Claudette surveyed the forest with dull eyed disinterest as she traipsed down the well beaten path, no real goal in mind. After snapping at first her brother, and then her mother in turn, she'd decided she needed a breath of fresh air to regather her composure. She was not one to treat her family so disrespectfully but she had not been feeling herself for quite some time. She had never experienced a heartache so profound and the experience was making her waspish.
She had taken to venturing off on her own for longer and longer periods of time. The exercise helped her gather her thoughts and made the time she did spend with others more tolerable. The freshly forming scar on her neck itched horribly, she had been lucky to survive her last encounter with... him. Her heart, like lead within her breast, lurched painfully as she tread too close to those painful memories. Her mother watched her with her large eyes every time she left, her gaze too full of empathy and compassion for Claudette to handle just now, Jezabelle knew what it was to ache for someone. She had never told her mother what had happened, none of her family even knew she was making trips to a graveyard, more out of a desire to keep some parts of her life private than any real need to hide her actions, but Belle knew her children well and was wise to her daughter's heartbreak, even if she did not know its' cause. It was that more than anything that had drained Claudette's temper, she didn't want to talk about it, didn't want to think about it, she just wanted to keep moving until the memories riding her were too tired to keep up.
Claudette slowed, breathing deeply to regain her breath as she took stock of her surroundings. She wasn't quite sure where she was, she wasn't really lost, all she had to do was turn around and follow the path back to familiar territory, but she hadn't been this far down it before. Unbidden, a shiver ran down her spine as a feeling of foreboding filled her. The hairs at the back of her neck stood on end as if she were being watched, she shook her head trying to shake the feeling, but it persisted. It was dark of course, she was nocturnal, but the shadows beneath the trees seemed more threatening than usual. Claudette wished she still had her knife, she was far from unarmed, the horn spiraling out of her brow was sharp and she could fight with teeth and hoof if necessary, but she missed the blade's comforting weight. Flaring her wings out instinctual for balance and blowing her wispy bangs out of her face, she took a calming breath and tried to calm her racing thoughts. To continue or to turn back? She didn't really want to keep walking through this grim place, but she shied away from turning her back to it either. Frozen with indecision, she chewed her lip and waited for a plan to spring to mind.
Tirokio
Posted: Fri Feb 06, 2015 8:52 am
The mare had every right to be weary about her surroundings. The fact she wasn't alone in the cold grasp of the night was haunting enough, but the small stipulation that she was sharing such close proximity with a skin walker was just down right deadly.
Howl had been camped out for the better part of the day, waking up at around high noon from a rather fulfilling feast of deer which left her belly swollen and full. The bush of berries before her had been so full when she arrived with what seemed like an endless hunger; chowing down as if she hadn't eaten in a week. The small grove had lasted her till well into the night; ears flicking up as she heard something approach; the scent of dried blood on something with a pulse causing her eyes to glow a little brighter in their haunting ethereal glow. Her massive grizzly head peered from the bush, keeping the rest of her body hidden behind the foliage. With her skull head piece one could initially mistaken her for a large elk or even moose if one was not familiar with the style of horn. It wasn't the first time someone mistook her shoulders for the hump of a moose and it only ended well for Howl.
Yet, there she was, an equine. A tasty one by the looks of her, it had been so long since she had Soquili on the menu, as it really wasn't until her sanity reared its ugly head that she was able to down ones who had built in weapons. The feral bear would rather lazily settle with berries, salmon and woodland animals, but the skinwalker clearly wanted a more bloody main course. Her desire just to feel blood and flesh in her mouth drove her to the brinks of sanity; the true mind of the walker clawing its way through the mess of crazy.
It was unfortunate for Claudette that with a full belly, one almost ready to burst; Howl was losing the battle. For when her bear side was satiated, the feral insanity which mostly ruled her life; she truly became a credit to her species. In moments of sanity she was her most dangerous, no longer the mindless bear but a raging, merciless killing machine. With her strength and ability to transform into a mighty grizzly; she was second to her purewalker kin...there was little to take on a bear and leave without serious injury. (Angeni Excluded as Howl had experienced.)
When she got what was left of her mind set to something, the outcome was grim to the receiving end.
As the gears in her mind began to connect and turn once again, a toothy smirk stretched on her lips, slowly pulling out of the bushes and onto the path which would lead her back to where she came. Howl rose up to her hind legs, a towering beast with eyes focused only on the mare before her. A mighty, deafening bellow of a roar echoed far, before she fell forth and charged the mare - intent on feasting more tonight.
Claudette's breath was shallow, her ears swiveling as she desperately tried to hear the source of her terror before it heard her. There, just barely discernible through the gloom she could make out the faint outline of horns in the brush, a deer? She had never met a deer that would conceal itself in the brush though, they never seemed to think that far ahead, if it sensed her, it would have run, and she probably would have chased it. She had no knife but her canines were sharp, her hooves could kick with a bruising force, and her horn was sharper still. Her mouth watered as her brain explored that line of thought for a moment.
