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 Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 2:33 am
THREE. WEEKS. PUNISHMENT.
For poking a cat on a dare, that was a bit much. Malo sighed, sweeping the barn floor angrily, just throwing dust everywhere. He was grounded. No pranks, no visiting clubs or even leaving the castle grounds, no games, no stories and no dessert. And, Malo had to do barn chores for three weeks in payment for disrespecting their cat.
As he swept, he remembered the embarrassment and anger in Preston's face as Malo sat on a little stool and the Argon yelled and yelled and yelled about the boy's trouble upbringing. And after, when Malo sadly tried to plead his case, Preston screamed at him and gave him a rather fierce smack on the bottom. Preston was a busy, proud man. So to have some bubkin HICK come barging into his pristine, clean library and interrupt his work because Malo couldn't behave himself...that was not the means for celebration.
Malo jumped as a horse whinnied loudly in his face. He squealed and smacked it with the broom, glaring up at it as it stood in the half-door stall.
"...IS THIS GOOD ENOUGH?" He shouted to his current supervisor.
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Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 2:39 am
The caterpie wasn't as big or as strong as the argon, but he could be fierce when needed. Hell, he had to help break the horses, after all and he sure as s**t wasn't going to take lip from a child.
"I still see hay on that there floor, kid. You do it righ' the first time, else you gotta come back an' do it again." He folded his arms, eyeing the child with little to no amusement. He didn't want to be his babysitter and it showed in everything he did. He didn't get paid enough to do this. Still, he wasn't as harsh as some of the others would have been on a soft castle boy.
Atticus didn't realize how much his lie would have hurt the other. Sure, it would have hurt some, but he didn't think it would be as bad as it had been. He'd been doing his best to avoid Malo since the cat incident, lest something bad happened. He had a feeling it would, something bad, that is. He'd been relaxing in the loft, which had served as his tiny bedroom for some time, when Malo came in to do chores. He didn't come down, but he did risk a glance down at the boy every now and again. He'd been hiding up there with a book and hadn't tried to go to the library to return it. He didn't want to admit to being afraid, but maybe he was. A little. Okay, a lot. He didn't want Rett to hate him, nor did he want to make the argon angry. He was afraid of them. He was also somewhat afraid of what Malo would do to him, given that the other boy was older. If he hurt him, well, he would go cry to Rett and that would make everything better...
But what if it didn't?
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Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 2:47 am
Malo's cheeks puffed and he stomped his feet. He was TIRED of sweeping! He was tired of the smelly, stuffy barn. He was tired of the poopy horses and the other's voice. But worst of all was that innocent, helpless face with the big eyes peeking down from on high.
Malo HATED it! He knew where Atticus was, but he didn't have any time to go and confront him and fight him man to man or at least tell him what he was going through. So...he was going to have to get him back. Malo liked revenge...a lot.
He noticed a trend. Every two days they sent someone out to get the horses from the far paddock. Since neither farm hand vanished on those two days, he assumed Atti was being sent to get it. And that was where he'd have his grand scheme.
He was still figuring out the details as he swept a bit more. "NOOOOWWWW?" He whined over his shoulder, glaring up at the rafters.
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Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 2:51 am
"Fine, now. Get outta here, you little brat, afore I tan your hide fer disobedience." He huffed as he took the broom from the child and leaned it in the corner. He didn't have the time or patience, but at least it was passable. That would have to do. Next time, someone else got to watch him.
At the sound of their voices, Atticus shrank back, the children's book clutched tightly in his hands. He wasn't too thrilled. He needed to take the book back soon, but it would have to wait. He marked his page with a bit of paper and tucked the book under his mat, which he sometimes napped on. Maybe Malo wouldn't beat him too badly... Right? He inhaled sharply.
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Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 3:03 am
Malo's eyes peered up from just above the rafter, scowling eerily. "You are a spineless little coward." He hissed. "And you're going to pay for all the unhappiness you caused me today." He did not stoke empty threats. He was a vengeful little spirit. He didn't mind being punished when he was lying, about to lie or just finished lying, but not when he was telling the truth.
