EL TANGO DE ROXANNE / injured

[ROXANNE R.]

[glow=white,1,400]I LOVE YOU, CANNIBAL QUEEN ! — ｡+ﾟ.[/glow]

She had never done the jungle juice ritual and frankly, she didn't think she wished to. Although, she figured as a recently promoted Reaver maybe she should give it a shot. Start a new. Roxanne Roux was nervous. Roxie had never been very daring or outgoing as of late, she had mainly stayed home with her children to spend time with them. Sometimes, she'd go out to chat it up with Michael and some others. The Reaver had met several people the past few weeks, one of them in particular catching her attention. He used to be from Tanglewood and he held a different air to him, contact with one another was stiff at first. Miller. Roxanne was very awkward when it came to talking to newer crewmates but it felt like there was a barrier between her and this individual that she had to chip away at. She needed to work for possibly becoming acquaintances or more. It was frustrating and she could've just gave up but she didn't, she was determined. She didn't know why exactly but Roxie knew most of her crewmates within the Typhoon, the mystery would only nag at her. Time would only tell if curiosity would kill this cat. Eventually, talking to one another became easier even if Roxie had neck pains from having to always look up at him for even the slightest bit of eye contact. He wore big stupid sunglasses, it almost reminded her of Greed but she could actually see his eyes. That part brought her ease and comfort.

Her thoughts remaining on him for a moment only to shift her paws around in the sand, she didn't like the fact that she had to head over to the tavern of all places for the jungle juice. The tavern was a massive discomfort to her even if she stopped by every now and then with her brother but, he wasn't here with her now. Nibbling on her bottom lip, she entered the building making a beeline towards the keeper, she spread her wings to briefly fly up before requesting the drink that would cause the hallucinations. Eventually, she was led outside to the boat that would sail off to Haven island. The drink given to her, she winced as the beverage hit her tongue and throat, a bleugh leaving her though it wasn't long until she was sailing off to the island. She had requested for her wings to be tied down to her. Roxanne didn't want to end up flying into the ocean during her hallucinations. A shaky breath slipped from slightly parted lips.


Her paws sunk into the sand once more, her ears pinned against her cranium as she took a few steps forward with a frown on her maw. The jungle juice not having taken effect on her just yet, her eyes half closed as she took a few cautious steps forward. Her steps becoming heavier, she wobbled slightly to the sides and swallowed slowly, her pupils widened when the hallucinative drug finally taking effect.  Roxanne unsheathed her claws at the sudden sound of sobbing ringing throughout her ears, she was hesitant but she would take her first few steps into the foliage in front of her. A shaky breath escaped her as a chill ran down her spine, her eyes stinging at the sight of a feline hunched over three kittens... Two unmoving and one squirming with life. It took her a moment to realize who it was. It was herself. Her chest ached, she took a few steps forward with her ears pinned against her skull. She reached out with a paw only for the illusion to disappear, fragile to her touch.


The hallucinations only got worse.

A yowl of pain suddenly made her jolt, her fur rising. With whiskers twitching, Roxanne ventured further until she came across several mangled bodies of her loved ones. The Reaver lowered herself to the ground not knowing what was real anymore, her paws settling on top of her head with body trembling. Her eyes began to sting as tears dripped from her cheeks and onto the sand, she wished she hadn't done this ritual. If only everyone was here to see what a coward she was, her ears pinned against her skull as she mumbled in a pleading voice for all of it to stop. "N-no more," Roxie cried out pitifully. Was she ever ready for this? Everyone else must have done this without much issue yet here, she struggled figuring out what was fake or real.

A shaky breath escaped her, she rose to her paws running from the small clearing not caring that a few branches jabbed and clawed at her, what she didn't realize was that she was only going further and further within the foliage. The Reaver felt as if she was being watched, a chill running down her spine. Her body sinking and crouching over as she would vomit from what she had seen yet Roxanne witnessed worse... She had caused more destruction than those mangled bodies she saw back there. The guilt and self disgust causing her to vomit whatever had been in her stomach. She hastily wiped the leftover tears from her eyes and flinched hearing something snap behind her. Roxanne turned around only to let out a soft gasp, she would take steps back with a shake of her head.