But no, instinct screamed that this was not prey that lurked at the edge of the path, but predator. Her wings flared in defiance, she took her first hesitant step backwards when a scream that sent ice flooding through her veins ripped the air and a creature quite unlike anything she had encountered before leaped for her. It was a bear certainly but much larger than any of its kindred she had glimpsed from afar, with a horned skull affixed firmly atop its head and glowing eyes that looked eager for blood. Her blood.
Reflexively she glanced up, but the branches above her were tightly interwoven like a net, she could not fly out of this mess, she was trapped. Wheeling, she broke into a dead sprint, tucking her wings back against her body, racing for her life back up the path, trying to order her chaotic thoughts into some sort of coherent plan. She hadn't thought she cared to live, mere minutes ago. Now, with her life in very real danger, the fog of self pity had burned away, and Claudette realized with some embarrassment that she had been foolish, acting out against her family, running from her problems like a child. If she could only escape from this intact, she would make everything right again and apologize for her selfish behavior towards those she loved.
Glancing over her shoulder, Claudette thought that she had better focus more of her attention of how she was to escape rather than what she would do once she had, the bear was dangerously close, she could practically feel its hot breath against her heels and already she was tiring, she was sure the beast could go on for much longer than she could. She could not out run it, she would have to stand and fight, but where? Her breath hitched in terror at the thought, she was not a warrior, hunting down a wild animal was not the same as battling someone with experience. Had she her knife she would have felt better about it, her grandfather Vincent had drilled her endlessly growing up in how to use it effectively, but tonight she had only her body and her wits. She had to stop soon, before she was too tired to put up a good defense, the forest around her was looking vaguely familiar. She still couldn't quite place herself, the adrenaline thrumming through her arteries would not allow her to focus on something so mundane, but she decided here would be a good place to make her final stand. She put out a final burst of speed and stopped, spinning and lowering her head threateningly, the needle point of her horn between herself and her pursuer, her teeth bared in defiance and her legs spaced for balance. "You will not find me an easy meal," she hissed through gritted teeth, "You would do better to go back and find some other prey, hunter, one who will not make you bleed for your kill." her bright eyes flashed dangerously, the fear was tucked away for now, and rage and bloodlust fueled her, she would not go meekly to her death. She would fight, and if she was truly to die tonight, she was bound and determined to take this monster with her to the other side.
Tirokio
Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2015 9:14 am
Blood.
Blood.
Her pupils began to dilate as the obsessive nature of Howl began to take hold, she could almost hear the blood of the mare before her pounding through her veins. She could smell the perspiration of her fruitless escape tactics, her body so filled with that ruby liquid gold - oh, how she longed to bathe in such a delicious victory. She would rip her to shreds, and leave her corpse to rot out in the woods.
Besides, Howl couldn't possibly gorge herself more tonight. So this...this was just for fun.
Howl wasted no time to keep her speed up, the deep thuds of her massive legs pounding the ground behind the fluttercorn. She was slowing, the way her legs hit the ground were not as driven as before, the prey was weakening. With no angeni around in sight she knew the game - although far from over; was won in Howl's favor. However, things changed instantly as Claudette stopped on a dime and turned; her head now pointed down and out; her horn ready to fight for her life.
The great beast skidded to a stop; the dust from under her huge paws drifting beyond her still body from the mere momentum she had been traveling. Looking to the horn with those void glowing eyes; a toothy smirk curled up on her lips as her throat vibrated with a bemused bear growl.
"I have broken far larger horns off with just my teeth...." She remembered snapping the thick horns of a Kalona before; oh, that blood had been so spicy. Her chained leg rattled in the still night as she took a step forward towards her. "Blood is blood...I enjoy bathing in others so it makes no difference if mine is in the mix..." A derranged kind of grin drew on her face; before she lunged.
She aimed for her horn, if she was able to grab that with her jaws her claws could swipe at her legs or wings. A downed mare was a dead mare afterall.
It had been like any other night, as the stocky wolf dug and dug into the ground of the graveyard. He worked hard for his master, like any other day since he met the keeper of the graveyard and then became his ward of sorts. Gravedigger could feel the steely eyes of Deathbringer watching his every move; ready to correct him if he went too wide or too far for their precious treasure.
Deathbringer had an eye for perfection, and he had been particularily excited to get something as exotic as a seathi. He'd bartered with a kelpie, one of the swamp dwellers from not too far off from here. So, in exhange for some toxic plants to grow and use for well...whatever their purpose was Deathbringer demanded a water corpse - Mer, Seathi, Kelpie he didn't care. So, it was with great pleasure their night consisted of making the perfect grave for his prize.
Gravedigger didn't complain, he had become deathly loyal to the stallion looming over him.
However, from countless nights at the stallion's side....something was off today. Being an Alpha wolf from his previous endeavours in pack life his senses were a little more honed and keen. He could feel it in the woods it was quiet, smells he'd never sensed before wafted past his nose occasionally. It made his fur stand on end a bit, despite the fact he did not fear death.
He could not shake the feeling death may be knocking nearby.
"Get out." Deathbringer demanded, waiting till the wolf pulled himself out of the grave before he began to inspect it with a closer eye. Stepping down with his two front hooves as it wasn't a deep grave; he could really be critical testing the integrity of the walls with his own hooves.
