[FIN] It Is Right That They Should Fear(Aveshar/Aka Manah)

[~Latonia de la Courtel~]

In the back of his mind Aveshar had always maintained he was adopted. Granted, he had met some of his more distant relatives, and seen the parallels in their souls... Seen where, perhaps, he could be related to them, but not his immediate 'family'. They were disgraces. Weak and sentimental and simpering. No, he would not claim them. The Dark Melody, she made sense... And perhaps her one son. But not the other son, not the damned unicorn.
Like Kelakohr, and there was little Aveshar hated on the face of this earth more than he hated Kelakohr... Perhaps Sunisra, but she was nowhere to be found and he was grateful for her absence. There was only so much disgusting goodness he could stand in his immediate area... If any more of his siblings arrived in this land he truly would consider leaving. Bad enough that... Nevermind. He'd rather not think of it.
But Kelakohr constantly appearing whenever it looked like Aveshar had found himself the faintest promise of sport... And that, that was beyond annoying, that the damned Unicorn was constantly turning up. Aveshar stalked deeper into the woods, tail snapping back and forth and teeth grinding as he rumbled to himself in displeasure. The faint scent of blood on leaves made the Kalona stallion stop dead. He pinned his ears and scented again, drawing a deep breath and then chuckling. That... That smelled like a Soquili's blood...
And an injured Soquili was a weaker one... It had been quite some time since Aveshar had some real sport. Sadly, his daughter and son were not here to join in the hunt as they had before... But he could give chase without them. Running his muzzle over some of the leaves to be sure he had caught the right direction of the trail, he tracked the blood from dry to tacky and then set out with a will.
When he wished, the great black Kalona could move through the forest with an eerie grace... And it was in this way he began his hunt, a thirst for the kill building slowly in his heart. He had had more than enough of all the purity and the joy, right now he rather wanted to fight or kill... To revel in being a Kalona.

 

[dawns_aura]

Aka Manah snorted as she flicked her tail trying to flick the remnants of flesh and blood from the individual tendrils. Her victim hadn't even put up a small challenge. They were weak. Pathetic. Not worth the time and effort it took her to run them down and kill them. They were like most of the denizens she'd run into since coming to Kawani with the Great Herd. Soft.

A sneer curled her lips. And yet these soft, pathetic weaklings had managed to take down one of the strongest, most disciplined herds around. So what did that say about them... the rest of the herd, not herself, obviously. She started to turn away from her kill. Now that the bloodlust had cooled, and the thrill from the hunt. The carcass was just that. A carcass. Not a trophy or a meal, or anything.

The hunt was a disappointment. Her prey. The forest. This land was full of disappointment. She sighed. She longed to find something to cause her blood to boil and to feel that fire again. And to be able to make that fire last. There just had to be something that she could be passionate about once more. She simply had to find it.

~Latonia de la Courtel~

 

[~Latonia de la Courtel~]

Aveshar rumbled to himself as he wove amongst the trees, finding more evidence of a labored journey and the close of the hunt. There was blood on a cluster of ferns, and the evidence of a fall in the churned up earth. Encountering broken branches and yet more blood, he rather doubted the wounded Soquili was still running. It seemed far more likely they had since perished. Which then begged the question, with the prey dead, where was the predator?

And more interesting to the Kalona stallion, what was the predator?

"Interesting..." He murmured to himself as he paused to scent the air. There was no tell-tale scent of other that usually meant a Skinwalker was close, and Aveshar had certainly learned how to detect them by now.. So then, a Kalona or a strange mixed breed?

With a flex of his wings Aveshar scented the air again, turning his nose toward the smell of death. Maybe he would find whatever had hunted so recently, if they were still about. Perhaps some entertainment could be found, if so.

It was an honest pity he had missed the excitement of the Kalona herd visiting the lands. He heard about the aftermath of course, of lives lost and apparently a battle to drive the invading herd away. A pity indeed that he had missed both the strength of an invading herd, and the battle itself. From what he understood the herd had scattered to the winds, some remaining in the lands while others were driven away or injured.

Perhaps he'd cross paths with them, hear what stories they had to tell, spar a little... Gain a new companion to hunt with. Something to brighten an otherwise dull landscape.

The sound of soft hoobeats and the rustle of foliage made his ears swivel forward, curiosity peaked. "Hello?"

dawns_aura

 

[dawns_aura]

A sneer curled her lips as she spared one last glance at the carcass at her feet. 'Weak, pathetic, unworthy. If you were even a little bit ... more... you might have...' Her voice trailed off in disgust. Why was she attempting to speak. She must have been more affected by her stay here in these lands than she had thought.

