The Howling Void [HB]

Storm clouds rumble above as flashes of purple lighting illuminate the alien landscape below. White leaves ruffle as a warm breeze swept through the dense woodlands. Groups of Tanuki could be seen huddle together under the heavy canopy to take shelter from the weather. As they converse with each other they fail to notice another occupant in the woodlands. On a knoll was an large, unnaturally black wolf whose amber eyes scan the woodland of any movement. As if it was searching for something or more rather waiting for something.

Grey and black figures blurred through the forest. "Hold!This should be good enough right here." THey come to a stop,revealing themselves. It was grey maned Okamians, each in their human forms. In the arms of one was a small, unconscious figure, crowned with blue, spiky hair, bound in rope that shimmered oddly,a obvious sign of enchantment.

"So,we're just abandoning the abomination here? Why not take it back to the dungeons?" The one holding the boy shrugged, casually dropping him onto the forest floor. "No idea,but it's what the Chief wants. Maybe he wants the thing to suffer in confusion and fear first, perhaps? Either way, orders are orders. We leave it here,and will retrieve it later. Not like it'll be able to get back to the Human Realm anyway, so no rush. Come on, we need to report back." With a crackle of sickly green lightning, they leave the boy lying there,blurring away.

The electric current was the first thing the wolf felt, it's fur bristle as he caught the scent in the distance. Getting up on it's legs the wolf briskly head down from the knoll towards the scent. The wolf pass by a group of Tanuki who look over in confusion of seeing a black Tanuki walking by. It took a few seconds of weaving between the trees to find the spot that he remember from the story. Entering a clearing the wolf went up to the boy with his maw flowing with void energy. Nuzzling the boy he nipped at the bindings that evaporated from contact with his maw. With the bindings loosen the wolf sat on it's haunches to simply wait for the boy to wake up. Upon waking the boy would see another boy in a ratty crimson cloak with bare upper body. He would be sitting cross legged as he look over the half-demon in concern.

Toji murmured softly in his unconciousness at the nuzzle,but remained out of it as the bindings were loosed.After a bit,though, he wakes up. "Urgh..." Wha..? What happened? THe last things he remembered was..unbreakable,weird looking ropes suddenly wrapping around him,and the smell of...electricity...Then, a sudden pain in his head...

The boy jerks up,eyes wide. He'd been kidnapped!! Glancing around wildly,he spots the other male, and tilts his head before giving a hesitant wave. This guy didn't look mean, but...well,this situation kinda made Toji unsure of things.

Seeing the boy up and alert was a relief to the Avenger. Smiling he gave a friendly wave back, "Hey there, My name's Bogan. I felt something going on here and I found you bounded. Are you alright?" Bogan said with concern. He knows that the boy is a tough one but one can never be too careful.

Toji relaxed at the smile and wave,head tilting as the older boy speaks. Listening,he gives Bogan a quick grin,though it fades a tad at the mention of the bindings as he gives his wrist a rub.So whoever'd taken him had just abandoned him here? Why..."Nice to meet'cha, Bogan! I'm Toji! And yeah, I think so.." He winces slightly as his head gives a quick reminder that yes, he'd been knocked out. "Ow...other then a headache, heh...Uhm...where are we?"

The mention of an headache does not worry Bogan too much as it's a common symptom from getting kipnapped, binded, and dropped off in the middle of the woods. "Well for someone who got dragged to places unknown you are pretty healthy." He said in a somewhat joking manner as he look around at the foliage. "Well these are Okami lands so you should lay low, Don't worry though as I'll help you find a way home. It's the least I can do"

Toji grinned at the slightly joking response, giving a soft laugh in response and nodding. "Heh, yeah, I guess I am!" Then comes the first half of Bogan's response, causing the boy to pale. He...was in the lands of the Okami clan?! Oh no...Toji bites his lip,rubbing his throat nervously and looking down.He should've known,with the smell of electricity...Oh Forger,what was he gonna do...Then Bogan reassures him.Looking back up, the boy blinks, then nods as he gives a shaky grin. "Right...Thank you, Bogan. I'm really glad you're here to help me."