Waiting by his side, another waft of midnight breeze swept past his nose to pick up a brand new scent.
Except....it wasn't new. He'd smelt it before.
Brows furrowing he looked to his master with a critical eye, leaning in just a bit to take a deep breath. He could smell the rot of death and disease on the stallion, along with all the smells associated with the graveyard. However one thing had always held a hint of something else. His blood red eyes of course landed on the handle of the knife; an item he never spoke about, never used, but had secured it behind his medallion necklace. Gravedigger had asked about it once, to his simple reply was it had been left behind long ago.
Sucking in deep, Gravedigger could pick up the smell of the previous owner of the knife - eyes wide as he realized it was one in the same he was picking up faintly in the breeze. They were close.
"Excuse me master...I would like to go aquire some rocks for the bottom." Gravedigger lied, having a gut feeling this soul meant a great deal to his master or else he would not keep something so....artificial so securely and safely on his person. It just was not like him to hold onto something like that at all.
"Are we low..?" Deathbringer frowned, not remembering their stock pile having been used to such an extent...but he had work to do. "Fine. Do not be long. We've already had this body oxidizing too long."
Standing up the wolf bowed deeply and took off like a bat out of hell out of the graveyard; sniffing as he ran to try and locate the source of the smell. At the very least he would get to the bottom of it and see for himself if it was someone he needed to drive away or try and bring back for the master.
FaithoftheFallen
Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 11:51 am
Claudette swallowed hard as she stared into the glowing eyes of the beast, the mare's pupils were almost completely dilated, her heart was pounding so hard she half expected to hear the snap of a cracking rib. She trembled with adrenaline, fear, and rage. She didn't want to run, she wanted to attack.
Her hackles rose as the creature bared its' teeth in a toothy smile and a low growl ripped from its' throat. Claudette's lips pulled back to reveal her own sharp canines and snarled in return. Her mind was becoming hazy and the desire to shed this beast's blood burned through her. Her eyes grew glassy, a crazed glint dancing in their depths. One corner of her mouth curled up in a lazy grin. She was different from the mare who had once balked at her delight every time blood was shed. She had once been nearly paralyzed with self loathing brought on by two strong, yet conflicting drives. The strict moral code instilled into her young brain by her unfailingly virtuous father that forbade harming another, and the darker yearnings which were her mother's legacy that demanded it. She had eschewed the burden of all that turmoil and shame and embraced her darkness. She no longer suffered erratic violent episodes like her grandmother before her. She chose not to deny any part of herself, so the less savory facets of her personality didn't leak out whenever her resolve slipped. In accepting herself, she had taken full control of the shadows within her. She let them loose now, savoring the savage bloodlust, which was much more preferable to paralyzing fear.
Her glinting crimson gaze glared a challenge, but she didn't waste her breath meeting the bear's words with some of her own. Claudette realized that, more than likely, she was the one that was about to die tonight. She regretted that fact even as she let the knowledge of it wash over her. If she was to die anyways, she had nothing to lose. Let the bear attack, she would die with the taste of its' blood on her lips if nothing else.
The creature's smile grew and then without warning, it threw itself at her, teeth gnashing towards her horn. She froze for a nearly fatal moment, but with the bear's gloating comment fresh in her ears, she guessed the intent of the attack and quickly sidestepped to avoid being dragged down by the fangs, her long raven hair swaying with the smooth movement, well practiced if not often used. She darted in, snakelike, in an attempt to bite at her opponent's neck, and then fell back again, looking for an opening or a weakness in the bear's defense. Again, she wished fervently for her blade, it would not have evened the odds much, but at least she could attack without putting herself in as much danger. To rear and use her hooves would expose her stomach to those terrible claws, her horn and teeth placed her head and neck in danger. She wished she was as accomplished a warrior as her great grandfather and those raised under his teachings. She was too inexperienced.
Although initially her movements were smooth and assured, her exhaustion from her attempted flight soon began to show, she now measured the rest of her life in heartbeats. Her face grew strained as she felt her muscles quivering and hesitating to respond. She tried to back up to put more space between her and the creature, and felt her hooves catch on a root that had buckled up through the earth. She gasped.... And stumbled.
Howl remained on the offensive, her blind blood lust drowning her dilated eyes in murderous intent. Her stomach growled at her once more as the more energy she spent the more her meal was digested...making all the more room for what was at first a playful kill into one she would savor. Either way, she'd bathe in blood this evening - but now she was becoming serious.
The dance the mares partook in was a spectacle to behold, a dance of claws, horns and dangerous canines.
Howl had to give it to the mare, she was quick. Her bulky frame made it hard to catch the swift little snake; but one hit from her powerful paw with dagger like claws and the dance would be over. She just had to get in that hit.
It went on like this for some time, and already she was picking up sluggish movements, what was once graceful and swift became desperate and hesitant. Claudette's body was failing her, and Howl was prepared to take full advantage of it as she was now playing a stamina game; and this was something she was very good at. The bear advanced as she began to back up, her tongue dripping with saliva drawing across her dry lips from her own labored breathing from such lengthy exertion. However unlike her dancing partner she still had energy reserves, she'd been doing these dances for years now.
