Lell
Newborn
Posts: 49
|
Post by Lell on Nov 5, 2009 22:01:06 GMT -5
The rain had paused in its unending pounding, its cold tears slowing. It was a light rain now, not so hard on her small form. She looked up at the rolling grey clouds, grief, pain, misery in those deep pools. Just behind the clouds she saw a glimmer of hope, a single ray of sunshine pushing through the thick clouds. It was a phenomenon to her, that only lasted a few moments before being overtaken. For a few seconds she changed her mind, wanting to turn back to them instead of fleeing over the mountains, but then her decision changed again.
They don’t care, sweetie. I do. The familiar voice whispered in her ear. Her heart ached to see the speaker again, to touch her, to feel her warm presence. She had been without it her whole life, and it was so faded now. Clouded. Mother… She thought to herself, toying with the word in her lost mind.
Her ears pricked forward for a moment, spotting movement in the sky. She itched to join their flight, recognizing one of the pair instantly, the other she knew exactly who he was, though she did not know his calling. But instead, her lips twitched into a cold, forgotten smile.
“They never listen, do they? Perhaps they will win, one more time.”
She turned and continued on her trek up the mountainside, not looking back again.
The pounding rain started up again.
“Hopefully.” ----- “No. Don’t leave. I didn’t mean to sound like I wanted you to…” Averel said, almost quiet enough that for a moment he thought he hadn’t spoke loud enough. “Are…they all gone?” He asked, looking up with reddened eyes, rather than their warm shade of brown and gold. He hoped that they were, though deep in his gut, he prayed that they decided to defend his home.
Though he doubted that heavily. ----- “Arson…what the hell?” Zularin echoed, browlines raising and a disgusted look painted across his face. “That is a truly disturbing piece of information, there.”
|
|
Captain
Foal
Keeper of Hello Kitty Band-Aids
Posts: 50
|
Post by Captain on Nov 6, 2009 8:50:46 GMT -5
"Actually," she started, voice hardly a whisper, "They're all coming back. Something's happened to Kalen, to restore him, and our Saralan friends have arrived. I think Zularin has come back as well." She hoped her words would bring good news to him. Some kind of relief, no matter how brief. Anything to see the glint in his eyes again.
Arson turned to Zularin with a smile. "Welcome back then. I can see you aren't here to help me with the studying I require though," he snorted. Lidione shook her head at Arson's bickering and went to her twin. "Did you feel it? What happened to Kalen?" She didn't wait for an answer. "Axella restored him. He's back to full power."
Symbol snorted. "Ruined my greatest creation more like it. He would have made a fine Diviner if I do say so myself." "I'm sure he's just glad to be in one form for a while," Storm said absently.
|
|
Lell
Newborn
Posts: 49
|
Post by Lell on Nov 8, 2009 19:54:20 GMT -5
“Oh. Excellent.” Averel growled without emotion. His eyes flashed darkly, and he turned, pushing past Siobhan. He stood away a few feet, pushing the salty strands of dark hair away from Emerico’s decaying face. “They need to be burned…” He whispered. “We need to start anew.” ------ “Um. Yay. Please don’t take my niece apart.” Zularin said with another disgusted face. “Well, if Kalen’s back to normal, where the hell is he?” He said sharply, stamping one hoof. “Element too, we could use her.” He added quietly, more to himself than anyone else. Sighing, Zularin pushed his way through the group to stand at the front of the cave, where the wind whistled loudly.
All had gone quiet.
“They’re out there. Just waiting to strike. And where is Kalen?” Zularin hissed, turning around and stalking to the back of the cave to wait. ---- The wind whipped through his chocolate mane, pulling it back in thick tendrils. His multicolored eyes flickered back to watch his mother who flew behind him.
It had begun.
|
|
Captain
Foal
Keeper of Hello Kitty Band-Aids
Posts: 50
|
Post by Captain on Nov 8, 2009 20:10:47 GMT -5
"DUN DA DAAAA!"
The palomino slid into the cave with his wide obsidian wings spread out to help him skid along the stone floor. He was beaming from head to tail, a rare sight indeed. "Here I am to save the day!" he announced triumphantly, flicking his mane and slinging raindrops as he did so.
Lidione couldn't contain her giggles.
