[PRP] Finding Fear (Cast Inside)

[divena]

This is a PRP between Divena & Angelique DelaMort and their Soq

 

[divena]

Zahavah had taken her eyes off of the little ones for just a couple minutes. Somehow they managed to disappear. Zahavah wasn't too worried about it. They couldn't have gotten far. What concerned her was that Pavlov would freak out about it. He always did. She waited a moment, silently counting down until he noticed they were gone.

Nova followed her brother through the bushes a bit nervously. "Wolf, are you sure this is a good idea?" she whispered. It had seemed like a grand adventure to sneak away from Mommy and Daddy, but now that she had lost sight of them she was a bit concerned. It wasn't the first time she had wandered off. It was the first time she had gone without Mommy's approval, though.

Xanatos watched the little bite sized tidbits wander past the tree he had been napping in. In his feral form, he was high enough that they wouldn't see him grin a Cheshire grin. What luck. He was just starting to feel peckish.  

[Angelique DelaMort]

"It'll be fine, Nova," the determined little foal said as he trudged steadfastly along. "I just want you to meet a friend of mine, but you can't tell dad...because I'm pretty sure he's going to freak out. But it's okay. She's a good friend - I think you two will get along..." he hesitated for a second, certain he'd heard something link a branch cracking.

Pavlov was scanning the meadow again, he was certain he had just seen the pair playing some 20 paces away but now. Where could they have gone?  

[divena]

And there it was. "Pav?" Zahavah said, trying to catch his attention so she could calm him down before he worked himself up too much.

"A friend?" Nova asked uncertainly. She thought of the friend she had made. She still hadn't had a chance to mention the stallion to her parents. But that was a he, not a she, so Wolfgang had to be talking about someone else.

Xanatos eased his way along the branch before dropping down behind the foals as quietly as he could. Which... really wasn't that quietly, considering he was a cat.  

[Angelique DelaMort]

Wolfgang had been about to answer when he felt the ground shake through his hooves. That along with the loud crunch was more than enough to spin the foal around and gap at the form that loomed over them. If the teeth weren't a dead give away, then the bone skull attached to its head was enough. "Run, Nova!" he yelped already moving to shove his little sister along away from the monster.

Pavlov's ears picked up as he heard the shouting. "Oh no!" he gasped and took off full speed in the direction of the disturbance.  

[divena]

Zahavah didn't waste time yelping or gasping. She took off after Pavlov, spinning her little legs as fast as they would take her. She might have been small, but she was quick, and she was motivated.

Nova screamed at the sight at the fangs and scrambled trying to run away from the creature. She stumbled and cried out for her brother when she fell face first over a root.

Oh, he did so love it when they ran. Just to make it more interesting, Xanatos shifted out of his feral form so that he could tower over the little tidbits.  

[Angelique DelaMort]

"And now it's bigger....great..." Wolfgang muttered pulling his sister along with his teeth. "Come on, Nova - the roots won't take us down today..." he said pulling again at his sibling.

Pavlov inhaled sharply as he heard another scream. The sight before his eyes as he came upon the pair was enough to make his already weak heart stop. A monster - flesh and blood...and teeth - very sharp teeth. A nightmare snarling in day time and poised over his foals. Wishing this thing wasn't there wouldn't work this time, that he instinctively knew, but he could buy the kids time...  

[divena]

Nova scrambled, trying to get her feet under her while her brother dragged her. Terror kept her from being able to find her balance. All she could see were those teeth and claws. She let out helpless whimpers as she fell to the ground again.

Zahavah didn't hesitate at the sight of the skinwalker. The fearless little mare simply lowered her head and charged straight at him, letting out a battle cry that, under other circumstances, might have been cute.

Xanatos heard the shout and turned just in time to take those sharp horns to his front leg. The little mare didn't quite reach his chest, but she packed enough force to cause him to stumble a bit. With a snarl, he swiped at her with his good foreleg, sinking his claws into her side and propelling her away from him. Unfortunately, that leg was also holding him up, so he fell into a graceless heap and lost his grip on her, causing her to tumble into his snacks.  

[Angelique DelaMort]

"Zahavah!" Pavlov gasped as his safety and security was brushed away and bleeding. His visions had never cut him to the core like this. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion and for a brief moment he wished he could turn back time - start the day again and keep the kids close to them and far from harm's way. But some deep part of his brain was screaming at him to wake up and to MOVE. He was it unfolding before him. Zahavah struggling, her wound slowing her down, Wolfgang valiantly still trying to pull his sister and now mother from the fray, and in the distance by his mind's eye...the monster climbing back to his feet. To attack his world again-

The terror was still there - overwhelming really, causing the skittish stallion to move sluggishly but he barreled forward intending to using himself as a barrier to protect them so that they could escape. He could only pray Zahavah would recognize this foe was too great for any of them, even her.