There!
When the soft clunk of a hoof meeting an up turned root reached her ears and the visual of her stumbling body; Howl lunged. She was not in a hurry to end the mare...oh no. She'd threatened to spill her own blood, and such a threat needed to be repayed. Howl would take her time killing the mare.
A downed mare was always a dead mare at the hands of a walker.
Soooo, i'm not going into details hahahaha. I know we talked prior to she was going to get hurt, and pretty much would end up at the graveyard ready to die (be it mentally, or a mix of that and just seriously wounded?) So I will leave how much/how little howl actually inflicts on her to your own discretion, I didn't want to impose what kind of wounds she might get since im not sure what your plan is. xD I didn't have his familiar at the time I wrote the plot but now that he's here he'll take Claudette back to the graveyard, although I'm sure you got that from the prior post haha XD <3 However Grave will come just a minute or two from this moment; so she wouldn't have time to actually kill/mess her up beyond repair her since we don't want that XD
The forest was a blur as he ran, paws pounding the ground as he pushed his body forward. The smells were getting stronger and stronger at this point, and Grave knew he was close.
He just hoped he wasn't too late, as it seemed someone else was mingling with the scent of the knife's owner. It didn't smell friendly.
It was in a brief moment his blood ran cold as a strong smell slapped him in the face, almost causing him to stumble in mid dash.
Blood.
Strong. Fresh. Plenty.
He didn't have time to think, as before he even knew it his body had burst through the bushes nearby giving him a clear view of the situation. A mare. A bearwalker. Bearwalker was over the downed mare.
It didn't take a genius to realize what was transpiring; but that mare was the owner of that knife and he had questions.
So that bearwalker had to go.
Without missing a bear the wolf turned sharp and charged the bear from behind, running up its back and biting down hard on its fleshy hump of a neck. Using his paws on her back as leverage he pulled the bear's head up with all his strength to keep that maw of teeth away from the mare; making it so she couldn't lower her head. Blood from the bearwalker oozed into his mouth and he cringed at how awful it tasted; but with his hackles raised and a dangerous growl rumbling his throat he kept pulling...to his luck that it was working.
As Howl let out a plethora of enraged growls and cries; stumbling back a bit as her pupils began to shrink; her movements not as calculated as she was coming out of her bloodlust and her insanity moving back in. The feral bear in her was pulling her away, as the bear wanted nothing more to do with this meal. With her soul almost lost in her eyes, the walker side of her became dormant for now as she tried to run off with Gravedigger still biting into her fatty neck; once he realize what was going on her jumped off and gave a few snapping lunges as she made her escape. Standing his ground for a few moments as he breathed heavily from his mad dash, Gravedigger wondered what the hell that was about as usually walkers would never try and escape...but he didn't have time to ponder it in more depth.
Quickly trotting back to the mare he cringed at her state, and kept his distance to just beyond striking range. "You..." He spoke, wondering how to approach such a subject. "Owner of the knife....are you friend or foe of the Gravekeeper? Answer me correctly and I will get you medical help..."
Well...it was good enough.
Faithofthefallen
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2015 10:47 am
The world seemed to slow as Claudette toppled to the forest floor, her eyes remained glued to the bearwalker as it lunged for her. Her eyes tracking the bunch and release of those enormous muscles, the path of razor claws through the air towards her exposed throat. She swallowed a scream, if she must die, she would do it quietly, she would not give her enemy the satisfaction of hearing her cry out. She managed to twist away from those heavy jaws as she fell, impulsively trying to avoid what she assumed would be a killing blow, she knew it would be better to die quickly, but her instinct was still to stay alive as long as possible, regardless of the pain she would suffer in payment. A small gasp escaped her lips instead as she hit the ground on her side with bruising force. The bear was on her then, its' weight forcing the rest of air from her lungs with an "Ooof." One enormous paw drew back, she couldn't help herself, Claudette squeezed her eyes shut even as her chest contracted spasmodically, trying to fill her lungs with air. With a blow that surely had shattered every bone in her body, her left side went numb and then suddenly felt on fire, the pain so intense she was surprised she hadn't fainted. Distantly, she heard the ripping of cloth, and felt her blood spilling. Too much, she was losing too much. Viciously, she clamped her sharp canines on the nearest bit of flesh she could reach, determined to return some of the damage she was suffering. The fur was thick and musky, her chest felt like it might explode from the need for air, the creature was all fur and muscle, she doubted she hurt it much, but she tasted blood before she was forced to let go to gasp again for air.