*
Siobhan nodded and touched her nose to a tree. Black fire tipped in sparkling white began to crawl up and down the trunk, and thin smoke began to filter up from the burning wood.
"Then start anew we shall, my Warrior. Fear not, for it is always darkest before the dawn. And I assure you, the dawn is coming."
*
"WHAAAT?!?" Myrrh leapt from her pile of ashes and shoved Suicide to the ground, her long, jagged horn at his inky throat. "The control broke? That Diviner hag got his body?! You worthless failure!" She backed up and settled for kicking him in the side. He barely budged. "The rest of you need to learn from your leader's stupidity. Zirika is coming and I will not settle for insubordination! Now go and raise all the dead that you can find from battles past. I know you remember them all." The dark heads all nodded and their shadowy forms shuffled out. A wicked laugh escaped the demonic queen. "Soon my prince. Soon."
((Superhero entry and a Batman quote. I'm on a roll))
|
|
Lell
Newborn
Posts: 49
|
Post by Lell on Nov 8, 2009 21:40:08 GMT -5
Zularin couldn’t help bought smile at this. The sudden arrival of his brother and his good mood just made him grin. Pushing through the gathering of his brethren, Zularin made it to the front. “And what is our mighty Savior’s first decree?” He bowed low, grinning from ear to ear, and a playful grin sparkling in his clear blue eyes. ----- “The light is beginning to shine through.” Averel whispered, staring deep into the black fire. He lowered his head, pushing Emerico’s decaying body into the fire, watching it as it devoured his friend whole. He pushed another, and another, until it was just a smoldering pile of bodies, the scent of death hanging heavy in the air. He hummed an old fallen soldier tune.
A single tear rolled down his indigo cheek.
“Ye vhen ir naimor.”
And then he turned away. ----- “But darling, I am already here.”
Her voice was strong, beautiful, and seductive. Her eyes were like that of a lion’s, golden, blazing. Her chestnut coat gleamed in the half-light, her long blonde curls hanging limply at her neck. Black runes were etched into her legs, curling up and around but stopping at the torso and hips. Powerful symbols, that helped control outcomes. The mare was long legged, like a dancer; her petite, dished face was painted with the familiar emotion of bloodlust and hate. At her side stood two black stallions with pupilless red eyes, no whites shining through. Long fangs poked out of their closed lips, and their hooves were cloven. Their legs were heavily feathered, their mane and tail thick. Black horns poked out of their foreheads, as well as tiny ones out of the bride of their noses, like tiny rhino horn. Wraiths, disguised to look less…decaying…than usual.
“Myrrh, so good to see you.” She purred, swishing one long tail. For a moment she looked innocent, like before, but in an instant, that was gone. Her eyes flashed darkly and her lips pulled back in a smile to reveal a set of long fangs. “But now is not the time for greetings, it is to discuss them.” She spat the last word as though it was poison.
“I have many…’friends’ so to speak, but the question is do we strike them now.”
|
|
Captain
Foal
Keeper of Hello Kitty Band-Aids
Posts: 50
|
Post by Captain on Nov 8, 2009 21:50:09 GMT -5
Myrrh smirked and dipped her head to the mare. Their common goals were the only things keeping them in any sort of harmony. Otherwise she would give anything to see Zirika blown to bits. "No, we can't do it now. Since his restoration Kalen will be more powerful than ever, and they're all worked up. Let them get comfortable before striking, as I see it."
*
Kalen reared up in feigned rage to his younger brother. "What kind of question is that? The only sensible thing to do next is to have cake of course!" Aero giggled and ran circles around his legs until she bumped into one of them. Lidione scampered to help the little one up. ""Neith sends her blessing to little Aero," Kalen said in a more serious tone. Lidione snorted. "If she is so blessed then she wouldn't have been born blind." "You know why that is Lidione." She didn't say anything.
But she did know.
And the reason why was standing before them.
*
Siobhan touched her muzzle to Averel's shoulder. "I had to bury my family too. The girls are all that I have now," she said softly, letting the thought linger in the air.
"We should get back to them."
