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Intro
A Legend
About Ebony
Her Design
Petpet
Art
Poetry
Dedications
Farewell

intro

Happiness is different for everyone.

Certain people would be happy with my life. The people that like to see others suffering, the ones that like to bring harm to the innocent, the people that are evil...they would like what I do.

Sometimes, I wonder...

Will I ever be happy?

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a legend

Before

It was quiet. Aside from the echoing sound of chains from the cavern below, everything was quiet. It was chilling.

With the stealth of a spy, the young kougress made her way down the passage. Her padded paws made hardly a sound as she approached a door, key in hand. She was going to escape. She opened the door and peeked in. No one was there. Her heart beat wildly as she made her way across to the final door, the last door before she was free.

She set the key in the stone lock, fumbling but a second before turning it harshly. There was a scratchy grating sound, the lock protesting such desperate movements. The key stopped turning and the kougress pushed. It wouldn't move. She pushed again, harder, with more force. The door was stuck, unwilling to move from the position it had been in for so long.

The door she had come from creaked open and she spun around. She placed her hands protectively over her stomach and stared defiantly at the monster before her.

Razul's eyes narrowed and he spoke, "Well, Miss Ebony...where do you think you're going at a time like this? I need all the slaves I can have." His hand swept back towards the doorway where the faint clanking of tools could still be heard. "What's this?" he paused, turning back towards Ebony. "An unborn child?" he questioned, looking down at the slight bulge of the kougra's stomach.

A hot, white light shot from his hand as he touched Ebony's stomach. She fell to the floor, writhing in pain. She gazed at Razul, fear evident in her stare. "I haven't killed it," he said, a smirk present on his face. "I just need a new servant, a better servant." He left the room without a backwards glance, signaling to his guards to take Ebony away.

Then

At birth, I was born with a dark, sleek black coat. Few others had such a rare coloring as me. My mother, Ebony--people said she was noble and kind--died giving birth to me. I hear she was beautiful; my looks must have originated elsewhere. My father, a simple but very harsh kougra, named me. Lyhty. Such an ironic name for a kougra as dark as night to be named in a word that means lantern.

I grew up without anyone by my side. Well, I always had people around, but they never liked me; I assume it to be because of the unique mark on my leg. People would look at the ankh mark symbol and curse quietly, or stare in fear, perceiving it as a terrible omen. Leaders in the tribe gave me different jobs to do so that I would stay out of the way, and cause less tension in the already problematic clan. Although I'm now thankful that I never developed any attachment to those kougras, at the time I had felt terribly alone.

I remember running through the hot sand to deliver messages to Sakhmet, remember purchasing fresh fruit from vendors on the street, and I remember Elder Ammut. He was the one person who made me feel liked. Now, I hate him for it.

Elder Ammut was one of the head leaders of our tribe. He was the only person I recall speaking to me, besides the short barks from my father. Back then, I was mute like I am today (another reason for my father to scorn me), but that didn't stop him. He would sneak sweet candied fruit pieces into my errand bag and tell me stories late at night. Sometimes, he'd even help stop the searing pain the ankh mark caused. He'd just touch it and smile, making the pain slowly ebb away.

He was like the father I never had, and although it pains me to say it now, I used to love him like one. I trusted him with everything, even my life. So when he asked me to help him cook a celebration feast for the tribe, I happily agreed. Towards the end of preparing the meal, he had me sprinkle a strange brown powder over the food. I simply believed it was seasoning.

In the morning, everyone who had feasted was either dead, or gravely ill. The people who were still relatively healthy after the incident, they blamed me. I couldn't defend myself; I couldn't speak! I counted on Elder Ammut, but he would not help me. He had me carry a lantern at night and dig graves for all the people that I supposedly killed. As he sent me away, I noticed that his skin was a bit more orange than before.

That's when I met Mahogany. Ammut gave him to me, saying that he would assist in my digging. Mahogany was a mute Seti. He kept me company though, and I was grateful for him. He got his name because of his color: His body was a dark brown, except for the tips of his tail, which were gold, and the tips of his ears, which were grey. Each time I needed to dig late at night, he would transform into a lantern for me so that I could see.