"N... No... You're dead... You're supposed to be dead!"

tw for mild gore & maggots:

Mismatched eyes widened and immediately recognizing the individual in front of her, someone that she had brutally killed under her own claws despite how much bigger he had been than her. He had been left dead, he should have stayed dead. But here he was stumbling towards her with darkened gaze fixated onto her, Roxanne immediately taking several steps back until her rump touched the bark of a nearby tree. She could feel her heart racing within her chest, she didn't like any of this. His guts practically hanging from his stomach where it had been torn open with ribs visible, blood dripping from his maw and nose. Crimson painted his torn out jugular, underbelly, and fluffy tail. Hidden amongst his guts were several tiny maggots that squirmed about without any other thought or intention but to feed. Flies hovered around the dark tabby tom, his glazed over green orbs locked onto the smaller feline in front of him. His lips peeled back into a gruesome snarl, only for him to reach out towards her, using a blood crusted paw to lift Roxie's chin upwards so their eyes would meet "Roxanne," Her name would slip from his lips, it sounded more like a sneer but then again Roxanne didn't know what to expect anymore. Zephyr had her cornered and she was paralyzed with fear.

"No... No... No... This is all fake..."

She sobbed out lifting her tiny paws to brush him away but it only worked for a moment before he shoved her harshly into the bark, he grit his teeth at her only to spit out in a voice full of hatred, a few maggots flying from his jaws and landing onto her coat "Fucking bitch... You killed me." His claws sunk into her flesh, drawing just a bit of blood. Roxanne released a yelp the moment she had been pushed into the tree, she stood no match against him right now. Not with the fear that was causing her entire body to tremble underneath his touch, the memories of the past overwhelming her. All those months living in his shadow, those moments where she would try to be affectionate towards him only to be pushed away. She had been different. Zephyr had told her that nobody would love her like he did, no one would ever accept her for what she was. She could remember what he always called her, often in a voice full of psuedo infatuation "A freak of nature," Rumbled out the zombie-like bastard breaking the Reaver from her sudden detour down memory lane. "That's all you'll ever be, Roxanne." He continued with a growl letting a single claw sink into her chin, he had forgotten how pretty she was in her own odd way. "It seems no one truly loved you in my absence," A twisted grin on his maw.

She wanted to tell him it was untrue.

Yet... Did anyone ever love her enough to stay? The thought was enough to make her slump her shoulders and stare down at her paws, she didn't have a voice in that moment. The Reaver didn't even realize that tears had began to slip down her cheeks once more, she bit her bottom lip. Maybe it had been wrong of her to break free? Maybe just maybe... She was never meant to leave those cold streets that she had always rose from as a child. Her tiny shook with tears and from the fear that she currently felt immobilizing her. "Poor pigeon..." Zephyr spoke once more removing his hefty paw from her, his pupils narrowed into dangerous slits as his tail lashed behind him "I'm going to return the favor." A growl erupted from his maw, he would slam a paw near her face only to let his claws sink into the bark as he grimaced at her. "You're still the same scared shitless bitch from before. I'm surprised you've lived this long without me. Kinda pisses me off," Zephyr removed his paw about ready to swat away Roxanne but she had already made a run for it. It seemed like a game of cat and mouse was about to unfold. "Just like ol' times." Murmured the bloodied Maine coon, he ambled forward. Ready to find his mouse... And kill it.


She was simply a mouse with fear in her heart.

Roxanne had been able to snap out of her brief moment of fear and run off, she wasn't certain as to where she was heading but all she did know was that she wanted to get as far as possible from Zephyr. Occasionally, the Reaver found herself stumbling over rocks or the roots of some tree letting out a frustrated and panicked hiss whenever the falls began to bruise her body. Her paws sunk into the sand, she was bleeding from several cuts on her body and she would drag herself to the shore or at least she had intentions of doing so until something - someone tugged her back. "Found you, little mouse." Growled the large tomcat with tail flashing behind him, Roxanne releasing a soft scream before it was abruptly interrupted the moment claws raked down on her cheek "Shut up, bitch." He snarled through gritted teeth, he glared daggers at her.

Her body trembled, feeling blood trickle from the new scratches etched onto her face "I'm s-sorry... Leave me alone..." She whimpered out only to feel a single paw press against her side, she glanced up to see that hatred in his eyes "No." Without another word, he shifted his weight onto his paws in an attempt to break a few of her ribs. The Reaver released a screech of agon, it had been a year or so since the last time her ribs had been broken but the pain was unbearable. There wasn't even a moment before he clawed and bit her, Roxanne rolling away just in time and wincing at the slightest bit of light that was rising from the ocean. The sun was rising. The ocean splashed her in the face causing a soft, pained gasp to leave her maw. She glanced around realizing that Zephyr was gone. Maybe... He had truly been a hallucination? She was uncertain.


Without a moment to spare.

