Only Tagging Jim And Tango Since There's Actually A Drawing Of Them - Tumblr Posts

Cold Opening (Rift Malfunction)

 The Deep Frost Citadel was no longer what Jimmy’s fuzzy memories remembered it to be. It was no longer just a fun game with friends, and it was no longer a dungeon crawler:

It was a prison with one prisoner, and Jimmy was staging a prison break.

----

“ It’s a death wish.” Fwhip spoke as he stared at his reflection in the mirror. The deer, goblin, and human hybrid was touching at the green-colored splotches of skin on his face. 

 As Jimmy left the small shack, Fwhip turned towards a map on the table as he touched gingerly at his still growing antlers.

-----

 “ You’d either freeze or burn to death...” Scott spoke in a mumble as Jimmy helped him change the bandage going across his eye. 

 “ What do you mean?” Jimmy questioned quietly as he stopped working while flinching at the mention of freezing. But, it was good that Scott stopped him, he needed to grab the new bandage anyways.

 “ Well, we don’t exactly know what kind of magic Tango’s usin’ right?” Scott narrowed his only eye as he gave Jimmy a heavy frown. Jimmy slowly nodded his head as he began to wrap Scott’s eye socket. 

 Scott’s wings flapped as he flinched away from Jimmy’s returning hand. Jimmy’s feathered ears lowered as he quickly moved his hands away from Scott.

 “ S-Sorry! You alright mate?” Jimmy questioned with a tilt of his head. Scott let out a sigh, “ It’s still a bit tender. That fake eye did.. a lot of damage to me.” he mumbled with a small, awkward chuckle.

 Jimmy shuddered then chuckled as well. After the chuckling ended, a tired silence filled the air as Jimmy cautiously went back to work. 

 One false movement could cause Scott pain, and Jimmy didn’t want to harm his friend.

-----

“ Do you want to get skewered again?” Joel questioned with a laugh. A large, fang-filled grin formed on his bearded face. 

 Jimmy rolled his eyes and turned around. He didn’t have the energy to argue with Joel. The bird hybrid’s wings flapped as he waved a dismissive hand towards Joel and headed for the door. 

 But as he left, he gingerly touched at the still bandaged wound near his stomach. An icy cold pain radiated from the spot as he walked away from the wolf hybrid.

-----

“ Jimmy, “ Lizzie spoke as she looked directly into his eyes, “ Are you sure that you know what you’re doing?”

Jimmy stared at the cat as his feathered ears twitched. A soft, pained sigh escaped from him as Lizzie changed his bandages. While Lizzie was diligent and gentle with her work, Jimmy couldn’t help but tense up as the clean bandage wrapped around him.

 “ I-I’m certain. “ Jimmy eventually mumbled, “ Tango knows me... Even in his changed state...”

 A frown formed on Lizzie’s snout; then, She looked down at Jimmy’s bandages, “ Are you sure? What about-”

 “ Don’t talk about that...!” Jimmy chirped as he flinched and pain traveled up his side. He forced himself to look down at his wound. A grimace crossed his face as he looked at the icy blue marks that coursed across his abdomen. 

 Admittedly, It looked better than.... before; however, that’s not saying much. It still ached horribly and only stopped when he laid down.

 “ Look, “ Jimmy put his shirt, vest, and bandana back on gingerly, “ I-I know that I can do this. W-We need to start getting the hermits back.”

 “ But-”

 “ But nothing, Lizzie! I’ve been stuck in this little cabin for days now!” Jimmy threw up a hand and flinched again. A deep breath escaped from his gritted teeth as he shook his head.

 Lizzie’s ears lowered as her tail curled around her. The hybrid messed with her pink hair and ran her claws through it. 

 Jimmy’s angered expression softened as he sighed,

 “ I-I’m sorry for shouting.” Jimmy mumbled as he sat back down; the hybrid curled in on himself as his wings wrapped around him, “ I just want to do something to help the hermits... to help our friends.”

 “ It’s fine, Jimmy... I know.” Lizzie nodded her head as she put a paw against the bird hybrid’s shoulder, “ Just call if you need backup, okay?” she smiled as Jimmy nodded his head.

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Icicles shot through the ground and nearly pierced through Jimmy’s body. A yelp escaped from Jimmy as he froze in place. Each icicle was worryingly close to a vital organ or a joint.

 What made matters worse was that the skinnier and sharper of the icicles were aimed towards his legs and arms. Even if he were to wiggle out, there was a chance he’d lose a limb or more in the process.

 “ Well... Well.... Well...” An icy voice hissed from the darkness as a white fog suddenly filled the room. A painful chill went up Jimmy’s spine as his feathers fluffed up. Jimmy wanted to curl his wings around himself, he wanted to warm up; however, he couldn’t risk moving his wings.

 But, Jimmy could look to see who was approaching.

 Slowly, carefully, Jimmy turned his head and watched as a blue-eyed, fiery being glided into the room. The hybrid’s heart was pounding in his chest as his breathing quickened.

 There was no look of familiarity in Tango’s glowing eyes. However, there wasn’t a look of anger in his eyes either. 

 Was it curiosity? Was it annoyance?

 Jimmy didn’t know. Jimmy was afraid to know.

 Tango’s hair moved in wisps as he walked, no, glided past Jimmy. Cold winds swept across the canary’s face as frostbite bit at his nose and cheeks. The hybrid’s own breaths were whiter than the fog as the taller hybrid slinked around him like a cat hunting prey.

 Then, Tango stopped and moved his face closer to Jimmy’s own. A snarl rumbled from the icy lion’s throat as he opened his mouth,

 “ Now tell me, little canary,“ Tango hissed as an icicle grew closer to Jimmy’s throat.

 “ How did you find my citadel?”