While I dug graves for the dead, the ankh mark burned more than usual. I was overcome by surges of terror, wanting to flee at random moments. I never did, though. I knew what the tribe members wanted. They wanted to imprison me in the Temple of 1000 Tombs. It was a place spoken in legends and rarely ever seen; almost like a ghost of the past. Unspeakable horrors walked the passageways of the temple, everyone knew this.

On my final night of grave-digging, when I buried the last poisoned kougra, I found myself in the very tomb that haunted my nightmares. Ammut had offered me a drink of water, and after that, I don't remember anything. Just darkness, and then waking up to the dank chamber I was trapped in.

The time I spent in there was like a terrible dream that I could not awaken from. Late at night I would hear strange moans and the sound of clanking chains, but that didn't bother me. I hated the silence most, because I knew that I'd never, ever escape it. Just being in the room, alone and surrounded by the horrible silence, gnawed away at my already weary sanity.

Never once did I see a single soul in that tomb. That made my stay there all the more terrible.

Physically, my body was changing. I felt it.

My sleek black coat began to turn ashen, growing rough and dirty from the constant rolling on the ground when the familiar burning sensation came over the cursed ankh mark.

The four stripes along my back, previously a dark grey color, had paled to an almost sickening yellow color. Almost like ivory, but not nearly as pretty. But that wasn't the worst of it.

Then I grew wings. They hurt; first growing out of my back with agonizing slowness, then pulling away, tearing away from my body. They hover by my back, but are unattached. They are the same color of my stripes and almost bat-like in appearance. They're horrid, but I managed to break loose of my chains in one particularly painful fit while they were growing. Whether that one moment was so painful that I found an unknown strength to break free, or maybe I had been there long enough that the chains had weakened, I was finally out of my chains. But I was still trapped inside the temple.

I began to wander around...what did I have to lose? When I passed by a broken mirror or dusty glass, I turned away. My new form: I liked it less than my old one. The ankh mark was still there, still visible, and still burning. I think it kept me alive, but just barely. It was Razul's one permanent hold over me. It made me weak, fatigued, and I began to lose hope.

When I laid eyes upon the exit, adrenaline began pumping through my body. I rushed outside, stumbling over my own limp tail. The scorching sun of the desert, shining on my now dull coat, had never felt so good.

My euphoria would not last long, though, for I was once again overcome by great pain. The ankh symbol glowed white-hot. I collapsed on the burning sand, struggling to breathe in such a simple necessity as air. I coughed once, twice, then shuddered. I blinked a few times before finally shutting my eyes.

When I awoke, I was in what appeared to be a throne room. Ammut, I knew it was him, sat before me. His burning skull cast an eerie light around the room as he tossed Mahogany to me. The pet whimpered, but made no more noise. I stared in fascinated horror up at him. "So, you remember me, do you?" he asked, noticing the recognition in my eyes. Tentatively, I nodded, afraid to move at all. "How does it feel?" he questioned me, his voice echoing around the room. "How does it feel to know the only person you cared about is actually Razul? The person that you considered your adoptive father," he paused to laugh, the sound like shattering glass, "has been controlling your life since the very day you were born!"

My eyes began to sting, but no tears fell. I could shed no tears for the person, no, the monster before me. He had made my life so miserable; he didn't deserve that satisfaction. I let out a strangled sob, and then fell silent.

Razul stood and glanced at me. "Do you wish to live, pitiful creature?" he asked. I hesitated a moment before nodding my head. "Very well," he said, leaving the room without another word. A guard came in and 'escorted' (more like dragged) me to another chamber where I learned of my fate: Grave digging once again.

Now

I am Lyhty, and I dig graves. Each grave I dig transports the soul of the person I'm burying to Razul. The souls that I transport are not lost forever, though. I'm sure of it.

While in Razul's strange kingdom, I saw the souls of countless people being used for soldiers in his army, or as slaves to do his bidding. They were all mindless, having been lost when transported by my mother, Ebony. She could not save them, but I've realized that I can.