He drifted down and called over his shoulder. "Getting water for the horses!"
He grabbed a few empty buckets to fill at the pump and put in the paddocks, where most of the horses grazed. He filled the bucket to the brim and put it in the field. But he wasn't done.
He grabbed a lead chain off the fence and clipped a lead line to a proud old horse. He pulled the rope and lead the horse out of the paddock, heading for the forest retreat beyond the fields. Once there, he tied it to a tree and hurridly covered its traces.
Then, he hurried back into the barn.
"GUYS! GUYS, HELP! The old gelding is missing!" He screeched. "Its not in its paddock!"
He hoped the forest glen was too thick to find the horse in...the sun was already setting.
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Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 7:51 pm
The venipede shrank back as Malo locked eyes for only a brief moment. He heard the threat and bit his lip to the point that it bled. Would he hurt him? Would he hurt Rett? A knot welled in his stomach as he worriedly knitted his fingers. What would happen...
And then he heard it.
"GUYS! GUYS, HELP! The old gelding is missing! Its not in its paddock!"
His heart sank. He liked Charger. He worked with the old gelding nearly every day and he was so sweet and tame. Atticus quickly slid down the rickety ladder that allowed him free passage to his loft safe haven. He hadn't thought about old Charger... Did Malo let him out? What if wolves got him? For the first time in ages, he was worrying about something other than himself. He liked animals quite a bit, after all.
"What do you mean he's missing!?"
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Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 7:57 pm
"What do you think I mean!?" Malo panted, out of breath. "I can't make it clearer than that. I went to give him some water and he was gone! I searched the whole paddock and he's not anywhere!" He looked upset, but Malo was a good actor and had become a very good liar.
He grabbed Atticus's hand and tugged a few times. "We have to get Rhett or Billy or Tanner!" He begged. "He might come if you call him!" Not likely, the knot was triple tied.
It was a gorgeous plan. The horse went missing and could not be found. Then, Malo would return that night and carry out part two of his plan.
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Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 8:01 pm
Atticus didn't like being touched and he definitely didn't like Malo grabbing hold of him. He quickly shoved the boy off of him in a quick, gentle movement, his vibrant eyes hardened with frustration and anxiety. Where could Charger be? He ran forward, cupping his hands over his mouth.
"CHARGERRRRR! CHARGERRRRRR! PAPA!"
The old golduck came out of his cottage quickly, brows furrowed in what was first annoyance, which quickly turned to worry. It was unusual to see the insect boy respond in such a way.
"Papa, Malo says Charger's gone missing!" He clung to the golduck's leg, who placed a hand on the top of the boy's head.
"Missing?" He turned his attention to Malo.
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Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 8:09 pm
Was everyone here dumb? Did they now know what missing meant? It wasn't that rare of a word. "Yes...Missing!" He repeated the story and drifted from side to side, frowning. "I swear! He wasn't even laying down anywhere! He's just missing. The fence was locked...he might have jumped it."
He looked to the castle, then at them. "Can I stay here tonight? I wanna be sure he's safe and sound or I'll never get to sleep."
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Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 8:12 pm
The golduck's lips pursed tightly as he considered what the boy was telling him. While the old gelding wasn't as useful as the younger horses that they broke for the caravans, they were still fond of the old thing and he was a faithful workhorse.
"Did you check for signs? Surely he would have left marks if he leapt the fence. We should really go looking for him... And I don't like the thought of you staying out here with us, especially since you are Preston's charge... But so long as you stay out from under foot." He sighed warily and his words made Atticus nervous. He didn't want Malo around at all.
"It is getting late, though... We may need to postpone until morning, when we'll be able to see where we're going. Don't need a bunch of farmhands and children bumbling around in the dark."
