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Small Beginnings - Final Update 6/18/04, ITEOTWAWKI, AIFF!
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<blockquote data-quote="dshai527" data-source="post: 373426" data-attributes="member: 4469"><p>I know I originally said that Ander and the Bear was going to be a two-part story, but as we got writing, the storyboard just kept getting longer and longer as we added detail and tried to get the "feel" of the charater. We hope that it comes through, and we hope to keep it going with the other back stories we plan to do. </p><p></p><p>As for this story, it has turned into a three-parter. More bang for your buck. We will post part 2 today and give you the finale tomorrow. Hope you enjoy it. Oh, and let us know who you wanna see back story for next. (yes HULK we know, Worm or you'll smash us)</p><p></p><p>On that note Tip O' the Day (this one comes from Ray in New York)</p><p>"If Someone asks if you're a GOD (or a pirate), you answer YES!"</p><p></p><p>I know we stole that from a movie, but hey I'm late for a meeting today. Have Fun!</p><p></p><p>**************************************</p><p></p><p>Ander and the Bear </p><p></p><p>Part 2 of 527</p><p></p><p>With great caution Ander trailed the mysterious pair, making sure to remain out of sight and stepping where his footfalls would make the least amount of noise. The tracker followed until he heard their raspy voices coming from up ahead, around a snowdrift. He paused and listened, waiting for some indication as to why the pair had stopped, and a new voice, much deeper than the others, joined in the conversation. The voice barked out authoritatively, its staccato syllables accompanied by sounds of punching and slapping. </p><p></p><p>Using the noisy outbreak to his advantage, Ander pushed off the small trail and into the trees in order to circle the unseen trio. Moving carefully, the woodsman picked his way around the snow bank and found a suitable hiding place behind a boulder on the other side of his prey. On his way there, he scooped a small handful of snow into his mouth, and by the time he had found his spot his breath was as invisible as if spring had just begun.</p><p></p><p> Once settled in and confident of his camouflage, Ander peeked around the snow-covered rock to see the cause of the commotion. The first thing that the novice ranger noted was the ensuing argument between the two trap-laying creatures and a larger scar-faced version of their kind. The larger one, Ander assumed him to be the leader, seemed to be berating them and pointing somewhere out of the young man’s field of view from his perch behind the rock. Whatever the reason behind the abuse, it appeared to the tracker that the argument was quite heated. </p><p></p><p>Moving slowly, the ranger leaned out over the other edge of the rock to get a peek at the cause of such a feud. Ander could see that these creatures had made a small camp behind an uprooted tree. The tree looked new-fallen, likely due to the heavy snowfall, and the goblins, for he was now sure that that is what they were, though he had never seen one, were using the roots as cover against the freezing wind. </p><p></p><p>Ander almost winced as he peered further around the rock to see a spear-wielding sentry standing only a few feet from his position, followed by five more of the small flame-skins huddled around a coal pit. The woodsman fought to remain clam, seeing that the goblins all appeared to be enjoying the misery of their berated companions. Not knowing how much time he had left, Ander took a chance and leaned farther out, exposing himself a little more than he would like, in order to get a look at what was beyond the coal pit before deciding his next action. </p><p></p><p>Ander felt a scowl form on his face as he spied the unmistakable golden hair of the missing child, the same bright colored curls that adorned his youngest sister’s head, lying just to the side of the coal pit wrapped in dirty blankets. The young girl lay with her back to the ranger, but he could still make out her rhythmic breathing, indicating that she was probably asleep. He could also make out a small loop of rope lying over her shoulder and guessed that the goblins had bound her in some way. </p><p></p><p> Pulling himself back behind the stone cover, Ander swore softly to himself, knowing that he could not overcome such lopsided odds. Even with the element of surprise, he was far outnumbered and could not afford the time to go get help. Worse, he had lost feeling in his left foot, he needed to act soon to avoid permanent damage to his appendage. The woodsman tasted blood and realized he had once again bit his lip in angry concentration. <em>I won’t fail again. I won’t let this little girl, or her family, down. </em> </p><p></p><p>With