I'd put something really witty in this part, but...meh. (shrug)
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You're here for the story, ain't ya?
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Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the idea and other made-up stuff. What a surprise that is.
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The next night found her helping the villagers with their new temple. It was a rugged island, with several villages here and there.
Not a lot of wood, but habitable. A clue to lead them to a piece of the Creed was supposed to be here. Yuugioh was currently checking out the nearest villages. As she used a Miracle to create more wood and some food for the tired builders, she saw something in a bush from the corner of her eye.
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Acting as if she hadn't seen it, she told the villagers to take a break and get some sleep. Then she walked off, presumably to get a drink of water.
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It was child's play to get behind the bush without being seen or heard - with a single paw she deftly plucked a startled hermit out of the branches.
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"Ah! Ah!" he screamed.
"Monster! If you eat me I'll - I'll give you the worst ulcer of your miserable life!"
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Laurel blinked, before walking back to the temple site with her screaming and cursing prize. A few of the men were not asleep.
((Excuse me,)) she said to them, ((Would you mind holding on to this man for me?))
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"Certainly my lady," they said, and tied the man to them with rope so he wouldn't run away.
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((I will be back shortly,)) Laurel said, and headed to one of the villages.
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There she saw Yuugioh closely examining a Village Center, trying to determine how much work was needed to convert these people.
He was so focused that Laurel gave up trying to call him from the edge of the village and headed through the buildings to him. All around her, unbelievers were 'oohing' and 'ahhing' at just the sight of her passing by.
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When Yuugioh's symbol suddenly appeared in front of him, the god jumped.
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"Laurel? What are you doing here?"
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((Sorry Master, but a man was spying on us. I thought you would want to talk with him.))
His light grew brighter in amusement.
"Lead the way then," he remarked as they headed back to the temple site.
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There, the hermit was busily cussing out the poor villagers that had tied themselves to him.
"Is this the man you spoke of?"
((Yes Master. You may untie him now.))
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The villagers bolted as soon as they had untied themselves from the hermit, more then glad to get away from him. The hermit tried to flee but Laurel snatched him again.
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"Put me down, you overgrown throw rug!"
"Such a polite one you've found," Yuugioh said.
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As the hermit saw Yuugioh floating nearby, he paled a little.
"Well," he shouted with some courage, "If I'm to be your monster's snack, demon, then I'll see you in Hell!"
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"You are mistaken," Yuugioh said smoothly. "I am not a demon."
"Some gods, they might as well be! You tell your double-dammed master that Wilbur son of Hallsfell curses him to the ends of every earth!"
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"What master? I only act in the best interest of my people, and I definitely don't serve anyone else," Yuugioh asked in puzzlement.
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That caught the hermit off-guard.
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"You don't serve the Deathgod?"
"The who?"
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Now the hermit laughed.
"Well I'll be - you're telling the truth! My apologies, good sir."
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Laurel put the hermit down.
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"But tell me - who sent you to this island?" Wilbur asked.
While Yuugioh and Wilbur chatted, Laurel set the rested villagers back to work. The Temple was soon finished, and so was the Village Center and Store.
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"So, you're looking for pieces of the Creed," Wilbur said thoughtfully.
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Now that he knew he wasn't about to be eaten he was much more friendly.
"I don't know anything about stuff like that, but…"
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"When is dis guy gonna get ta point," Luster whined.
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"I heard in a village near the other side of the island about an old woman that should know! But she doesn't help people unless they have some specific things."
"What things are those?" Yuugioh asked.
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"Tell you the truth, they've different for every person. You'd need to ask her yourself."
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Wilbur accepted the food he had been given, but before leaving he mentioned that the old woman lived somewhere in the mountains on the far part of the island.
Although he wanted to check it out right away, just by looking around Yuugioh knew he needed to help out the village first. A lot of people were sleeping outside due to lack of housing. He felt rather sleepy himself.
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"Man, I'm beat," Luster said with a huge yawn.
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"I think we should get some rest first," Lupine agreed, and so they went inside the Temple.
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As soon as Yuugioh went inside, Laurel crept out of hiding. As far as Yuugioh knew, she was off exploring.
'Better not make a liar out of me,' she thought to herself before setting off.
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Laurel wanted to know more about this 'old woman' Wilbur had been talking about. Circling every village she came to, the leopard Creature worked her way slowly to the mountain range near one of the farther villages.
There, her nose picked up the smell of burning wood coming from a slope. A very small hut was nestled there, and standing outside it was a young woman.
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"Oh!" She said when she saw Laurel.
"Goodness! What a big kitty!"
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"Samantha, what in the blazes are you talking about," an new, older voice said irritably.
"Mother, there's a Creature here!"
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Samantha's mother hobbled outside, leaning on a cane.
"So it 'tis," she said.
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((My apologies for disturbing you,)) Laurel said.
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"There hasn't been a Creature in these parts for quite some time," the old woman said with a toothless grin.
"You must belong to that new fella that showed up yesterday. Or was it the day before?"
"A new god? I hope they're friendly," Samantha said.
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"You little blond, go on and tend to the fire," the old woman said with a wave of her cane.
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((Excuse me,)) Laurel said, once Samantha was back in the hut.((But a hermit named Wilbur told my Master there was a wise old woman in this part of the island, and -))
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She had to pause as the old woman started laughing.
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"I knew it! That man is so vague, makes me wonder why I married him. My name is Elizabeth, young Creature. The gal you're after is my twin sister Maria, over in that direction," Elizabeth said with a wave of her cane, indicating towards the nearby village.
"She likes to take advantage of people sometimes, but she's got a good head for information."
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Deciding to ignore the implications of Wilbur being married to this woman, Laurel instead said, ((Wilbur mentioned that she 'requires certain things' before she tells anyone her knowledge.))
"Oh yes, she does indeed," Elizabeth said knowingly.
"Loves to put strangers to the test, even potentially dangerous ones. I would let your Master figure this one out on his own, my dear. It'll be good for him!"
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((I see,)) Laurel said, although she wasn't sure if she really did.
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"Tell you what," Elizabeth said suddenly, "How about you come back to visit soon? I may have something for you in a few days."
((Certainly. Thank you Elizabeth.))
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"Oh, just Liz will be fine. Off with you now!"
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Liz went back inside, and Laurel wandered off, now feeling confused. She grabbed a few sheep from a wild herd and left them near the Village Center before curling up in her pen and falling fast asleep.