Suddenly, inexplicably, her attacker began to pull away, its' weight easing off of her slowly but surely. She heard cries, growls, the ground vibrated with the bear's retreating footsteps. Claudette grimaced and let her head hit the ground, after all that it just ran away, leaving her to bleed to death alone and in pain. She felt a surge of irritation, if it hadn't intended to finish the job, why couldn't of left her alone? A weak chuckle bubbled up from her throat and quickly turned into a broken sob. Something must have chased it away. Claudette couldn't even bring herself to try to find out what. She closed her eyes, not wanting to see the damage to herself, she couldn't make herself look. The pain made her terrified that she would see her innards laid bare on the ground around her. In truth her flesh was gouged with five long, deep lacerations from the bear's claws that ran across her neck, shoulder, and side, bleeding freely although not with the spraying pressure that would indicate an artery had been severed. Her left wing hung limp and useless, its' tendons not entirely severed but severely damaged, her right wing was crumpled, jammed but not broken from her landing on it and the force of the bear walkers' weight, a few ribs had been fractured from that pressure as well.
A voice spoke from a few feet away, groggily, Claudette peeled her eyelids back and gazed at what could only be her rescuer. The skull mask and bone ornaments brought Deathbringer strongly to mind. She stared at him as her strength leaked away, hardly registering his words until the last. Gravekeeper?
"You know Deathbringer?" she sighed his name softly, her voice a gentle caress. "I'm not sure he still thinks of me as a friend, but we were close once... He is..." her throat squeezed shut, everything, she paused a moment before continuing,"...I would never harm him," she laughed again, wetly, "Couldn't if I wanted to."
Her eyes were half closed as she appraised the wolf, "Are we close? To the graveyard?" she shivered, "Would you bring him here, for my body? He always wanted... My wings." They quivered involuntarily with her words, "For his collection. I want him to have them." Unbidden, her gaze flickered towards them. "Oh-" she gasped, "I've broken them," tears leaked from her eyes, "He won't want them now."
Tirokio
I figured something bad enough to lay her up but not kill her instantly. She would bleed out if left there but since Grave is there, she will be saved that fate. Thinking she can develop an infection from Howl's claws once she gets back to the graveyard since those can start taking affect quickly and that can be what drives Deathbringer into the next part of the plot.
Grave felt a low whine echo in his throat, listening to the pained mare try and get out whatever she needed to say....and all the while Gravedigger realized his assumptions had been right. This wasn't just anyone...he could often hear tidbits of a wounded heart in the way Deathbringer would speak. Moreso when he'd been sick not too long ago, gently moaning out a mare's name and looking to see if she was around. He'd of course played it off as some kind of state of insanity due to his fever....but things added up.
Yet none as clearly as what this mare had said.
"Yes...He is my master. I serve him....serve the graveyard. I am Gravedigger..." The wolf's ears fell flat on his head, knowing it was not his place to release such information. Master had made it clear he didn't want to speak about it...and he was probably way over stepping his boundaries even leaving the way he did. "He speaks not of you..."
Clearly looking like he was at war with himself, the canine gritting his teeth and sighed; how could he even try and be cold to someone who liked the Gravekeeper as much as he? "Yet where he doesn't speak, he has never taken your knife off his person. Not even when he is sick..." And then as the male burned up taking off his satchel and skull and anything to cool his body the knife would remain. Grave didn't have long to linger on the subject though, looking back to the way he came.
"We are very close. It didn't take me long to get here." Saddened eyes looked on as she began to speak of her death, her final wish. His tail remained limp at her self discovery of her beaten wings, and with that a salty wetness filled the air from her tears. No. No this would not do. "He won't leave the graveyard...not for anything. I've tried." Gravedigger assured, figuring she too might know this fact. Closing the distance he stood over her head, leaning down brushing his nose into her face to wipe off the tears. "We gotta go to him so stand. You don't want to have it end here....at least be comfortable in the graveyard."
Thankfully for her, he was a big wolf; if she could get to her feet he could try and maneuver under her and help her walk...but she'd have to stand. "Trust me....he'll want them. Up you go." Well, not in the way she was thinking....but he'd already said way too much. Lifting his head up he let out a haunting solace of a howl into the night, signaling to his master that he was returning and to meet him at the gates. While normally the call was for a corpse, Deathbringer would soon find out otherwise. Moving his head down he began to nudge her neck, ready to help her make her way to the graveyard. "He'll be waiting at the gate....you can make it. I'll get you there..."
Faithofthefallen
Sounds perfect! 8D Oh yes, he'll be quite motivated when Howl comes back around xD
Posted: Mon Apr 13, 2015 10:26 am
Claudette smiled through her pain, "Thank you Gravedigger, it is good to meet you, and you saved my life. I must be honest, I was not looking foreword to being eaten. Although it would have been a somewhat amusing twist of fate... If I hadn't been the one being chewed on, that is."
Her smile adopted slightly sardonic twist, "I would be surprised if he did, our last meeting was not exactly... Amiable." Her eyes were shadowed by a hurt that went far deeper than the wounds of her flesh, "He is quite intractable when upset... If he would have just listened for a moment." She huffed out a frustrated breath and winced at a sharp jab of pain from her ribs. She was talking much more freely than usual, giddy from blood loss and exhaustion. Gravedigger's revelation that Deathbringer still held onto the blade she had dropped at the end of their last meeting suffused her with hope, although she tried desperately to squash it to protect herself against the bitter bite of disappointment should her hopes prove to be in vain. "He is lucky to have you to serve him, I'm happy he won't be alone anymore..."
