I know I'm late but can I join? This looks super cool!!! I totally understand if I'm too late to join, though!

Hi, Starli, yes you can join! Anyone can join, anytime. I just put you on the list! *I never knew this tag game would still go on after like, 3 months*

IT'S BEEN 4 DAYS I'M SO SORRY-

I'll post tomorrow! 

Hi all! I'm sorry I never responded those two times, I didn't even know I was playing (oops) and I haven't been online basically at all this summer. I'll actually read this thread from now on (: and again I'm really sorry I kept you waiting. 

Crieff couldn't help but laugh a little as the beast looked down at him with wide, expectant red eyes. "Where'd you come from?" he whispered, petting its thick, tangled fur.  The huge dog licked his face once more and stood, its dark shape growing until it was almost taller than him.  It bounded down the hall and then turned back to Crieff expectantly. "You want me to follow you?" he asked, his voice wavering.  The dog tilted its head as if to say, obviously. 

He followed the creature down a twisting hallway lit only by a few torches.  He'd had enough adventure for one day, he thought.  Forget the queen.  He just wanted to get out of there, and his heart sank as the dog led him deeper into the castle.  Soon he could see a warm glimmer of light down the hall, brighter than the dim torchlight.  As he approached it he saw an open door from which the light was coming.

The dog entered strode through the doorway without hesitation, and though Crieff was aprehensive he followed.  Inside was a small room, lavishly decorated with opulent furniture.  Light glinted off of a crystalline chandelier hanging from the cieling.  Crieff looked around in wonder.  He'd never seen riches like this before.

"What exactly do you think you're doing?" He turned to see, in an armchair next to a glowing fireplace, a cloaked figure.  The huge dog sat obediently at their side.  Crieff stammered, not knowing if he should lie or be honest. "For nefarious purposes, evidently," they asserted.  He was surprised that such a small person could speak such cold, commanding words.

I... well, yes," he sighed.  He felt the figure's eyes on him, compelling him to confess. "My friend and I, we came here to kidnap the queen."

The figure gasped. "The - the queen?" Their voice became lighter, more childlike.

"Yes?" he asked, confused at their evident shock. "What about her?"

"It's only that..." They paused and took a deep breath. "The queen has been dead for months."

--

Plot twist!  @Starli, you're up! 

Hi, can I join? This is a really cool idea :)

*me needing to pack for a trip and clean the house but deciding this is my priority*

OK I DID IT- It's kind of short but I do have a lot to do and I had to get this done today so that you guys didn't have to wait too long!

Crieff went numb. His whole body stopped as he looked at the figure in disbelief.

And then he laughed. Hysterical laughter, erupting up from his belly and out through his mouth in ferocious, violent giggles. It sounded as if a child with a mouthful of food was being tickled. They didn’t stop either. On they went, an endless flow of happiness and giddiness, with a hint of insanity. It only stopped when Crieff’s breathing became scarce, and he could laugh no more.

The figure waited for Crieff to regain his breath, staring at him. What was this man doing, laughing at them? Who gave him the right?

“You can not be serious,” Crieff said.

“I most certainly can,” the figure said, standing up. Crieff watched as their body grew as they stood. Or didn’t. He couldn’t tell. But the figure seemed a lot taller than before. More…

Intimidating.

The beast whined at their side.

“I do know,” the figure said, “however, a place you may want to look… for another treasure. So this isn’t a waste of time.”

Crieff felt relief flood his body. “You do?” He asked. “Where? Where should I look?”

The figure seemed sinister as they walked toward him, pulling something from a belt Crieff hadn’t known was there. With their free hand, they featured behind them, to another unnoticed detail: a door. Beautiful, just like the rest of the room, with an oak frame and pine woodwork, and a simply gorgeous handle, made out of something shiny and clear that Crieff had never seen before. He had to have it…

No. Crieff knew not to take the bait. Yes, the door seemed enticing, but it had to be a trap. The real treasure was around him. The gold piles. The riches. They drew him closer than the door. Closer than the beast. Closer than the cloaked figure was standing by now.

Crieff drew his weapon. “Get down. I’ll spare you, I guess. But these riches,” he gestured around. “These riches are mine.”

“Oh you can have them,”said the figure. “But.”

Whatever they were holding was above Crieff’s head in a snap. “You’ll have to get through me first.”

---

Tag! @Darkvine! Good luck :D

Crieff stumbled back and drew his switchblade, flicking it out just in time to block a thrust of the cloaked figure's shortsword. For a moment all was the clash of steel and adrenaline and the practiced dance of thrust and parry.

Crieff was a fair swordsman, but his opponent was excellent: he thrust again and again, but they quickly blocked his every attack. The only advantage Crieff had in this battle was stature: he wasn't particularly strong compared to his peers, but his opponent was very small and slight.

Crieff clashed his switchblade against the figure's sword, and for a moment they were locked in a motionless tableau, both straining against each other's weapons.

Then Crieff twisted his blade with enough force to flip it out of his opponent's hands, and cornered them against the ornate pine door. His small steel blade was grasped vise-like in his hands, its point just barely resting on the cloaked person's neck.

His hands trembled, and the switchblade pricked his pinned opponent's skin. A thin trickle of scarlet ran down their neck, and they exhaled slowly.

Crieff hesitated. He had been so ready to kill this person to gain the sumptuous riches all around him, but now that it came down to the steel and the blood and his tense, trembling hands... he wasn't sure he could do it. He wasn't sure he wanted to.

"You won't kill me," the figure said quietly, breathlessly. Their voice was light and soft as a child's. It quavered, betraying their fear, but it was as sure as death.

"No?" Crieff said, tightening his grip on the handle of his switchblade. His knuckles were white, the tendons in his hands stark and delicate.

"No," the figure said, stronger this time. "I'll kill us both before that happens."

Crieff was never sure, afterwards, whether he would have gone through with it after all, and killed the cloaked figure: he was saved the choice by his opponent turning the handle of the door. They both fell through as it swung open, and down through darkness (or perhaps Crieff's eyes were closed) and landed, hard, on what felt like... grass.

Crieff opened his eyes and propped himself up on his elbows. The cloaked person was getting to their feet, looking around. Their hood had fallen off, revealing a freckle-faced young person, eleven or twelve years old, with startlingly blue eyes.

Crieff didn't have time to feel indignant (and somewhat sheepish) at the fact that he had nearly been bested by a twelve-year-old. There were more pressing matters at hand, like the throbbing pain in the back of his head where he'd hit it against the ground, and his lost switchblade, and where in the name of wonder were they?

"What happened?" he demanded.

The blue-eyed swordfighter looked at him. "That door was a portal. It was always locked when... when the queen was alive. I thought it was dangerous."

"All right, but where did it take us?"

They shook their head. "I haven't the foggiest."

-------------

@Phoenix Tears, you're next!