renewed energy, Ander began formulating a plan to rescue the child. He took stock of his equipment - he had brought only his long knife and bow with him in order to travel fast and light. Neither weapon was well suited for this type of attack: the knife lacked reach to battle multiple foes and the snow flurries made it difficult to target the bow beyond a few paces. He doubted his shots could drop all the goblins before they could harm the girl, even using the flurries to his advantage. After what felt like an eternity of debating, Ander knew he had no other options and began silently stringing his bow. </p><p></p><p>Gripping the white hued hunting bow, the woodsman began quietly maneuvering toward the over tipped tree. He planned to use the tree trunk’s higher ground to more accurately pick his targets while letting the upturned roots protect him from return fire. It would also blunt the snowstorm from obscuring his vision, but with the wind whipping at his back the flurries would still hamper his foes.</p><p></p><p>Suddenly a deafening roar from behind him caused the woodsman to spin around with arrow nocked, ready to fire. Ander’s heart jumped into his throat and his limbs froze in fear at the sight of the beast that ambled toward him on two legs, while roar after roar shook the forest, knocking loose clumps of snow from treetops. </p><p></p><p>At first glance the creature resembled a bear, but it stood tall as the towering trees that rose around it as it roared again before falling back on all four legs. It had brown fur the color of tree bark except for dark patches where it appeared that the fur had clumped together to form plates and spikes hard as armor. It had enormous black claws the size of small swords and a mouthful of teeth that could easily rip a large elk in two with a quick snap. It stood once more and roared out another challenge, seemingly puzzled as to why the tiny human had not run in fear.</p><p></p><p>Ander watched, paralyzed, as the bear once again dropped to all fours with a forceful thud and began shuffling toward him. The powerful creature flowed with a grace that belied its size and power, gliding between the trees and snow banks but not disturbing them. The woodsman could feel the creature’s dark eyes focused on him, just as he would focus on a target before letting loose the bowstring. He could see the powerful muscles ripple as the giant bear prepared to rend him in two, and then he was saved......</p><p>********************************************</p><p></p><p>I know, now we are just taunting you with the bear. Isn't it fun?</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="dshai527, post: 373426, member: 4469"] I know I originally said that Ander and the Bear was going to be a two-part story, but as we got writing, the storyboard just kept getting longer and longer as we added detail and tried to get the "feel" of the charater. We hope that it comes through, and we hope to keep it going with the other back stories we plan to do. As for this story, it has turned into a three-parter. More bang for your buck. We will post part 2 today and give you the finale tomorrow. Hope you enjoy it. Oh, and let us know who you wanna see back story for next. (yes HULK we know, Worm or you'll smash us) On that note Tip O' the Day (this one comes from Ray in New York) "If Someone asks if you're a GOD (or a pirate), you answer YES!" I know we stole that from a movie, but hey I'm late for a meeting today. Have Fun! ************************************** Ander and the Bear Part 2 of 527 With great caution Ander trailed the mysterious pair, making sure to remain out of sight and stepping where his footfalls would make the least amount of noise. The tracker followed until he heard their raspy voices coming from up ahead, around a snowdrift. He paused and listened, waiting for some indication as to why the pair had stopped, and a new voice, much deeper than the others, joined in the conversation. The voice barked out authoritatively, its staccato syllables accompanied by sounds of punching and slapping. Using the noisy outbreak to his advantage, Ander pushed off the small trail and into the trees in order to circle the unseen trio. Moving carefully, the woodsman picked his way around the snow bank and found a suitable hiding place behind a boulder on the other side of his prey. On his way there, he scooped a small handful of snow into his mouth, and by the time he had found his spot his breath was as invisible as if spring had just begun. Once settled in and confident of his camouflage, Ander peeked around the snow-covered rock to see the cause of the commotion. The first thing that the novice ranger noted was the ensuing argument between the two trap-laying creatures and a larger scar-faced version of their kind. The larger