|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 10:34 am
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 10:43 am
Kumiho already missed her sleek, small, vulpine form. She loved it so much more than her natural stature: so much easier to slip around in the shadows; to venture, unnoticed, into her victim's lives as she hid in a hollow tree or the thick underbrush. She was so fast - able to slip effortlessly out of the claws of even the most avid hawk hunter. She could twist her spine as if her a snake to avoid the clapping jaws of a hungry alligator or starving bear. It wasn't that her natural form didn't have its advantages - she was stronger for sure, and when her victims needs a good bloodletting her teeth and claws were certainly bigger and much more deadly.
But of course, she knew exactly why her body would not allow her form to change. Indeed, her plan was set into motion with the swiftness and precision she hoped it would. She grinned in dark delight - her chest swelling with a twisted pride - as she sidled up next to Cerberus as he stood dutifully standing guard at the mouse of the cave she was calling a temporary home neat the base of the Thunderbird mountains.
She nodded to him, looking over his form approvingly. "You have done well, Cerberus," she said, a gleam in her eye.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 11:04 am
Red pinpricks of light were all that were visible from the maw of the cave as the dark form paced within on soft pawpads. His tail lashed behind him and the pinions on his shoulders moved with each stride of his legs as he carefully guarded the newest residence that his mistress had taken.
It was strange, this land that he had been sent to. He saw much more of this land than he ever saw of the one below, moving with his vixen-skinwalker as she surveyed her domain, making sure that the lowly natives were kept in their place. He needed that - that guidance, even though sometimes a churning of uncertainty developed in his stomach or chest... he had had no reason not to follow her. His Master, the one below had yet to come for him, there had been no sting of his lash or chastisement from his booming voice, and so as the days passed, Cerberus became more complacent in his new role here with his new mistress. He never balked at her violence or trickery. And he cared little for the intricacies of her plots. It was not his place to question, nor was Cerberus the fastest-minded. Despite his three 'heads', he was a watcher, a guardian... the muscle, not the mind.
Only when they had borne three new monsters into the world did Cerberus feel a swell of self-pride in seeing small creatures much like himself enter the world, even though they did not stay long with them - eager to stretch their wings and legs and set off into the world.
He sensed Kumiho's arrival before she had entered the cave that he guarded as if it were the gates of hell itself. But she was its rightful master, and he eased as she sidled up to him. He knew her scent so well now - be she in her smaller form or her True one - exotic, exciting, with a hint of danger and death.
His eyes lay over her, and he tilted his head to the side. "I have kept others from our cave, kept it hidden, Mistress." He responded dutifully, not sure of her full implications.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 12:32 pm
"Good," she said to him, thought that is not why she was complimenting him. "This will be even more important in the coming weeks, my pet," she purred. "No, I mean you have done well to sew the seeds of another littler of strong offspring," she told him, her tails waving behind her in excitement. "We will grow them beautiful and strong again - just like last time!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 1:04 pm
Cerberus blinked his many eyes, and a pride settled itself on him that he rarely allowed himself to experience. Pride was not meant for the servant, the hound. But this was a pride that came of service of his mistress... and... fathering more monsters like himself. Perhaps some day he would be like Typhon the Father himself... Perhaps that was a greater purpose he could serve here. Perhaps that was why his old Master had sent him here, to these lands that Kumiho said herself were fertile, rich with magic.
He bared his teeth, his wings snapping to attention, "I will guard them well, my lady." He growled happily. "No soquili nor man nor spirit shall touch them so long as I stand guard over our foals." Already Cerberus wondered how they would look, what characteristics they might take from him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 1:58 pm
"I expect nothing less of you," she said pointedly. Not exactly a compliment, but nonetheless a veiled vote of confidence in the monster. "Indeed, we will take many measures to make sure these are the best foals ever born to these lands. Do you know how you can make already superior foals even stronger my pet?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 12, 2012 2:40 pm
Unphased by Kumiho's high expectations and demands, the hound nodded his head obediently. He did not even have to have a personal stake in the future offspring to dutifully guard them with his life. It was a role he was accustomed to and felt comfortable with. But the fact that these would be HIS foals made it all the more important to him. And so, he was eager to hear his mistress's ideas to aid them.
"How, my mistress?" Cerberus asked simply.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 6:15 am
"We will not settle for cold, empty baskets for our progeny," she said, her voice lowering to an intense, growl-like whisper. "No, the best way to make strong foals even stronger is give them a superior head-start. We find more baskets that already contain the impressive foals of another - use those little lives as a fitting first meal for our own, Cerberus. Just like last time." Her tails were finally mostly still, the ends ticking in excitement.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 7:24 am
Cerberus growled an assent, his wings snapping and darting with more excitement than the beast himself seemed to show. Cerberus had long ago denied whatever morals he might have had.
"Where do we find these baskets, Mistress?" He asked, straightforwardly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 7:33 am
"The winds of fortune blow in our favor, my pet," she said with a toothy, triumphant smile. "The same grand mare that we used last time to nourish our progeny is laden with foals once again. This is no coincidence, this is an omen. We shall take hers again, and recreate the perfect foals we had before."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 10:30 am
Remembering the elegant wind mare that they had happened upon last time, Cerberus lifted his head in an assent. He was glad that he did not make the decisions; it would not be an easy one to make to steal foals still in the baskets. But they were monsters after all, and his son and daughters had grown up strong. And it was his duty.
"My teeth, my claws and my wings are in your service, Mistress... and our new whelps shall grow as strong as the last." He answered with a kneel.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 10:33 am
"It will not be easy," she said seriously. "But I have decided to take the same mare's baskets. Fate has her heavy with foals and it certainly is meant to be. Our children were strong and perfect last time: we will recreate the same conditions. However, she has the advantage of her home turf this time - so take the next few weeks as our children grow within me to focus your determination, Pet."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 11:54 am
"Launch an attack on their grounds?" Cerberus questioned, albeit more surprised than objecting. But they were not speaking of attacking a guarded citadel or the gates of the underworld... merely horses in a land whose territory was only defined by words.
"I am eager to listen to your plans, Mistress. I will be prepared." Cerberus finally said resolutely, the twin maws of his pinions snapping and growling (in his mind). Cerberus was used to being the defender. It made him a little uneasy to take the offensive when his life had been dedicated to guarding... but it was never his place to question. Besides... that life was behind him now.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 13, 2012 1:01 pm
"It is a mountain, nothing more!" Kumiho snapped. "She claims it as her own, but the earth will not rise up to defend her," she growled. "We have some time to planning - but leave that up to me. For now, you do not leave your post unless by my order, Cerberus. I cannot withdraw into my sleeker form - I want no surprises."
She gave a resolute nod and headed into the gave, letting her tails brush against the soft fur of his face.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