She squeezed her eyes shut, her breath coming in breathy pants in fear of the pain that would come from attempting to stand. Up until now she had been staying as still as possible to avoid jarring any of her wounds, but Gravedigger was right, she wanted to see his face once more before she died. Even if he decided to kill her for coming back, it would be a cleaner end than she would meet out here alone.
Slowly, cautiously, Claudette unfolded her slender legs, pushing herself to her hooves with Gravedigger's assistance and biting her lip against a cry of pain. Her body trembled with the pain but she held firm and began to stagger in the direction that the wolf led her, stumbling every so often when her traitorous leg gave out on her. Her scarf, tattered and bloodstained was left behind forgotten, tangled in the underbrush near where she had fallen.
Only the thought of seeing Deathbringer again gave Claudette the strength to keep moving foreword. She felt as though they had been walking for years, she stared at the ground before her feet, trying not to fall when it yawed away from her glazed eyes. Her mind was numb with the pain, concentrating on placing one hoof in front of the other. Soon, she reassured herself, he'd said the graveyard was close, then I can rest. "I can sleep forever once we get there." She murmured groggily to herself as her head drooped.
"I have not saved your life...miss." Gravedigger grunted slightly as he took on the weight of the mare to help her to her hooves. In fact, he'd come to either take her home or to kill her; it just so happened he had to deal with the skinwalker first...as weird as it was that she had just ran off like that. It didn't sit well with him at all.
"Everything I do is for my master." He cemented, but looked up at her as she explained a little further what became of the pair...what produced the knife held so closely to his masters heart. "He is alone, though. I am just his servant...perhaps it is you who need to listen." His remark held no ill will in his tone for such sharp words....but Gravedigger was trying really hard to code out his information. Heavens knew the heap of trouble he'd get into if master ever found out about this.
He walked her though, closer and closer and braced himself quickly when her leg would periodically give out...always there to catch her before her body fell to the ground and get her upright again. "Deathbringer speaks nothing of things close to his heart. Only of what angers him, or of anything to do with the graveyard." Grave said softly. "I imagine that is why I hear nothing of you or your knife."
That was all he could do for her, as just around the bend was the graveyard, and already he could smell the strong scent of the Gravekeeper standing impatiently at the entrance. The rest was up to them.
He was just a servant, after all.
---
He could hear that damned wolf. Taking his sweet a** time bringing back whatever it was he found while out collecting rocks.
If he was even doing that.
Deathbringer wasn't an idiot, he knew the pile of rocks were at least a few days off from needing restock...but Grave had been acting most strange, and so he decided to let him go do whatever he needed to do. Probably some wolf thing....maybe a female was nearby. Who knew...he didn't give a s**t.
That was...until a familiar howl echoed in the night. A body? While he was excited for the possibility he'd have two additions to his graveyard, he also was confused onto how a trip for rocks turned into a body recovery. Had Grave smelt it? Seemed unlikely, but either way he abandoned his seathi grave to head to the main gates; standing where he stood now.
"Hurry up Grave, I don't have all damned nigh-"
He froze.
His breath hitched in his throat as he could see something come around the bend, not until they hit a patch of moonlight seeping through the trees did the illuminating white of Claudette's pelt come to life. Also, showcasing the life coming out of her too as it made a gruesome trail behind them. He took in the sight of Grave, who had his ears back as he looked apologetic, but that was the farthest thing from his mind as his eyes locked on her. She looked near death, and while that was kind of his thing, he could feel his muscles quake in something he didn't experience too often.
Rage.
Visibly he was shaking as his eyes nearly radiated death from their soil like depths. What in the hell was this? How dare she come back to him looking like this! He'd chased her off to keep her from looking like that and sure enough here she was....coming back in the state he never wanted to see her in. This wasn't how it was supposed to be, and although he had no special powers, he could see from the nature of her demeanor and the shape of her body that she was closing in on death. He'd seen it in many shapes and forms...but he'd never...ever...wanted to lay eyes on something like this.
Suddenly, he felt a little woozy, as his lungs finally got through to his brain that he needed to in fact breathe. Letting out a bit of a shuddering cough, he snapped his head to the side to the side to toss away the bird skull on the ground; ignoring the boundaries of his graveyard and charged them without second thought. It took him but a second to close the distance, sending Grave one hell of a glare as the wolf quickly darted out of the way; Deathbringer taking the place before she'd even have the chance to feel the support gone from her side. He didn't address Claudette, not yet, as he was forcefully leading her back into the comfort of the graveyard walls.
"What happened." He seethed, earning a whimper from the large wolf.
"S-skinwalker..." Grave tucked his tail between his legs, giving the stallion a bit of girth. Although he knew Deathbringer wouldn't hurt him, or wasn't really mad at him...he could tell he was definitely dangerously upset about this whole situation. "Then go get rags! Make yourself useful!" He snapped in his fluster, watching the wolf dart off.
Without missing a beat on his warpath, he snapped his eyes to Claudette; looking as if he was struggling to figure out what he was going to say first before he nearly hissed out; "Keep moving. Don't you die."
