his automated farms, enjoying the night air. Kurt had only just gone home, and he still questioned whether or not he should have escorted him, as they'd had quite a few glasses of scotch. But he hadn't wanted to press him when he said no. Night meant darkness, and darkness meant monsters. The last thing he needed was to have another relapse and hurt Kurt again.
"I'd lose him for sure, then." He sighed quietly to himself, insecurities creeping back into his mind.
"You might still." A voice said behind him, causing the Nether-dweller to turn quick and draw his sword.
He relaxed - only slightly - when Etho stepped out of the doorway and into the moonlight. "What are you doing here?" He asked, letting the sword drop to his side, but still gripping it tightly.
The ninja laughed, folding his arms as he leaned against the wall. "What, you gonna slice the messenger, Pigman?" His tone wasn't particularly mocking or sarcastic... But something about it told Zisteau this wasn't a casual visit. It made him tense as worries began to prick at the back of his mind.
"What's the message, Etho? What did you mean?" He asked, eyeing him with more and more suspicion for every second that passed without response.
"I just thought I'd let you know I saw Kurt on his way home. He was stopped by BDouble0 and Guude. They both looked very tense, and they were speaking in whispers. It was all very secretive... And very suspicious." Etho shifted uneasily. "Something's brewing, Pigman. I don't know what... But there's something on the wind that tells me we're in for trouble. And soon."
Zisteau cursed. He had his head so far up in the clouds - literally AND figuratively - that he hadn't noticed anything out of the ordinary. Normally he would have been one of the first to pick up on something like this. "Did Kurt make it home? Is he safe?"
Etho shook his head. "I can't say for sure if he's safe or not, but I know damn well he didn't make it home. Guude and BDubs took him somewhere... I could show you, but I think you'll find it's ill advised to try and go get him yourself."
The Pigman headed back into the lens to ready his gear. "I wouldn't be going by myself. I'll get Pause to go with me... And if you'd help, I'd find a way to pay you back. I already owe you."
Etho grumbled under his breath. He and Pause weren't exactly on the best of terms... Both of them being stealth operators with keen eyes made them rivals in the reconnaissance field... And whose word would Zisteau trust if there were inconsistencies in their information? His friend's, or the hired hand?
"As tempting as that offer is, I'm rather busy at the moment. I just swung by to offer you the information, and the chance to act on it, if you deemed it necessary."
He turned for the exit. Looking over his shoulder to offer the Nether-dweller one last piece of advice. "Something has Guude looking over his shoulder more and more, lately. I would be careful not to get on his bad side."
Zisteau growled low in his throat, donning an enchanted diamond helm.
"If anything's happened to Kurt, he'll need to worry about being on mine."
~~~~~~<3~~~~~~
"Well? What did you see?" The Pigman asked quietly about half an hour later. After going to get Pause for some help, more information from Etho and deciding the rendezvous point would be behind the Colosseum, Zisteau had sent the stealthy Indian on a scouting trip, leaving him to do nothing but wait anxiously, stewing in his own concern and fear.
He knew he had no place on these kinds of missions. Stealth was far from his forte. But it was hard to sit and wait while Kurt was being held captive.
"If something happens to him because of me, I'll never forgive myself." He thought, as Pause unrolled a map he had sketched quickly.
"Guude makes those tunnels down there confusing on purpose, but I managed to find where he was holding Kurt." He said, pointing to a room on the map. "It's quite a few levels down, but appears to be unguarded... I thought I saw a few tripwires, though, and maybe some pressure plates." He indicated some marks he had made.
Zisteau examined the diagram. "There's no way he'd leave Kurt there completely unguarded. He's there somewhere. Waiting for me to try." He sat and thought quietly.
"Zisteau..." Pause sighed, looking over his shoulder. "Maybe this is all just some misunderstanding. Maybe you should just go up there, unarmed, and have a talk with them. I mean... It's not like you wouldn't have backup." He said with a grin, puffing his chest out. "Things go south and I toss you your sword and a bucket of lava..."
Zisteau weighed the option in his mind against the others. Much as he was loathe to admit it, it was the soundest course of action, with the fewest blind assumptions.
"Damn... Never thought I'd be listening to PauseUnpause as the voice of reason." The Nether-dweller chuckled, shaking his head. "Let's go."
~~~~~~<3~~~~~~
BDubs was there to greet him at the door, which told him right away that his presence was expected. It gave him an uneasy feeling, knowing that they knew they could use Kurt to lure him in like that.
Guude's lover beckoned for him to follow, looking uneasy himself, something Zisteau took careful note of.
Try as he might, the Pigman could not keep track of all the twists and turns BDouble0 led him through. It seemed he was taking the most convoluted path he possibly could in order to ensure Zisteau would not be able to easily find his way out.
Eventually, he came to a small room with three chairs... Two on one side and one on the other. Sitting in one of the chairs was Guude. A tight smile tugged at the corners of his lips and he nodded politely, motioning for Zisteau to sit.
The Nether-dweller gave him a hard look as BDubs moved around to the chair next to Guude and sat. "What's this all about?" He grumbled, crossing his arms over his chest and remaining standing.
"Have a seat, Z." Came the terse response as Guude motioned a second time for the Pigman to sit. "We have much to discuss."
"We do." Still, Zisteau remained standing.
Before Guude could speak again, BDouble0 placed an hand on his shoulder and shook his head.