A huge form jumped right over them and disappeared into the shadows. It was headed straight for the cave. "What the-" Siobhan breathed. "An attacker?"
|
|
Lell
Newborn
Posts: 49
|
Post by Lell on Nov 8, 2009 22:02:58 GMT -5
Zirika bowed her head slightly, and with one flick of her russet wing, her minions turned and walked away. Zirika too, turned, looking back to stare at Myrrh. “I will be close, when you decide the time is right.” She said, flinging herself into full gallop and leaping away, flaxen ringlets falling up and down against her neck. ------ “Oh but of COURSE.” Zularin replied, smiling. One ear flicked back. A noise outside the cave? His head snapped toward the entrance. Nothing. Reluctantly, he turned to face the group once again. The air was thick with tension, crackling with it between Kalen and Lidione, and for once Zularin had no idea why and did not care.
Sort of. ----- A growl escaped Averel’s throat as he felt Siobhan’s comforting touch disappear. He too, saw the shadow leap toward the cave. He reared, ears flattened against his skull, and leapt toward the cave. “Come on!” He called back to Siobhan as he galloped. ----- They landed on the cliffs high above the lower caves where the group was saying. Element was reluctant to move any further. Paladin had instantly been graceful in his flight, and it had not proven difficult in any way. Yet Element didn’t want to go any farther…she felt as though they should wait.
“What will they think of you?” She whispered, almost to herself. She turned to stare at her son, who looked so much like Element, yet so little. “Perhaps this was a bad plan. You should have never left the stable.” She hissed, stamping one hoof. She growled, pacing back and forth, while Paladin watched with raised brows.
“Will they think badly of me?” He said, a very serious tone in his voice. Element looked up, biting her lip. “They can be…judgmental…sometimes…and you’re father…” She broke off, looking at the torn landscape around her. “They’ll what?” Element’s head snapped around, glaring at him.
“You’re just nothing like any of us. You aren’t a warrior. You never will be. I should have never brought you into this.”
|
|
Captain
Foal
Keeper of Hello Kitty Band-Aids
Posts: 50
|
Post by Captain on Nov 8, 2009 22:54:49 GMT -5
The thing that Siobhan and Averel were chasing after jumped on its long legs to the mouth of the cave, not one stone falling out of place as he did so. He landed easily in the cave and his form shifted into that of a lithe and lean unicorn. "Sorry if I'm late. Prince. There was a nice doe on my way here that I couldn't pass up."
Kalen smirked and nudged the black coated stallion. "Good to see you again, Sentinel."
He turned around and could barely catch a glimpse of other horses out there. They didn't look like they would harm them, and Kalen could almost make out the colors. He stepped out of the darkness and into the light, lifting his wings to warm them and prepare to investigate the two forms.
*
Sentinel looked at the little on and gave Lidione a questioning look. "She's ours," Storm announced, drawing near. "Aero." The shifter nodded and his questioning turned to a smile. After getting a look at her face, he turned back to the couple. "She's blind." "And you're color blind. Doesn't stop you," Lidione said starkly.
|
|
Lell
Newborn
Posts: 49
|
Post by Lell on Nov 9, 2009 17:37:34 GMT -5
When Sentinel entered, Zularin jumped a foot in the air. “By Hairo, don’t just jump in like that!” He snapped irritably, like telling a little foal to leave him alone. Swishing his long white tail, Zularin turned away from the new arrival. Sure, war friends could prove useful, yes, but Zularin just didn’t like…people. He liked Xanthe though. Yeah, he loved her, maybe his blood too. Zularin smirked to himself, and took a sip from the rainwater pool in the back of the cave, it was cool, soothing to his throat. A slight drip ran from his lip, and he shook.
He was growing anxious.
Averel sprang into the cave. “Someone’s about to-“ He faded off, sliding to a screeching halt, his hooves grating against the stone. “Oh. Hi. I don’t know you. I’m Averel. Yeah.” He said, retreating into the shadows and out of the half-light, head low.
They were both growing anxious. ----------- “If you didn’t want to bring me into this, why the hell did you make me come anyway?” Paladin snarled, taking a menacing step toward his dam. “I…needed to be reassured…” Element stammered, flattening her ears anyway. “Well, take m-…someone’s here.” Paladin hissed, one ear twitching toward a spot near the hills. Element whipped around, peering through the mist with a sigh.