Well...that was more or less what he was going for, minus a lot more angry and vulgar language. Frankly, Deathbringer didn't know what the hell he was going to do....but he couldn't have Claudette die. He almost felt physically sick at the thought of preparing a grave for the mare at his side.
How was someone who specialized in Death....supposed to save a life?
Faithofthefallen
Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2015 5:26 pm
Claudette was aware that Gravedigger was speaking but his voice was a distant buzz in her ears. She hoped he didn't think she was rude for not responding, especially when the wolf was being such a help, she was sorry she kept splashing him with her blood when he braced himself against her for support. Each time he saved her from falling, the pressure of his body holding her up made her go grey with pain, but it was better than she imagined falling would feel. She knew she would go down eventually though, and was not looking foreword to the experience.
Her brain was fuzzy and muddled, her breath shallow, beads of sweat broke out on her brow making her bangs stick to her face in a straggly disarray. Claudette wasn't aware of finally arriving at the graveyard until she heard his voice, that was clear even in her stupor, her eyes swung up to meet Deathbringer's. She was surprised to see him without his mask and saddened to see his fury, misjudging its' cause.
"I wasn't supposed to come back," Claudette slurred tiredly, her voice strained but apologetic. Her head drooped a little more, there was a flurry of motion at her side, to her surprise Deathbringer took Grave's place, there was no mistaking that particular blend of smells, his bones rattled as she leaned against him. She came around enough to see they were passing through the walls of the graveyard down a familiar path. Her mouth formed a small 'o' as she realized that the Gravekeeper had once again left his cemetery, for the second time because of her. The headstones they passed seemed to beckon, she wanted to shed the body that was giving her so much pain, but Deathbringer had said no.
That couldn't be right, he'd probably meant 'not yet.' She wondered if there was a cozy grave somewhere farther down the path. Maybe it was easier for him to walk her there, Claudette didn't want to cause him any more trouble. She cast him a sidelong glance. If he was ill again, she didn't want him to be forced to lug her all the way across the graveyard. He was strong enough of course, but the exertion really wouldn't be good for him. She smiled in spite of herself, worrying about his health while hers was draining away. Her eyes were half closed as she allowed herself to be steered towards her final resting place.
In all his haste, Deathbringer had almost missed such a strained and tired statement. However he did, and could only feel his brows knit tighter together as he remained silent for a bit. Leading her further into the graveyard past plenty of suitable graves so he would have more time to think about an appropriate response to such a loaded statement...even if unintentional. His thoughts immediately returned to the night he in his fevered rage sent her away...for what he had hoped and expected to be the best.
If she was not lingering in the graveyard, she wouldn't be at risk in case he went into such a blind rampage as he did. Claudette wouldn't have gotten hurt by his own actions....but it seemed life had other plans, a kick in the face that she was attacked not only in proximity to his home but came knocking when she wished to die.
Perhaps if anything, the arrival of Gravedigger had opened his mind a little more to the possibility that he could live amongst more than just corpses. The canine had seen him punish some grave robbers, and before he could get onto the warpath the wolf ran and hid; returning when his master's rage had subsided. More than that, Deathbringer had been jolted back to see the face of Claudette....subconsciously veering away from going after Grave. The reminder of that episode had given him leverage against his anger, and could at least control for a moment not to go after those who were friends of his home.
He'd been a hasty fool when he'd banished the mare, now bleeding into his side as she was barely able to make it to their destination; his willow tree. His personal sanctuary. Away from any tombs up that small incline.
The space him and Claudette had shared so long ago... how uncanny that now he needed to take care of her; although he wished it was as simple as a sickness and not these hellish wounds.
Escorting her through the thick vines he tried his best to aid her in laying down on the plush grasses which made his bedding; brought in by none other than Grave when he realized his master had little grass to spare for such a small luxury. "Lay here. Easy." He commanded, hoping she wouldn't make her injuries worse. Laying his sights on her he felt a shaken sigh escape his throat, already her blood cooling and thickening on his dark pelt. "You..." He tried, feeling anger bubble up in his throat but managed to swallow it back down to something a little more calm.
"You were not supposed to come back like this, Claudette." Deathbringer spoke quietly, but loud enough that she'd be able to hear him even in her anemic state. He made quick work of removing his cloth adorning his neck...one of the more clean items he had as his satchel was surely not going to do Claudette any good with the contents inside. With his mouth he set it on the ground and gently removed the medallion as well as her knife which had been secured with such care. With the cloth free he shook his head to open up the cloth, draping it over her side adjusting to hit most of the wounds he could.
He was missing something, wasn't he?....ah - pressure.
Without any further notice, he laid down as well, draping his neck over her wounds as lightly as possible till he was settled on them; leaning in just a bit more to keep the cloth taught against the wounds.
Where was that damned wolf? Maybe he could drape over her, since he weighed considerably less than He did.
"...this was why I sent you away in the first place. So this wouldn't happen..." He grumbled, although half halfheartedly against her. Thankfully he didn't have to look her in the face being as his neck and head were draped over her. "So don't go to sleep. I can't have you dying on me..." His voice held a tinge of malice, making even the absurd words he never thought he'd say in such an order even more serious. "Do you understand, Claudette?"