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Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 8:25 pm
That was exactly what Malo was hoping for. If it weren't for his perfect acting, he'd have been laughing and smiling at how well this was going. Even moreso since they hadn't noticed the missing halter and lead rope.
He worked fast. "Okay. I'll tell Preston I'll be here tonight." And with that, he drifted off.
It was later when he finally came back. He had a small bag with him containing some clean, warm night clothes. He snuck to the barn, making sure it was empty. They only did rounds at the stables every four hours, so the coast was clear. Still silent, he pinched a small pitchfork. It was just the right size for a child to throw hay, pick up manure or kill an old horse.
Then, he drifted back out to where the horse was still tied. The moon was bright, but Malo also had a built in lantern on his head. He wasted no time. It was a brutal kill, stabbing over and over into the animal, thankful he had tied it so far off from all the noise it was making. When it fell and twitched wildly, still living, Malo put the pitchfork down and changed quickly, tossing the bloody clothes into the nearby creek.
Finally, he would have his overly cruel revenge. He had picked a horse that wouldn't be missed too much. He hurried to Rhett's cottage and was just about to open the door when it pulled open, staring into Atticus's face.
He took his sleeve and pulled, whispering. "I found the horse! But shhhh."
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Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 8:29 pm
"What do you mean you found him? Where? We need to go get him before he gets hurt!" The venipede whispered quietly, a strange mixture of relief and fear settling over him. Something felt so wrong about this entire situation. Malo still had to get his payback he had promised, after all. Poor ol' Charger, hopefully he was alright.
"Hurry, maybe Rett can go get him tonight and he can be safe and sound. Maybe we can even ride him tomorrow?" He didn't really want to play with Malo or ride horses with him for that matter, but he made the offer anyway. He just dearly hoped that he really was alright.
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Posted: Sun Jun 24, 2012 8:46 pm
"SHHHHH!!!" Malo chided. "I was flying back here and I saw him out in the forest. I was able to get him to the edge of it, but no further. If you go to the edge of the paddock and keep going, you can catch him and think how proud Rhett will be of you. He might even let you get a horse of your own for how responsible you are. You hurry ahead and I'll come after with Rhett." He spoke in a low, hushed voice.
This was it. He hoped beyond hope that the horrible, lying venipede would take the bait.
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Posted: Mon Jun 25, 2012 10:48 pm
"Uhm, well..."
He really did want Rett to be proud of him and he wanted to dispel those awful half-lies that Stan had been spreading. He sealed his fate right then and there, without even knowing it, as he nodded at the ghost boy. Something still felt off, but he wasn't sure what. Why would Malo help him? But no matter, he was still a naive little child and, in a plucky and almost excited fashion, the little venipede bobbed his head and scuttled off in the direction Malo had pointed him in.
What he found, however, was not a happy, healthy Charger that he had grown up knowing. He stood near where the horse had been tied. The scene was grisly, far more grisly than anything he had ever seen and he felt a knot churn in his stomach. This was his favorite horse. He was dead. Beyond dead, he was gored, and blood was everywhere. As fascinating as he found blood and the inner workings of any creature, he was in shock and he trembled in anxiety and anger. Malo had to have done this and Rett was on his way. There was no way he could hide the evidence and, regardless of how upset he truly was, no tears would form in his eyes. He merely stood there, shaking like a leaf, steaming blood, which looked almost black in the moonlight, puddled only a few inches from his little feet.
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Posted: Tue Jun 26, 2012 6:21 am
Malo on the other hand had smirked all the way to the bank, sliding into their little cottage. "R-rhett!" He said, shaking. "Y-you have to help me! I f-found the horse on the way back from the castle. He was t-tied in the forest. B-but on my way here I...I.." He covered his face with his hands, streaming crocodile tears.
"I saw Atti walking towards him! Just now. Wi-with a pitchfork. He was m-muttering something!" He kept sobbing. "Y-you have to come find him! He was on the main road by the f-far paddock."
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