She was growing careless. Growing weak. It wasn't to be borne. She wouldn' t let herself falter, become what she despised...

It wasn't until she heard the soft snap of a twig and soft rustle of foliage that she realised she wasn't alone. Just more proof that she was going... soft. Her tail lashed again in agitation, her already bleak mood turned darker, though her anger was more at herself than any external source. Here was just more reason for self-hate. She had lowered her guard, allowed herself to be vulnerable ... prey.

That she hadn't been attacked in her distracted state was due more to luck and fortune than planning and conscious control. The new presence, she wasn't sure yet if they were a threat, prey or something interesting. She hoped for interesting, someone strong, able to ignite the fire she was missing. Strong, intelligent, a challenge... but she held no hope for it. She had not had such since the failed Invasion. Before then, if she were to be completely honest.

Face and body language neutral, she turned to the voice, arching a brow, refusing to speak or acknowledge the other until they were visible and she could see just who and what she was to be dealing with.

~Latonia de la Courtel~

 

[~Latonia de la Courtel~]

'Talking... To her prey perhaps?' Aveshar flipped his ears forward, drawing to a momentary halt as he tried to discern the words the other was speaking. A low female voice, scornful and arrogant, but the words remained a mystery. They were not spoken to him, but he was interested regardless.

He couldn't yet see the one he was tracking, but the scent of both hunter and hunted was stronger now. 'A death... And fresh.' The Kalona stallion noted with interest. Whatever she was, the hunt had not been subtle and the trail easy to follow... Well, at least she was a successful hunter. He raised his head and drew a deep breath, carding through the information the wind offered him.

A hunting mare, that much he was sure... Kalona, very likely. He gathered her prey was a lesser Soquili, something to pursue through the forest and trample beneath her furious hooves. Whether she was a native Kalona or a part of the Great Herd that had failed, he did not know. Such things could not be guessed by scent... Though if they were to meet face to face he would see if her markings were familiar to him.

That would involve seeing her, first. So with a sigh the stallion moved forward again, altering his path to a more circuitous route. It wouldn't do to sneak up on the female, so with his current course he would at least arrive at an angle... Perhaps she would tolerate his arrival better if he made himself known.

"Greetings, Hunter." He murmured, to better make himself known as he began to discern her shape through the trees. There were hints of white amongst the green, and it was toward that he moved now. "Well met."

dawns_aura

 

[dawns_aura]

Ears flickering with each sound, her muscles tensed and alert, she waited for the interloper to show themselves. Not likely that the other was a lesser, not with the scent of kalona and fresh blood, not unless they were foolish, or arrogant.

A very small part of the mare hoped that that was the case. At least they would be worth of her notice, for a moment anyway, until she spilled their lifeblood at her feet. Her tail lashed out in agreement with her thoughts, tendrils eager to wrap around prey, squeezing until there was no life left, or acting as a whip opening long gashes, cutting through muscle and tendons while not causing fatal wounds, allowing the life to drain away slowly...

But apparently, her hopes were all for naught.

The voice that announced the presence and arrival of the other was deep, and tinged with darkness and power. Not, then, a weak pathetic lesser for her to hunt, but another hunter like herself. Strong, vital, Kalona.

Perhaps not such a waste after all.
Worthy at least of some of her time and companionship. Until he proved himself to not be. A kalona male, untainted by the blood o those not worthy. How refreshing. Too many of the kalona she had met since the Great Herd fell were weak, tainted, or simply a waste of life. It was disgusting.

Perhaps he was different. Perhaps he was better. Perhaps, perhaps.

'Well met.' Manah inclined her head ever so slightly. She considered for a moment. One aspect of hunting and being a part of the Herd that she missed was the sharing of the kill. The camaraderie and companionship. She missed it terribly. She nudged the corpse with a dainty front hoof. 'Would you care to partake? The kill is fresh, the blood warm.'

Even if he didn't follow the same customs and rules she had grown up with, if this was his territory it was an appropriate gesture.

~Latonia de la Courtel~

 

[~Latonia de la Courtel~]

Aveshar smiled faintly to himself as he noted the alert mare's reaction to his presence. She was a predator, and a clever one at that, he was inclined to believe. Her movements were graceful, the hunt was well-executed, and she could tell he was out there before he introduced himself. If he had been putting effort into hunting her, he would have been impressed. As it stood, he was at least intrigued.