The souls that I transport are different. They are good spirits, being transported by an unwilling servant. And they're willing to help me.

I must wait until our chance comes. I don't know when or in what form it will come, but I know it will appear. Until then, I won't stop my grave digging.

I can't.

---

Ivory's story is not completed yet. Here is a quick synopsis of what it will be.

Ivory continues to work for Razul. He sends her to the Haunted Woods to collect more souls, saying that they are "more evil" than the ones in the Lost Desert. She travels there and meets Corpheld. He gives her the beech earring and on her way back to the desert, she runs into Syphye and Tryste who have washed up on shore. She takes them back to Corp and leaves them there to heal as she journeys back to Razul.

Once she gets there, he is happy with the souls she transported. He continues to send her back to the Haunted Woods and she rendezvous with Corp, Sy, and Tryste each time. Together, they start to formulate a plan to stop Razul.

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about lyhty

Name: Lyhty (lantern in Finnish)

Nicknames: None

Age: Unknown (over 300)

Gender: Female

Species: Kougra

Fur color: Ashen black and dull ivory

Home: Lost Desert

Special: Mute

Markings: Ankh symbol on right hind leg

Personality: Quiet, mournful


Likes

Mahogany
Good Souls
Candied Fruit


Dislikes

Her look
Silence
Ammut/Razul
Candied Fruit

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her design

Wings:
She has two, but you can't see it in the reference picture. They are the color of ivory and they are not attached to her body. They are ivory in color, not pure white, to symbolize her tainted spirit. Her wings separated from her body shows that her soul is still with her, but she does not have complete control. When they completely vanish, she'll be nothing more than a mindless slave.


Tail Ring:
Her tail ring is all that's left of the chains she used to wear in the Temple of 1000 Tombs. For an unknown reason, she won't take it off.


Earring:
This is her favorite item. The charm on the ring is a piece of smooth beech wood. It reminds her of the visit she took to the Haunted Woods, one place she actually enjoyed visiting. She takes the earring off in Razul's presence, in fear of losing one of the few objects she cares about.


Ankh Symbol:
The ankh is an Egyptian hieroglyph for "life". Lyhty was born with it on her leg and it was perceived as a bad omen. However, it was actually Razul's doing. The symbol has made her immortal, but causes her great pain if she does something that Razul doesn't approve of. (It burns a bright white and feels like fire.)

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her petpet

Lyhty's petpet is a Seti named Mahogany. Neither of them speak, but they keep each other company. Lyhty likes having Mahogany around, since she's been always very lonely.

The most interesting part about Mahogany is his transformation ability. Razul had granted him that power. He is able to transform at will into almost anything. He mainly changes into a lantern, however, to help Lyhty see while she digs.

He was given to Lyhty by Ammut after Lyhty was sentenced to grave digging. He wasn't with her while she was imprisoned, though. Afterwards, Ammut reveals that he is Razul and he returns Mahogany to Lyhty.

Mahogany is mute, like Lyhty. They both like each other's company, so they have become friends. He travels with her everywhere now, including the Haunted Woods.

His major role in Lyhty's life is just being her companion. He keeps her from becoming completely lonely and enjoys helping her out. He's a good petpet and a kind friend. Mahogany gets silly sometimes and causes problems, but he makes up for it by behaving well in front of Razul.

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art

This'll be redone. After her new design is completed. Then, you won't have to view my icky old art. :3

Drag each image to the top bar to fully view it.



Fanart


By the awesome Jane.


By the ever-great Fence (from neopound).


Panda. Is. Amazing. ;w;

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poetry

Dying



Cold as death
Devoid of life
A final breath
Adds more strife.

Time



Hello soul,
Well, you see,
Your time has passed.
Come with me,
Or you won't last.

You want to help?
You're a kindly soul.
Together we,
can defeat Razul.

Please hurry, friend,
You must go.
We're out of time;
I've dug the hole.

farewell

Farewell, guest! I hope you enjoyed this page. Please neomail my main, clumsify, with any comments or questions you have.

Thank you!

-Ariel :3

P.S. : This page isn't completed, heehee~! x3