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 Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 10:39 am
His head moved once more, dipping to brusquely nudge the bedraggled corpse upon the bush. "Several ways." He did not turn back to her, but his voice was loud enough to be audible. "It's obviously been running for a while now, your handiwork, no doubt. The brush looks unbroken in the direction you came. With that level of skill..." a moment's silence to underscore the point, "you could have caught it at any time."
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 10:41 am
She said nothing to this deduction. There was nothing she could possibly say. Instead, "Do you do this very often?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 10:49 am
"Always." He said it blithely, and took his time resettling his gaze upon her. "It is..." he considered, "it never behooves one to say it himself, but it is an art. My pieces are always done in the same style." The blood was gradually seeping back into the ground, the channels becoming just that bit more shallow. "...but not always with these little creatures."
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 10:56 am
...but not always with these little creatures.
It was impossible to mistake the meaning of his words, not with that fixed crimson stare holding her eyes.
How many, then?
Did it matter?
Really.
She was suddenly very aware that they were alone, out here, with no other like them around for a very far way. She usually fancied her chances - naturally, but she had not a measure for his ability yet...and if she were careless, she might never find out. Better, perhaps, it was to fight another day. Every muscle in her body tensed for flight -
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 11:06 am
He finally shifted, first one hoof, then another, and he advanced towards her with steady steps. "Don't look so judgemental, little miss," the smile was warm? Approving, as he regarded her once more, circling her a faint nod. "You have the darkness in you. Why don't you run with me?"
It was impossible to tell whether the red on his legs was part of his natural coat - the mongoose's stray splashes had dried well into them. "I'll paint you darker than black."
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 11:40 am
I am the dark.
An image, vivid, of that glowing kiokote, rose instantly to her mind's eyes, and with it, her parting shot.
She paused.
Why was she so wary? Why did she look to flee? Why, why, why now was she turning away? Did she not - had she not, for the better part of her conscious existence, embraced this darkness? Bore it, even, like a badge?
Was she not proud of her dark?
This buck knew things. Every stain on his pelt bespoke that. He had done things far, far beyond her imaginings, the collective imaginings, even, of three callous foals, crushing rodents into the ground foremost for sport, for food merely an afterthought. He would not harm her, not now, they had kinship enough in that regard. He would teach her...
...She thought nothing of an animal.
She thought nothing of a Kin.
What had she to lose if she followed? She thought nothing of her kin.
"But I will still be strong because the true meaning of family is that even when we are apart and I have no further use, I will have my memories and my love for them to keep me going. What will you fall onto in your darkest moment?"
Damn that kiokote, again rising unbidden, clear as yesterday. Was this her darkest moment to date? For she saw them now, damned Death, damned Cry, even mother. Even Heat, even Parlay and Cut Bait, whom she had not seen in an age. ...Even those fake aunts and uncles at that damnable pickling shop - and their stupid little foals.
Damn them all. Was this what a conscience looked like, then? Damnit.
"I suppose," she finally said, "I am not yet the dark. Perhaps I'll never be. Ah, well." She turned, and walked away. Back through the brush, her silent steps, back the way she came.
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 11:47 am
Of course he let her leave. He watched her again, for the last time - watched her leave, disappear through the foliage, with a knowing smirk. Break You Down watched the young doe return to whence she came, her family, her friends. He watched her return to the light, laughed, and shut his blood-red eyes.
END
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