Faithofthefallen
Posted: Sat May 02, 2015 4:43 pm
Claudette's eyes widened as Deathbringer led her up the familiar path to the large willow. Her gaze traced the dangling arms of the tree as they swayed to and fro in the slightest breeze. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to order her befuddled wits to no avail.
It was easy to obey orders, her breath hitching in panicked anticipation of the pain, she slowly lowered herself to the ground. Tears squeezing out of the corners of her eyes as she muffled a whimper.
The cloth settled over her wounds, followed by a heavier wait that made her yelp and swoon for a moment.
"I never wanted to live my life safely," She confided wearily, "You're safe when you are dead, before then you just live as meaningfully as you can so when it is your time, you can go without too many regrets." She chuckled wetly, "I don't regret this happening to me, if it hadn't I might have never found the courage to come back here."
A smile played across Claudette's lips at his tone, she slowly leaned against him in return. "I don't want to leave," she reassured him, her eyelashes fluttering lower, "But its hard to stay awake, the pain, the exertion, the blood loss." She glanced back at the red splattered earth, at the wet stain spreading across the cloth, at Deathbringer's side. "I've lost too much, its a miracle I'm still conscious."
She nudged him gently, her face was strained from the pain, her eyes were hazy but filled with warmth and emotion that ran too deep for words at the moment. "Theres nothing you or I can do at this point. I'm not long for this world, Deathbringer, I didn't come here looking to be saved. I just needed to see you again, to say Goodbye." Her lashes fluttered lower, "I'll hang on as long as I can, for you."
Her lids slid shut, she went limp but her chest still rose and fell with each uneven breath. She slept. As the night wore on, the heat radiating from her wounds increased, her pupils darted around beneath their lids frantically as she shook. Beads of sweat broke out against her forehead.
Deathbringer cringed, the weight of her words pressing down on his own shoulders. He'd never really called himself and his life here safe....truth being it was rather close to the fabled cursed graveyard - birth of skinwalker...but it was his line of work. His passion. It just made sense he'd die as he lived...in the graveyard. Once he began to get sick it had only sealed his fate, and although he wasn't afraid of death, he was afraid he wouldn't be able to finish his life's work. Not knowing how much time he had till the sickness took him, (in which if he was killed from an outside force well...such is inevitable) such lack of knowledge was always a nagging worry at the back of his mind.
"That's bullshit, Claudette! You keep living for those who care about you..." Although he was being quite the hypocrite, he did his best to stay out of trouble for the most part in hopes to see his sister again, to finish his graveyard. In recent events...in the hope to see her again. Her weight against him said wonders, too, as he closed his eyes forcefully with his brows knitted. Of course he knew if he didn't act quickly she would fade before his eyes; the stickiness of his legs as her blood puddle grew was enough of a hint...but he could also head the inner workings of her body from his laying his head and neck on her side. Her ragged breaths, her heart....they were weak, and even he wasn't sure what he'd be able to do...or if he'd be on time.
He was about to speak up, having been suppressing the urge for his own body to tremble under the emotional stress of it all...but he was too late. Her body went limp on him and as he jolted to see she was even still alive...he was a bit relieved when she appeared to have become unconscious. Leaning his head foreward he touched his nose to her forehead, feeling the heat and the sweat. Fever....she was succumbing to infection. At least he could do something about that as he fetched the old bucket he used to collect rainwater. Bringing it to her side he ripped off some moss from the top of a grave; giving it a little shake to get extra debris off he dipped it with his mouth in the chilled waters and set it on her forehead above her horn.
"I'm back." Grave called as he ran up the hill, his mouth filled with scraps of cloth they'd collected from around the graveyard. Some had drifted in with the wind while others were from bodies. "Is...she.." He stopped and looked at the still mare, just starting to shake as Deathbringer shook his head. "Infection." Gravedigger set the bandages down, looking up to his master. "Is she going to make it..?"
Such a simple question caused him to frown, deeply, his anger bubbling up once more. "She will. I'll see to it." He firmly replied, a resolution in his voice. "I've taken many lives...it can't be hard to save one......because I refuse to say goodbye." He snorted, looking back at Grave. "Treat her fever, i'm going to find a healer." "But sir!-" "No buts. Your weight can hold the bandages better, and you can keep her warm if shock sets in. If the graveyard is intruded...your priority is her." Deathbringer warned before taking off like a bat out of hell itself; through the graveyard, past the gates, and out into the world without even a glance back.
Heeding his masters orders, Gravedigger cared for the mare, changing the bandaging of her wounds often with a small pouring of water over them to wash away the debris. He kept the moss on her forehead damp and cool while in his downtime laying on top of her with his legs on either side of him...still keeping all of his weight off her but if he was to clot the bleeding some force needed to be kept. "You can do it..." He breathed as he looked back through the willow's vines, keeping watch for anyone who wasn't supposed to be there. "You can't die...I don't think he can handle it." His eyes fell to the mare, it was going to be a long night.