"No need to thank me, just doing my part." Bogan said as he continue to study their surroundings. He knows several ways to get back to Toji proper Verse but the route depends on many variables such as environmental hazards and Okamian patrols. First things first he needs to make Toji that he does not know him. "So how much do you know about these lands? I can feel your Okami energy but also Voidstuff which is radiation from passing through the veil of different verses. So that's what gave me the hint that you also came from another realm." A deep rumble overhead caught Bogan attention as he glance up. After the formalities they should head for cover soon when the storm gets worse.

Toji's grin widened, turning a bit less shaky at the response to his thanks. Bogan really did seem like a nice person. He glanced around as well, examining the area around them. So this all was the ancestral lands of his tribe? If it weren't for the threat of his oh so belligerent kin, the boy'd actually look forward to traveling through everything.Head tilting at the question, the boy bit his lip in thought. "Hmm..." At the next few statements his eyes widened,and he gives a excited grin, not bouncing only because he was sitting down. "You can sense all that?! That's awesome!! And..uhm...as for your question...My father taught me a little about it,but...I'm not exactly a expert." His hair glowed slightly in embarrassment,and he gave a sheepish grin, only to blink at the rumble. Glancing up, his eyes widen at the sight of the purple lightning,a awed smile coming onto his face. "Wow..."

"Well you're in luck because I'm a expert in Metaphysics." Bogan said as he remember taking the course back in the University so long ago, he recall having a hard time grasping cosmic science but now he knows all it's dark secrets. Noticing Toji reaction to the spectacle above the entity gave a grin, "Yeah it's quite a sight, the Murasakino Woodlands is known for it's thunderstorms and a decent size population of Tanuki along with Totoro. If you paid heed to the surroundings you might catch a glismpe of a Kodama in the trees, small white creatures so they can be hard to miss." Bogan said before stretching his shoulders and getting up. Walking over he offered a hand to help Toji get up.

Toji grinned at what Bogan says. "Awesome!! You must be pretty smart." After looking up at the skies, he glances back down at the elder teen as he spoke up again,head tilting and listening curiously. Blinking as Bogan lists off some of the spirits that dwelled in the forest, the boy grinned excitedly,glancing around and examining the trees again as sparks crackled through his hair. "I think I've heard of those!!" Glancing back at Bogan as he hears movement, Toji spotted the offered hand. "Oh! Thanks, Bogan!" He takes the offered hand and help up.

"I wouldn't call myself smart..." Bogan said as humility took hold as he is not the type to brag. Shifting his weight into his back feet he took hold of Toji palm and pulled him up. Letting go he folded his arms across his chest as he look back to the foliage around them. "Well we should start moving to get some distance away from here." Bogan than turn his attention to the rolling clouds above. "I know of numerous paths back to your home so I'll let you pick a direction. To the north is the Raiju Highlands, East is the Paru Sea, West is the Uma Steppes, and finally to the south of us are the Gin Farmlands. Each has their pros and cons so I'll give you the honor of choosing our direction." Bogan stated as he look back to Toji, he was not concern that Toji may not find a way home since he did got back to his home. So he wanted to let Toji spend some time exploring new lands, especially ancestral lands.

Toji shrugs, grinning. "Smarter then me!" Smiling gratefully up at Bogan for the help, the boy nodded a tad nervously at his next statement.Listening to what the elder teen had to say considering where they go, he nodded, biting his lip in thought. "Hmm..."

Well, the thought of a sea made him a tad nervous. That was alot of water...Though he was curious it probably still wouldn't be a good idea,at least while they were under threat from full blooded Okamians...The Raiju highlands were probably the dwelling place of the fellow lightning youkai they were named after...That might be nice to see them, though there was just a bit of a chance at least a couple were aligned with his kin....As for the Uma Steppes...not sure...The Gin Farmlands...Hmm...Farms meant food!!! And maybe villages/towns! THe boy nodded, grinning as he makes up his mind. "Farmlands!!"

Bogan smiled at the choice, "Good choice Toji, It's a fun region to go to especially this time of the seasons. It's about thirty one miles from here so a good ten hour walk and we'll be able to see the rice paddies."