Noting how her tail seethed and writhed like snakes, he was moderately glad he had chosen to enter at a direct angle and not behind her. That limb was more problematic than his own tail, and he had little desire to be within reach when the mare chose to wield it.

He lifted his head, high and proud, as he paced into view. Ears pitched forward to fix on her and nostrils flared to drink the scent of this mare and her kill. He met her eyes without fear or hesitation, glowing gaze narrowing faintly in challenge as he waited for her to finish her assessment.

"I am not hungry at the moment, though I thank you for your offer. Please, do not let me disturb you in your feeding. I merely scented the hunt and kill, and thought it best to investigate."

He considered her in silence for a moment or two. "You seem like one of the Great Herd, which descended upon this land and found themselves broken like a wave on the sand. They remain scattered about like raindrops, and I have crossed paths with some. Am I wrong in guessing you are another?"

dawns_aura

 

[dawns_aura]

So it wasn't his territory, nor did he care to accept her offer. No big deal, it was his loss. She cared not. As it was, the blood cooled beneath her hooves and the warmth left the carcass. The creature, the sack of blood, flesh and bones at her hooves had served its purpose. It helped hone her skills and practise the black magic she'd not had occasion to use since the Invasion. If she would not share her kill, it was not something she'd consume on her own.

The stallion seemed older than her, cunning and wise. She acknowledged that strength and wisdom. 'The kill served little purpose, beyond the exercise of skill and honing my own technique.' A waste, but not one that concerned her in the slightest. She hated to leave a kill lying around for unworthy scavengers to claim but she couldn't prevent it. She shrugged a shoulder, and her tail tendrils stilled.

She bristled slightly at the mention of the Herd, and the catastrophe that was the failed invasion.

'Don't think those of this land were stronger, the cause of the failure. We were stronger, faster, better than any force that could be raised here. If we failed it was due to betrayal by our own.' She tossed her head proudly. ' Yes, I was a member of that Herd. What's it to you?'

~Latonia de la Courtel~

 

[~Latonia de la Courtel~]

The Kalona stallion had no great use for words, so he waited in silence and observed the mare with interest. Her actions were not of any great interest to him, beyond general observations. This was not this territory and he did not need to punish her for trespassing. He could simply sit back and wait to see what she would say about herself.

He gave the kill a final glance and then dismissed it outright, uncaring. It was not his kill, and he was under no obligation to eat it. He had hunted and fed already, and since there were no foals to feed back in his territory he would leave it to the scavengers or any predators that may want it.

"A fine technique." He offered in a bland tone, allowing the statement to stand on its own as a mere observation. "I am sure someone will be along to take advantage of it."

"At no point did I say such a thing as to observe the natives were stronger." Aveshar shrugged. "Though they stand victorious and the herd has scattered, the argument could be made that the results speak for themselves. I am of the opinion -based on those I have met or observed from the herd- that the loss was due to an internal power struggle and less based on the action of the native herd."

He nodded faintly when she admitted to having been part of the band. "A mild curiosity and idle interest. I was away from the lands when the herd itself arrived, and only returned after their fate was sealed. As my territory is within this land, I do have a vested interest in the happenings therein. A move for territory, even an unsuccessful one, is worthy of note."

dawns_aura

 

[dawns_aura]

If there were no other facts about Aka that were true, the one that is probably the most important and true was about her pride. The vain mare though not as hardy and strong in body as the majority of her kind, was a skilled hunter. A proud hunter. And to not only have her kind offer rebuffed – which was not that big a deal – but the simple words...A fine technique. That was enough and more than enough to set her off. It was condescending and insulting. Her wings mantled and her many tendril'd tail, which had been quiet since the arrival of the stallion was back to lashing back and forth in agitation.

But the mare was no fool. Though she was far from impressed, she was intelligent enough to not provoke the stallion into a fight which she knew she couldn't win. He was larger than her by a good bit, and he had the benefit of being familiar with the land and terrain where she was not, and he looked to have more experience in the arena of battle than she herself did.

She did not appreciate either his simple observations. Correct or not. It simply was not acceptable in her eyes. She was a part of the Great Kalona herd. The herd who nearly succeeded in the Invasion. She should be admired and feared. Any interest she might have felt, about the stallion himself, about any insight he might have been able to offer her – not that she needed it per say, but any information about this new land she was forced to call 'home' (begrudgingly) – would have possibly been useful, had been deemed insignificant.

