originally posted in:The New Dojo
[i]Artemis' expression changed from extreme anger to sadness.[/i]
"A coward...sounds about right. My one friend called me that one time after I had taken a really bad beating when I was ten. He said I should've stuck up for myself like I used to when I was younger. He ended up dying by trying to save me from a punishment that went wrong. I could've stopped it, but I was too afraid...too much of a coward. I watched him die as I just stood there covering my face with my tail like I always do."
[i]Artemis was in tears again.[/i]
"I'll just go. I'm sorry for wasting your time."
[i]She turns back around and begins to walk away with her face pointing towards the ground[/i]
English
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*Keira comes after her, mostly to calm her down. At this point, she feared that either she'd leave...or that she would be turning into her worst nightmare.* "Look...you don't have to be a coward!" She yells, coming toward Artemis. "The Destroyer of Worlds...people telling you that your destined to destroy everyone.. I understood your pain."
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[i]Artemis stays silent as she slowly marches on. Her ears are down and her tail drooping.[/i]
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*She sighs, as she continues on.* "You don't know the amount of pain it feels...for everyone to attack you just because they think you'll kill them."
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[i]Artemis shakes her head and responds with a weak voice.[/i] "I know how it feels to be used like a tool. Never allowed to rest as you do work upon work with the bare minimum of food and water. Everyone treats you like you've killed one of their family members and they're forced to let you live, but not without punishment." [i]Artemis pulls her top off to reveal a large scar going across her chest and down her stomach.[/i] "My own father gave me this permanent scar when my mother died."
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*Keira looks in horrible shock...though she recovers after and reminisces about her days traveling through the worlds after the destruction of her own.* "Shocker...they implanted something into me...almost like a killswitch...my emotions could get to me...and I could become the Destroyer of Worlds. I...probably will never be the same again." Keira replied, looking toward Artemis.
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[i]Artemis puts her top back on to cover her bare chest and sighs.[/i] "That sounds horrible, more the reason for me to leave and not be a burden to you."
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"But that's why we must both stay together; so we may share our suffering, and form a bond beyond anyone else." She says, smiling a little more, as she clears Artemis's tears.
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[i]Artemis flinches from Keira's touch and takes a few steps away before Keira could do much.[/i] "A bond?"
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"A friendship. We could stay together, and...well...be friends. We could...try to relieve our suffering here. All you need to do...is stay." Keira responds.
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[i]Artemis smiles.[/i] "I'd like that...but I still need to go back to the den. They're probably searching for me and they may come after you." [i]Artemis turns around and faces Keira.[/i] "However; I shouldn't do that on an empty stomach. You think breakfast has gotten cold?"
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"No... and even if they do come after us...we could show them just how...caring we are for people like you." She responds. "Plus...they mess with you, I'd become the Destroyer of Worlds." She responds, smiling.
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[i]Artemis sighs and closes her eyes. She tries to muster up some confidence.[/i] "I will agree to stay for a while to see if this is the life I want, but after I eat something I have to go back to simply say I'm alive and well. After I say I'm alive I'll come right back."
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*She thinks about this, before shaking her head.* "Alright then. You can do that. Now, come on in; we wouldn't want a hungry person, now do we?" She responds, going back inside.
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[i]Artemis follows her back into the kitchen. She sits down at the table, as far away from the Shroud as possible. She takes glances at it everyonce and a while.[/i]
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"What?" Keira asks, noticing what was going on." Do you fear the Shroud or something?"
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[i]Artemis nervously chuckles.[/i] "No, it's just...can I still have it?"
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"Well...Kara DID give it to you to keep, so..." she responds.
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[i]Artemis slowly grabs it and looks it over. She gets a smile like a little child who got a present.[/i] "I haven't held a blade for years...."
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"It's also a machine pistol." Keira says, throwing her a few mags. "It isn't like how the original was in terms of ammunition. In other words...we modified it for this universe." She replies, giggling as she watched Artemis.
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[i]Artemis couldn't keep herself still as she bounce in her seat from excitement.[/i] "This. Is. Awesome!"
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*She chuckles at this.* "You could run it for a test, if you'd like." She proposes.
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[i]Artemis gets out of her seat, but sits back down.[/i] "I should eat first...and go back to the den. Then I will!"
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*She continues to chuckle.* "Long as you're not dead, we'll be fine." She responds, waiting for her to finish her food.
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[i]Artemis quickly finishes and runs to the door.[/i] "The faster I get back the sooner I can use the Gambol Shroud!"
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*She remembers something, as she yells at Artemis.* "Hey, Artemis, almost forgot to tell you something!"