[PRP]A Clash of Talons and Horns (Matania x Morsmordre)

[Nayci]

This is a private RP between II--Gen3sis--II and Nyx Queen of Darkness

The day had been long. From dawn until dusk Matania had flown across the lands she now had to call home. Her muscles ached, her mind muddled with the thoughts of finding a place to sleep and just letting go. She hadn’t been sleeping well since day one. Every night was filled with continuous nightmares that seemed endless. When one nightmare ended another began and took the finished ones place. It was a never ending cycle of viciousness that plagued Matania’s thoughts constantly, even in the daylight hours. It was not very productive in keeping herself from finally giving up and giving in to her darkness. The weight of the ghosts she carried lingered like deadweight. So, as she glided downwards towards the plains and the edge of the nearby forest, Matania couldn’t help but close her eyes and sigh in resignation.

Softly she touched down on the dirt, her claws extending outwards to break herself into a stop. Her wings flourished and stretched out, the feathers ruffling and smoothing themselves before she pulled them back tightly against her sides. Ears perked forward whilst listening for any sort of disturbance, Matania raised her muzzle to take in the air. It was currently a mixture of pine, musky rain, and mud. Nothing seemed too out of the ordinary. Her senses were her guide, letting her know that at this point in time things would be fine for her to find a place to rest until morning. Now if sleep would come was an entirely different story. But alas, she had no other choice in the matter. She knew that if she didn’t get any sleep, as little as it may be, the likelihood of being ambushed or attacked and being killed, was high.

Making her way forward into the trees Matania kept her footsteps light, her eyes beginning to glow pink as the canopy of the trees cast her in a darkening shadow. She didn’t want to go too deep into the woods in case things turned sour in the night and be forced to take flight. But she also didn’t want to be out in the open. Either extreme was a perfect scenario for another to make her life harder, harder than it already was. With a swish of her short tail she found a small clearing in which a tree overhung low enough to create an overhang, it would be the most opportune place to take residence for the night. It not only would give her a place to sleep but it would also give her a place to keep herself hidden. Since coming into these lands she realized that her color combination did not blend in well with the surroundings. Granted, she had seen a number of others who had even more vibrant coats than she. Regardless, she didn’t want to take any chances.

Coming up under the long strands of thin branches and leaves, Matania sighed and began to relax the best she could. Trying to clear her mind was the first thing on her to do list, to try and keep herself from having too many nightmares this night. Now whether or not it would actually work was another story entirely.  

[Nyx Queen of Darkness]

She had heard the rumours, had scarce believed them when she did. What kind of nonsense did the others speak of? Their voices hushed when she came into a clearing. But she caught their snatches until finally, she...persuaded them to tell her what all the gossip was about.

There had been spotted a divine creature with wings greater than the angeni, it was said. More fluffly, maybe even more divine (Morsmordre doubted it. She'd sold a few Angeni, she knew how little of the divine there could be in them). She had claws that could grasp you and rend you, maybe it was some kind of redeeming or avenging angeni type. Something meant to come to destroy the wicked. The voices all quieted and nodded in agreement.

Morsmordre laughed coarsely, "Well, I'm still here. So you poor carrion waste have nothing to worry about...unless it's come to get rid of the foal and unuseful." She laughed again, "What's the bounty?"

A shifty eyed little usidia moved forward, "I was told if you should come ask, that HE offers information on the one you seek if you bring her to him--alive."

Morsmordre's face brightened, "He guaranteed it?"

The mini nodded it's head vigorously.

"Then we have an accord."
...

Devoid of wings, accursed to walk rather than fly like her other brethern Morsmordre worked her way across the lands following the trail of the "Condor" as she liked to call her. Her colouring was bright, her scent easy to follow. But she was going to be difficult--those claws were huge, the wings an advantage, but most dangerous was the mind.

She was intelligent, something many of her other marks usually didn't have. She was wary, she'd been in battle that much was evident. She knew how to handle herself, which was why with quiet precision Morsmordre moved upwind so the her scent wouldn't carry to her stalk.