one, Ander assumed him to be the leader, seemed to be berating them and pointing somewhere out of the young man’s field of view from his perch behind the rock. Whatever the reason behind the abuse, it appeared to the tracker that the argument was quite heated. Moving slowly, the ranger leaned out over the other edge of the rock to get a peek at the cause of such a feud. Ander could see that these creatures had made a small camp behind an uprooted tree. The tree looked new-fallen, likely due to the heavy snowfall, and the goblins, for he was now sure that that is what they were, though he had never seen one, were using the roots as cover against the freezing wind. Ander almost winced as he peered further around the rock to see a spear-wielding sentry standing only a few feet from his position, followed by five more of the small flame-skins huddled around a coal pit. The woodsman fought to remain clam, seeing that the goblins all appeared to be enjoying the misery of their berated companions. Not knowing how much time he had left, Ander took a chance and leaned farther out, exposing himself a little more than he would like, in order to get a look at what was beyond the coal pit before deciding his next action. Ander felt a scowl form on his face as he spied the unmistakable golden hair of the missing child, the same bright colored curls that adorned his youngest sister’s head, lying just to the side of the coal pit wrapped in dirty blankets. The young girl lay with her back to the ranger, but he could still make out her rhythmic breathing, indicating that she was probably asleep. He could also make out a small loop of rope lying over her shoulder and guessed that the goblins had bound her in some way. Pulling himself back behind the stone cover, Ander swore softly to himself, knowing that he could not overcome such lopsided odds. Even with the element of surprise, he was far outnumbered and could not afford the time to go get help. Worse, he had lost feeling in his left foot, he needed to act soon to avoid permanent damage to his appendage. The woodsman tasted blood and realized he had once again bit his lip in angry concentration. [I]I won’t fail again. I won’t let this little girl, or her family, down. [/I] With renewed energy, Ander began formulating a plan to rescue the child. He took stock of his equipment - he had brought only his long knife and bow with him in order to travel fast and light. Neither weapon was well suited for this type of attack: the knife lacked reach to battle multiple foes and the snow flurries made it difficult to target the bow beyond a few paces. He doubted his shots could drop all the goblins before they could harm the girl, even using the flurries to his advantage. After what felt like an eternity of debating, Ander knew he had no other options and began silently stringing his bow. Gripping the white hued hunting bow, the woodsman began quietly maneuvering toward the over tipped tree. He planned to use the tree trunk’s higher ground to more accurately pick his targets while letting the upturned roots protect him from return fire. It would also blunt the snowstorm from obscuring his vision, but with the wind whipping at his back the flurries would still hamper his foes. Suddenly a deafening roar from behind him caused the woodsman to spin around with arrow nocked, ready to fire. Ander’s heart jumped into his throat and his limbs froze in fear at the sight of the beast that ambled toward him on two legs, while roar after roar shook the forest, knocking loose clumps of snow from treetops. At first glance the creature resembled a bear, but it stood tall as the towering trees that rose around it as it roared again before falling back on all four legs. It had brown fur the color of tree bark except for dark patches where it appeared that the fur had clumped together to form plates and spikes hard as armor. It had enormous black claws the size of small swords and a mouthful of teeth that could easily rip a large elk in two with a quick snap. It stood once more and roared out another challenge, seemingly puzzled as to why the tiny human had not run in fear. Ander watched, paralyzed, as the bear once again dropped to all fours with a forceful thud and began shuffling toward him. The powerful creature flowed with a grace that belied its size and power, gliding between the trees and snow banks but not disturbing them. The woodsman could feel the creature’s dark eyes focused on him, just as he would focus on a target before letting loose the bowstring. He could see the powerful muscles ripple as the giant bear prepared to rend him in two, and then he was saved...... ******************************************** I know, now we are just taunting you with the bear. Isn't it fun? [/QUOTE]
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