"Fine." Guude sighed, letting it go. He pulled a slip of paper from his pocket and slid it across the table. "This look familiar?" He queried, retaining a deathly calm demeanor.
ZIsteau skimmed over the paper, able to read the words from here. "Never seen it before." He answered, noting silently that Etho was right about trouble.
"Really." Guude stated, more than asked, pressing a button on the wall next to him.
Pistons opened a hallway that led to a cell. Inside was Kurt, who looked over at Zisteau with distress.
The Pigman snarled, nearly losing control right there. He fought - with some difficulty - the urge to break Guude's neck with his bare hands, but couldn't stop himself from growling three words.
"Let. Him. GO!"
BDubs stood up, hands out, palms open, trying to calm the furious Pigman. "We haven't hurt him, Z. He's alright. We just had to ask him a few questions, like we're asking you."
Zisteau took a breath, pushing aside his rage so he could look at the situation rationally. He read over the note again, focusing on the first line.
"Someone's trying to cast suspicion on us." He deduced, pointing it out on the note.
"Or maybe that's what you want me to think." Guude said, taking it back. "Maybe I'm not quite sure I can trust you. And maybe I need to give you a little more incentive to tell the truth."
Zisteau growled again. "If you lay one finger on him..." The Nether-dweller threatened.
"He won't, Z." BDubs said, trying once again to calm him. "You won't, Guude. Kurt has no part in this and I believe he's telling the truth, just let them go!"
Guude glared at BDouble0. "Whose side are you on, Boo? We can't trust anything he says until we're sure! This is the only way!"
The ground rumbled suddenly, causing the Pigman to stumble.
"What was that?" Kurt asked frantically.
Guude and BDubs looked at each other. "That sounded like-"
Another rumble, followed by the sound of an explosion.
"We're under attack!" Guude said, grabbing some gear from a nearby chest. BDubs rushed to Kurt's cell, flipping the lever to let him out and tossing him a bow and arrows. "There's some armor in the chest there, grab it and let's go!"
Guude looked like he'd been punched in the gut. "What are you doing Boo?"
"Guude, for goodness sake, we need all the help we can get!" He was about to toss a weapon to Zisteau too, but Pause rushed in with his gear.
"There's some serious fireworks going on out here!" He yelled to the group. "And I think they blew up the arc!"
Guude cursed, thinking for a moment, then handing the Nether-dweller a bundle of potions.
"Don't make me regret this!" He hissed, and took off down the corridor.
With him leading the way, BDubs, ZIsteau and Kurt were quick to follow, with Pause bringing up the rear. It took them a good few minutes to reach the surface, and a few more to make it to the arc.
An arrow whistled by Zisteau's ear and another was headed straight for Guude's chest. It would have connected had Zisteau not shoved him out of the way.
"Pause! Who is it?" the Pigman asked, squinting into the wreckage.
"I can't see! Too much smoke!" The Indian thought he saw a figure duck behind a formation of blocks. Thought he saw two shapes sitting on top of a T-shaped formation...
"Oh no... Guys! Everybody get back! He's trying to-"
A hellish roar cut him off mid-sentence. They saw purple residue fill the air in several places leading away from the wreck, and Pause caught a small glimpse of someone wearing some camouflage and a Pumpkin on his head before the figure teleported away again.
Then the figure began to grow out of the smoke, and bands of light swirled around it as the sky darkened.
The five of them backed away and readied their weapons. They knew what they were about to face.
There was another explosion, and then The Wither was upon them...
CLIFFHANGER!
So, to those enjoying my little series, I have a proposition for you:
When you make your guesses in the comments, keep in mind I will be eliminating one of your wrong answers (ONLY ONE) per chapter... I will also be taking note of who guesses the correct answer.
There might be prizes for this, and I'm trying to think of what they might be. It's just my way of trying to interact with my readers. :3
I might give out prizes for the wrong answers I choose to eliminate, too. :D
Chapter 6!
no subject
Date: Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 06:47 pm (UTC)Love this series more and more. The twists and turns are awesome!
Z getting all huffed up about Kurt being held captive. <3
Won't guess again this time, but maybe in the future.
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Date: Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 06:49 pm (UTC)I'm terrible with guesses, so no guesses from me!
Wait! Are there ocelots? :D
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Date: Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 07:51 pm (UTC)In any case, no, there are no cats, tame or wild.
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Date: Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 07:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 07:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 07:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 07:50 pm (UTC)Is that officially your guess?
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Date: Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 07:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 07:57 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 07:59 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 08:33 pm (UTC)I guess... Erm I dono... BTC >.~
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Date: Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 08:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 08:46 pm (UTC)...Anderz? Or is he going to show up and save the day with his FTB gear?
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Date: Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 09:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 10:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 11:00 pm (UTC)((Hmmm...I guess I'll say GenerikB?))
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Date: Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 11:05 pm (UTC)Pause did see two figures and they were Etho and Millbee working together. Etho is trying to use Z to drag them off his tail >:D
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Date: Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 11:43 pm (UTC)Sorry about having to clarify. Should I go back and word it differently?
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Date: Friday, May 24th, 2013 01:55 am (UTC)Sorry if I made you think that your story was worded wrong
You'll get to know that if people ask for prompts or guesses as to who the people are my two are always Etho and Millbee :P
Since it was only one I'm going to guess it was Beef... His evil side is shinning through >:D
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Date: Friday, May 24th, 2013 04:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: Friday, May 24th, 2013 09:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: Thursday, July 4th, 2013 03:38 am (UTC)