She would wait an hour until sleep came to the creature, and then...oh then she would take her.  

[Nayci]

Matania kept her eyes closed, her mind open to the multiple sounds surrounding her. The chirps of the early rising crickets, the soft calls of sleepy baby birds to their mother, and even the wind echoing through the valley was allowed to come to her senses. Besides her siblings the wind was her only friend. It was the only thing to never betray her, never leave her side. Her wings were forever grateful that the wind spirits allowed her the ability to fly with them. She could still remember when her sister Makaya obtained her first elemental familiar. A small blue and white wolf; it followed her everywhere. Matania smiled at the memory of her sister’s large smiling face at the age of ten. But that was before the war, before her brother Mataius took command of their forces and took their sister under his wing.

It was then Makaya’s smile fell away. Even their sister Melina couldn’t bring it out of her. They all knew Melina was the innocent one, the one who could keep them all together. And in the rare instances a smile was present, it wasn’t in front of the family. Those were saved for her elemental familiars. They were her confidants, her friends. In some ways Matania wished she could have familiars like her sister; be able to use them in battle to support her. But that was not Matania’s way. It was not her strength. Her strength lied in a sharp mind and heavy hit, the ability to use her claws to gouge out flesh. She was not meant to use others to do her bidding. And that was okay with her. She didn’t deserve any help. Not after all the death she caused.

Her wing feathers shifted under the caress of the wind’s fingers. Soothing and comforting to her weary mind. But she couldn’t afford to go into a complete sleep. While she knew she could defend herself regardless the idea of allowing an enemy to attack her without any prep time from her went completely against her nature, her training. Her father had instilled that into her first. It was the first lesson he taught her when she spoke to him about joining the knights.

Without your mind you’ll be without your life.

His words were so utterly true. She knew that rule to the core and had been exercising it since the beginning. That would never change. For without herself she had nothing at all. But yet, she ached so much. Surely there couldn’t be anything horrible nearby, at least, nothing strong enough to really do her any harm.

No…

She couldn’t do that to herself. And so she kept her mind awake as she dozed, letting time pass by as quickly or as slowly as it wanted. But that’s when the chirping crickets and birds stopped. Her breathing paused for a moment. Her ears swiveling around to try and hear things close by.

Nothing.

And that wasn’t right.

Something was nearby. She could feel it. Something large. Something dangerous. But she would let them strike first. And she would be ready to counter it. That was in her blood. And so, she stayed as still as she could, pretending to not pay attention, totally oblivious to her surroundings.

However, she was anything but.
 

[Nyx Queen of Darkness]

Morsmordre crept through the trees, circling and listening. Her snake was coiled tightly around her leg and lounging on her back. She could hear it's soft hiss, and the wind blowing in the trees. She couldn't see her prey, but she could hear her breathing, soft and rhythmic.

And then suddenly, there was a hitch.

The breathing resumed evenly. Was it that she sensed her or that she'd just gasped a little in her sleep? Morsmordre listened into the night and shut her eyes. The breathing was even, but not as deep as before.

Her prey was awake, and knew she was there.

For a moment, she paused. She had hoped to catch her unawares where she would have the bigger advantage. But now, the mare knew of her presence, there was little cause to sneak around now.

"Come out, come out," she laughed wickedly. "Let's play."  

[Nayci]

Matania snapped her eyes open, the magenta orbs scanning the tree line while she searched for the source of the voice that tried to taunt her. It was close, a little too close. But to panic would instigate an early confrontation. And an early confrontation would cause the likelihood of her failure and probable death. No, no. That wasn’t going to happen. She flexed her claws and shoulders, rolling them, warming them up, and she took a step forward. Her wings were clasped tightly against her sides.

“I dare say that you should come out and play instead. How should I know who my opponent is if they don’t show themselves? Would you not consider this game one sided then?”

Not that Matania thought the danger would play fair to begin with. That was apprentice folly. No, play back to engage your opponent. Find out as much information as possible. Stall them for as long as able. The rules of engagement. Those of which were burned into her mind since birth.

Would Zikel be proud of her?