Roxanne used one of her claws to break the thin bits of yarn that kept her wings close to her body. Blood dripped from her nose, she must have hit a tree branch while running around. A pain in her side occurred, she grit her teeth feeling a sudden difficulty in breathing. Was it.... No. She refused to believe any of it was real. He was dead. Roxanne spread her wings slowly wincing at the pain that her body was currently enduring, she would lift up shakily making the trip back home. The moment she was near land did she plummet harshly into the sand, she wheezed softly using her wings to cradle herself. She should have never done the ritual, she had a bad feeling from it and she doubted that she came back new. No, it almost felt as if she had came back worse than what she had began with. She would hack up blood feeling her body shaking uncontrollably and tears slipping down her cheeks. He... He was dead... Was he not? But no matter how much she would try to deny it, someone had been on Haven island with her the entire time.

(2.1k words ooOP)
[tldr: roxie did the jungle juice ritual and somebody from her past decided to show up again (but he is gone for now). she has been injured from running from them and damaged dealt to her by said individual, she is very shaken up. injuries include several cuts on body and broken ribs.] [glow=COLOR,1,400] ━ ✧*:･ﾟ[/glow]

[roan ;]

[div style="width: 45%; text-align: justify; font-size: 12pt; letter-spacing: -1px; font-family: times new roman;"]♡ — Truthfully, Roan had never considered completing the jungle juice ritual. It wasn't as if it was required of him, and he was still a bit young to go something as strenuous and terrifying as being alone on an island with potentially horrifying hallucinations. He probably wouldn't have recommended his mother do it either, but it wasn't as if his mama had asked him before she left. When he had seen her leave their home that morning, he hadn't thought much of what she was doing. He had simply figured that maybe she was going to hang out with Uncle Michael, or that Miller guy. Roan still wasn't sure how he felt about Miller on the whole, but he had to admit that he wasn't overwhelmingly worried. After all, even though they were growing closer and closer, his mother didn't have an amazing track record of choosing great men. Truth be told, he was pretty sure his father was the only decent man she had ever been with, and that had just been a fling – mainly because he was unaware of Planecrash's very existence. Overall, he had been keeping a watchful eye on Miller, but he didn't think the other would actually be able to break through the guards that Roxie had around her heart at this point. And if he did, and then chose to hurt her? Well... it wouldn't be too hard to convince Brunhild and Kal to eat him, would it?

Unfortunately, Roan came to realize that his assumption of where his mother had gone was wrong, mainly when he returned home from his daily herb hunting, and ahe still hadn't returned. He could feel a knot of anxiety forming in his chest, but the sage tried his hardest to rationalize his fears away. Perhaps she had decided to stay the night over at Miller's? Or maybe she had just gotten caught up drinking with Uncle Michael? He prayed it was one of those two, trying in vain to distract himself as he went to grab some of his books. He spent the next several minutes staring blankly at the medical textbooks, his paw tapping against the words even as they began to meld and bleed together. He could feel his teeth sinking slowly into the flesh of his cheek, and it wasn't long before the coppery taste of blood hit his tongue. Wincing, the boy let out an angered grumble and sat up, slamming the book he had been reading – or rather attempting to read – shut. There was no way he was gonna be able to relax, not until he knew where his mother was. Grabbing his bag full of herbs, the draconic apprentice slung it around his waist before he headed out, not telling anyone else where he was going. He didn't want to worry anyone, like Lu or Natyli. He could handle this on his own. He could be the big brother that they needed.

Roan wasn't really sure where he was going, not at first, at least. His paws were just carrying him forward with determination, the comforting scratch of the sand beneath his paws the only sensation keeping his worried mind attached to reality. Before he knew it, he was at Uncle Michael's house. He knocked on the door, only to grimace when he didn't receive any answer. He didn't even hear the usual scrabbling of the rats inside. The privateer must've been out. Sighing heavily, Roan then turned, deciding to head for the tavern. Surely if Michael wasn't here, then he had to be at the tavern, and if he was at the tavern, mama would be, right? He could only pray that his mind was right. He hated going near the tavern most of the time, but this time he ignored the unnerving feeling of the building, shoving the door open and slipping inside. He got a few strange looks from those inside, but he ignored them, his blue gaze scanning around for either his uncle or mother. When he saw neither, he only felt his heart sink further. He sighed heavily, and evidently someone else took notice, as one of the NPCs nearby questioned him, "Yer Roan, right? What's the matter?" Roan hesitated for a moment before he responded, claws sinking in and out of the floorboards, "Has anyone here seen my mother? Roxanne Roux? I haven't seen her since this morning." Several of the NPCs looked at each other for a moment before they burst into laughter, the initial man mumbling as he wiped tears from his eyes, "Yer mama went to do the jungle juice ritual, little man."