“You can come out now, Kalen.”
|
|
Captain
Foal
Keeper of Hello Kitty Band-Aids
Posts: 50
|
Post by Captain on Nov 9, 2009 18:04:11 GMT -5
Kalen's ears swiveled forward and he fluttered effortlessly over to where Element. He lingered there in uncertainty for a moment before lunging at her and wrapping his neck firmly around hers. "Remember how I look now. So when you think of my you can remember this, an image of strength and of someone who wants nothing more but to protect you forever..."
He was taken out of his speech when he saw Paladin. He pulled away from Element and looked over the young one with admiration. "So this is my son? We made a damn nice kid."
*
Sentinel nodded curtly to Averel when he entered. "Pleasssure's mine," he said, wincing at the fact his hiss hadn't gone away. "I'm Sentinel. I helped out in the last war."
|
|
Lell
Newborn
Posts: 49
|
Post by Lell on Nov 11, 2009 15:39:18 GMT -5
“There was a war BEFORE this?” Averel muttered. Zularin laughed slightly.
“Shows how you haven’t been listening.” ------ “Oh I know, I’m quite the badass, aren’t I?” Paladin replied, holding his head proudly. Element kicked at him playfully, and the young stallion dodged, smirking when she missed. “I win.” He smiled, shaking once and flapping his ivory feathered wings. “And you’re my father, I’m assuming since you called me your kid…” He said, looking at him with a tilted head and curious expression. Element rolled her eyes.
“His name’s Paladin.” She said quietly to Kalen, looking at her hooves for a minute, before her head snapped up and looked at her small family again. “He’s only three. Pathetic compared to you and I, isn’t it?” Paladin snorted, and muttered something about being rude. “There was that one time that Laira…” He was cut off. “Which is nothing compared to what’s out there.” Element said, a bit distant as she stared out at the once beautiful landscape.
Once.
It was now yellowed, trees fallen, shed of their leaves and bark, no sustenance.
A plague.
|
|
Captain
Foal
Keeper of Hello Kitty Band-Aids
Posts: 50
|
Post by Captain on Nov 13, 2009 18:24:07 GMT -5
Lidione took a long drag on her cigarette before smiling at the warrior's question. "Only about twenty of them."
The smoke from the cigarette reached Aero's fuzzy nose and she folloed her senses to the source. "Can I have some momma?" she asked in a sweet, tiny voice. Lidione nearly choked. "Oh no. No savior of ours is going to be a smoker like me. I bet you don't even have the affinity that helps you keep it up."
*
Kalen sighed and flicked an ear. "Absolutely insignificant. We're getting awful old, huh babe?" he asked, sounding nonchalant as ever. He also took in the withering landscape. The same thing that happened in Legia some hundred thousand years ago was happening here. Soon this place would be nothing but ash.
*
"Zo, demon child, vhat vould jou suggest as a next move?" "What can I suggest? We haven't been hit yet save for the plague. Until she shows herself we're helpless." "Exzactly vhat I vanted to hear. Jou do have Phantom and Suicide's strategy." Twisted smiled at the master sergeant's compliment. "I can only hope so, sir."
|
|
Lell
Newborn
Posts: 49
|
Post by Lell on Nov 15, 2009 0:13:03 GMT -5
(eekkkk no muse!) Zularin smirked at little Aero’s question, and Averel’s eyes nearly bugged out of his head. When Lidione refused her some, Averel breathed a sigh and Zularin snorted in amusement. Flicking one ear to Twisted, Averel slowly turned to face the Demon. “So. We just…wait here?” He asked slowly, stamping one hoof, the sound echoing off the stony cave wall.
“Yeah. Do nothing. Wait until they attack. Yeah.” Zularin said, looking rather bored. “Dude, where’d Kalen go AGAIN?” ---- “Eh. You were always old.” Paladin grinned, thinking himself to be clever. Element shot him a glare, and when he looked away, she grinned in satisfaction. Element looked to Kalen, tilting her head slightly. “Should we go to the…others now?” She said, almost quietly. Her eyes flashed to a shadow in the distance, the occasional laugh or howl of joy. They were feeding again. She shivered, and Paladin’s eyes were wide, fixated on the horizon.
This was only the beginning.
|
|