No, no he wouldn’t. Not now. But Matania would be damned if she let herself fall to a shadowy opponent like this. Child’s play. It wasn’t in her best interest. She surely didn’t like living like this. But she had no choice. Nor did she feel the need to actually die because of a simple danger like this.

Not that she would realize the extent of this engagement until later.

So she moved forward with silent grace only the way an Asmodian could. Confident, strong, giving not an inch of her possible insecurities.

“Come now, hiding isn’t suited for a mare such as yourself.” She spoke up again as silence resumed after her first comment, “I’m sure you have more honor than that.”

Honor would be a loose statement. Matania was quite sure that this dangerous mare would have little to no honor. At least, in Matania’s code of conduct. Who knew was the other mare would think of it. Either way, Matania wasn’t going to take any chances. Thank god she had forgone taking off her few pieces of armor. That would have been a large mistake on her part if she had decided to do so not long earlier.

“I’m still waiting Shadow Mare, come show yourself to me before I get bored.”

Taunting…. Maybe not a good idea but Matania was getting a little bit restless. Not much, but enough. She wanted to get this whole thing over with so she could finally rest. Or at least doze longer before moving on to the next part of the kawani lands, as she so learned the name of her new home earlier that afternoon.

Nyx Queeen of Darkness

 

[Nyx Queen of Darkness]

Morsmordre smiled as she waited in the shadows. This poor piteous fool thought that she could bait her into responding. Slowly, she listened to the girl's voice and watched her movements. She had claws, and metal armor. Slowly, she circled a quarter way around as she listened to the girl.

She spoke of honour, tried to get her to play in this game of warfare. But Morsmordre was too long in the game, she knew most of the tricks. She knew not to to respond so stupidly. She knew what this unnamed girl would do. She had the advantage--taller, wings, and armour. But Morsmordre was lighter--and unseen.

Morsmordre shot from the shadows and threw out her tail and teeth at teh same time, biting for the girl's flank while trying to tear at the wings and ground her prey while saying not a word.  

[Nayci]

The mare heard her before she saw her, although it was barely just in time for her to react to the sudden onslaught. The smaller devil mare, as she had so decided within the moment to call her, slammed into her flank hard sending both of them sliding back through the dirt and mud. In retaliation Matania’s training kicked in, twisting her body to claw at her opponent’s face. The momentum guided not only by her current situation, but also the deep rooted memories of how she would fight her brother Malik.

This mare reminded her of him, smaller, no less deadly, but she had one thing on this mare. And that was her ability to fly. However, on that same exact note, Malik was also known to go for the wings of his opponents. If this devil mare was anything like him as well, she’d be doing the same thing. Hell, Matania would too if her opponent had them. Coming around she flattened her wings tightly against her sides, molding them to her form so this she devil wouldn’t have a chance to get to them. Or at least, get to them easily. Matania was no fool. And besides, her wings were tougher since she was part ulun’suti and not completely bird like her hippogryph other half. The skin was much more leathery under all those feathers. It provided her a little extra protection for her more sensitive parts, those which weren’t as safe.

The she devil and her stared each other down, one looking in pure hatred and desire for her blood, and the other, more concentrated. But there was something more here, that much was for certain. If this she devil mare was only going for blood, she’d continue her onslaught. No. There was something much more. Matania just couldn’t place it. At least, not yet. The she devil wasn’t stupid like the others Matania has come across. Smaller and lithe, no wings what to speak of, and yet she was still of the she devil kind. The dark ones known as kalona.

Matania sneered at the thought. They reminded her of the Balaur up north. Dragon kind who thrived on death, destruction, and blood. No matter the price the dragon kind were not above taking down those less fortunate, those less protected, those who couldn’t fight. It was abhorrent, disgusting. And Matania hated them since the day she could slice them limb from limb with her pointed claws. This mare drew out something from her she had thought she gained more control of. Her anger.

“Devils, the whole lot of you,” Matania snarled, her teeth bared, “your kind don’t even deserve to exist. You. Are. Nothing.”

Nyx Queeen of Darkness