Roan didn't even wait for any further words. He was already running out of the tavern, his side stinging from the force of his bag hitting against it in his frantic sprint. He wasn't sure why he was so terrified for his mother, especially when she was going through a ritual most crew members had. For some reason, everything about this just felt wrong. The sand was sprayed up from beneath his paws as he reached the edge of where beach met sea, knowing that Haven island was off in the distance. He leaped into the air, leathery green wings spreading out to catch on the air and carry him there — only to immediately be yanked down from the sky by the scruff of the neck. The apprentice began to thrash from side to side, hissing angrily, "Put me down! Put me the fuck down!" He just heard a dry chuckle, and suddenly he was dropped on his rump, with one of the NPCs from the tavern smirking down at him. He opened his mouth to spit something venomous at the male, but he was interrupted, "The hell did you think you were doing, kid? There's no way you can fly out to Haven island all on your own. You should just wait for your mum to come back." Roan knew that the older Typhooner was probably right, but he couldn't help the way that his body burned with anger. Didn't any of them care? What if Roxie was in danger?

As if the very universe had read his thoughts, it was at this moment that his mother collapsed upon the sands, plummeting down with a wheeze. Roan saw the NPC's eyes widen with shock as he saw her, and the draconic cat followed his gaze, nearly screeching when he saw the state his mother was in. Ripping his scruff from the other male's mouth, the sage rushed over to his mama, babbling urgently, "Mi madre! What happened? Can you hear me? Can you say something...?" He didn't wait long for a response, ripping his satchel from around his waist and dumping it beside him. Even in his frantic state, his eyes were scanning his mother over, searching for each and every wound and scratch. He could only see scratches on the outside, but the wheezing... her ribs. The realization made him sick to his stomach, but he gritted his teeth, paws faintly trembling. There was little he could do for her ribs, but she was in shock, and surely she needed treatment for her scratches.

He pulled put some lavender and golden rod, for her shock and in case she had any internal bleeding. Feverfew, for the pain. Taking a deep breath, Roan mumbled as he pushed both the lavende and feverfew in front of his mother, "Mama... if you can hear me, please eat these. They'll help..." He then moved on to her cuts, pulling out the horsetail and marigold. Chewing them into a poultice, the apprentice hesitated for a moment, mumbling as he carefully moved to apply it to her wounds, "This might sting a bit, mama..." Once the poultice was on, he took his bandages, carefully beginning to wrap up her scratches. He winced whenever he grew near her ribs, unable to stop the faint trembling within his paws as he worked. Sure, he had worked on Lu and Brandy, but this was his mother. Unable to keep back the tears, Roan mumbled once the bandaging was done, still trembling, "Mama... mama, I'm so sorry... I should've stopped you... I should've been there."
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[APHRA CIPHER .]

[glow=white,1,400]OPEN YOUR EYES UP , STEP IN THE RING ! — ｡+ﾟ.[/glow]

Aphra had felt like she was obligated to do the entrance ritual, especially after the deeds she had done lately. The ritual was a chance to start anew, which is what Aphra was trying to achieve. But despite her attempts, everyone still seemed to hold a grudge against her - or that's what it seemed to her, at least. The only way now to prove she was trying to be a better person was to do the entrance ritual, in her mind, and so that's exactly what she did. Although now thinking back on it, Aphra wished she decided not to go. It had been a horrible experience, with her seeming to have gotten disfigured by her own father, and everyone seemed to have abandoned her.

So of course when Roxanne told her she was going to do the entrance ritual, Aphra was concerned. She couldn't do anything, of course; it was Roxie's decision to do so and she should respect it. Regardless, Aphra couldn't help but feel worried for her friend. So when Aphra noticed a vaguely feline-shaped figure flying towards the island, she rushed to the area as quickly as she could. "Roxie!" At first, her cry was out of excitement, but when Roxanne threw up blood, Aphra recoiled. Roan was quickly by his mother's side, his words revealing how panicked and worried he was. It was only natural, not only because he was her child, but Aphra found herself worried because of the fact that Roxanne was actually injured.

When she had done the entrance ritual, everything had seemed so real... But it was not and Aphra remembered that she woke up unscathed, so how come it was different with Roxanne? These wounds weren't caused by a simple trip over stones, either. "Roxie, it's okay, you're home now." Aphra tried to soothe the other girl, trying to hide her own worry in her voice. What else was there to say? Roan was already working on getting her treated and Aphra had half the mind to ask what had happened, but of course that might be a touchy subject and she didn't want Roxanne mad at her more than she probably already was.[glow=COLOR,1,400] ━ ✧*:･ﾟ[/glow]