'Perhaps so, perhaps not. On should only be interested in the territory grabs if it should happen to affect them personally. The Invasion, had it succeeded would not have had any real impact on you. Interest after the fact is both impractical and a waste of time. It is done, over and forgotten. '

She turned her back to the stallion. Her hunt was concluded, the stallion not worth any more time than she had given him, despite her hopes to the contrary, it was time for her to move on once again.

~Latonia de la Courtel~

 

[~Latonia de la Courtel~]

Aveshar noticed her aggravation rise, flicking one ear as he considered her. It was not his problem she was upset, as far as he was concerned. He had spoken to her civilly, though she had chosen to take it poorly. It was not his fault he was not hungry, and if she chose to be insulted by the fact that he had no need of her charity, that was her business.

Kalona rarely offered charity, too often a presentation of aid was a trap. He would not accept it, and if denying it annoyed her too much then she could walk away. The experience had been, enlightening, if not altogether pleasant. Her pride was injured, and she reacted from a place of weakness. He watched her posturing and the snap of her tail in unimpressed silence. At least she didn't launch herself at him in some sort of childish tantrum.

It would be disappointing if it wasn't so reasonable. At least she was not a fool, at least, in this respect. She had thrown her lot in with a herd of Kalona and seemed surprise by their failure, so she was not exactly that clever in his eyes either.

"If your herd was successful in taking over as they wished, and then stupid enough to overhunt the area, it would indeed impact me... And quite negatively." He retorted with a shrug. "But I suppose in one aspect you are correct, there is no point in interest now, as your herd did indeed fail."

He watched her turn away, disinterested, though the rather abrupt abandonment of the conversation was notable in the lack of manners. Tone only slightly mocking, Aveshar spoke once more before she could disappear. "I wish you better in future endeavors."

dawns_aura

Guessing this is over?

 

[dawns_aura]

The stallion proved that perhaps there might be some in this land who were worthy. An exemplary kalona. And perhaps not the only one. And while she was becoming aggravated by his dismissive manner – a horrible habit she had been prone to, and cautioned about by her teachers again and again to not fall prey to – she was strong enough not to indugle in a tantrum. To do so would show herself to be undisciplined and weak. Two things she would not be. Not for any reason, or anyone.

'We were not so undisciplined that we would overhunt. But the point is moot, as you have said.' She managed to prevent herself from bristling too bady when he mentioned once again the word failure. Even if it wasn't about her personally, she still felt the sting and negative impact of the past.

After all it left her here, in a land where she was little more than an unwelcome interloper. A proud predator without home or herd. Surrounded by weakness, which she disdained. Biting the inside of her cheek to taste the copper tang of blood, and to keep from snapping or giving in to her temper. She turned back briefly and bowed her head mockingly. ' I wish you success in your future hunts, and the fear of lessers as you deserve.'

Remaining alert and aware to his presence, Manah walked away.

This exile might not be so terrible, if only she could find others like her, and like the stallion she left behind. She would not be alone here. She would find others of strong and proud blood. Those who Kalona himself would be proud to acknowledge as his sons and daughters. A new Herd to arise and make the lands fall to their knees in fear.

So perhaps this meeting did not turn out so poor as might have been thought. She now had purpose. A new passion.

She would not fail again.

~Latonia de la Courtel~

Yeah. Seems a good place to end.
Sorry Manah was such a temperamental brat.

 

[~Latonia de la Courtel~]

'Not a fool... And an interesting creature, when all is said and done.' The stallion mused silently to himself as he watched her walk away.

Though clearly at an end, the encounter was not without its surprises, and the chance to interact with a former member of the herd had been a welcome one. While he was still not sure of much regarding their true motivations or the structure which had so spectacularly fallen, Aveshar would continue to obtain details regarding the matter. It was partially on a whim to further educate himself, and partially out of simple curiosity. Still, if he did decide that a similar power play was his calling, he would at least have enough information to avoid making the same mistakes.

He did not see a point in challenging her to further debate, as far as he was concerned both had said what they needed to say.

Her farewell made him smile, a baring of teeth. "May those that displease you cower in your wake, and though that show weakness fall before your strength... And farewell, Lady."

With that he turned his own back as well, turning his nose toward his homelands with amusement brewing in his belly. He head learned a thing or two today, and perhaps he would put it into practice before long.

After all, it was only right at those weaker should fear his kind, and hers.

'Yes...' Aveshar mused to himself. 'It is right that they should fear us.'

dawns_aura

Not a problem at all, it was an interesting experience! ^.^

FIN