Wolfgang cursed his tiny legs as they were not nearly strong enough to carry Nova, certainly not enough to help both her and their mother - but the stubborn little stallion would not give up trying!  

[divena]

"Mama!" Nova cried as the strongest person she knew crashed to the ground. If this monster could hurt their mother, then was there any hope at all? Tears fell down her cheeks as she finally found her balance. The fear of the creature that had attacked them gave way to fear for her mother and she joined in Wolfgang's efforts to drag their mother to safety.

Zahavah grunted as she landed heavily. She could feel the fire of the claw wounds, but the physical pain paled in the shadow of another pain deep in her heart. It was something she wasn't familiar with, so she shoved it aside along with the physical pain. She murmured a quick reassurance to her children and struggled quickly to her feet, adrenaline lending her strength and grace that she wouldn't have when she realized how badly hurt she was. She pushed her children behind her and stood facing the skinwalker, ready to defend her babies to the death. Seeing Pavlov standing there only threw her for a second.

Xanatos lumbered back to his feet, growling and hissing. Now there was another one?! This was supposed to be an easy snack! Where had this stallion come from. He gave his best, most terrifying snarl, knowing that it would send the other male running.  

[Angelique DelaMort]

Pavlov's pale eyes, brilliant blue and bloodshot on the best of days stared down the walker, his legs locked in place from a combination of fear and...okay, mostly fear. He was unable to move his legs but that was okay. For the moment he was serving as a barrier for his family and he could do that. If that was the last thing he did, and it Very well could be, he could do that.

"We need to leave," Wolfgang said quietly, stupidly really, he was stating the obvious. He pulled at Nova again trusting his mother to manage herself. He really wasn't sure what his father thought he was doing. His father, who was sometimes scared of his own reflection, was standing just feet from the walker and wasn't even mumbling his typical 'not there, not there..."  

[divena]

What the heck was wrong with this stallion? Xanatos wondered. He wasn't running in fear. He should be fleeing, or falling over himself in a dead faint! Did he not realize what he was facing?! Xanatos was without compare! He was a fierce predator! The walker took a step back as it occurred to him that the stallion DID know what he was dealing with. This was clearly a trap! A clever trap meant to weaken the mighty Xanatos! Well, this cat was having none of it. He hissed one last time before turning into his cat form and leaping into the trees. He wasn't running away, oh no. It was a strategic retreat. He'd back.

Nova stumbled into Wolfgang, trembling as she watched the monster go away. "Why..."

"Don't question it," Zahavah ordered. She nudged Nova. "Go with her brother, get back home. NOW!" The barked order caused the little filly to jump and run when fear had otherwise frozen her hooves. Satisfied that her babies were moving in the opposite direction from the walker, she turned her attention to her mate. "Pavlov..." she danced around him, eyeing every inch of his legs and body for any hint that he had been hurt... and ignoring the blood that seeped from her own wounds.  

[Angelique DelaMort]

Pavlov watched the cat stalk away but his fears screamed at him that this couldn't be it. He stood fast staring off to where the cat had fled, his legs too stiff to move.

"Keep moving, Nova," Wolfgang said nudging her along. He paused for a moment and turned back to make sure his parents were alright.  

[divena]

Little Nova trusted that their parents were invincible and would be fine. Even though Mommy was bleeding... She whimpered a little but kept moving, focusing on the orders Wolfgang gave her.

"Pavlov!" Zahavha said, sharply, trying to get her mate's attention. "We need to move, before he decides to comeback... please..." The plea came out of her mouth broken and uncertain. She knew how afraid her mate could get, and she knew that she couldn't move him on her own. She was too small. He needed to move his own hooves.  

[Angelique DelaMort]

Pavlov blinked for a moment, something strange in Zahavah's voice brought him back. What could it have been - an odd note. Something not common for her. He milled about it, his mind still whirling - powered by the fear that fueled his nightmares. Then he realized it - that's what was in Zahavah's voice. Fear. While common to him, he'd never heard it from her before in all the time he'd known her. In a way....that was far more frightening than the skinwalker - and that was saying something.

"Zahavah?" he looked to her with concern and saw to his great shock that she was bleeding. "You're hurt. Zahavah, you are hurt! We need to find a healer or...or something." He noted the large amount of blood dripping...no running down her leg. "We need to find help quickly..."

Wolfgang, overhearing his parents, frowned and tried to think of where he could find a healer but he didn't talk to many outside of his family so...this was not good.