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 Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2012 1:04 pm
Yseult followed closely after Zelcion. She could forgive all of his errors in this little quest now that they stood on the verge of success. Yseult could feel nothing but the thrill of the hunt coursing through her veins like fire. She could see the little mare, so white, so helpless, standing before them like a fat rabbit waiting for the slaughter. It was delicious and she wanted nothing more than to sink her fangs into that lily throat and taste her meat. Perhaps it wasn't considered proper to kill other soquili by some kalona but those were the ones that would also think to breed with lesser breeds. Yseult was far above that line of thought, anything that wasn't a kalona could easily be considered for a meal.
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2012 1:13 pm
Lorenna could smell the kalona before heard them and she heard them before she saw them. When she saw them, however, she felt a bit confused. This was not Xelloss or Othelia like she had been expecting. This wasn't even Phibrizzo. She didn't recognize any of them but they had come from the jungle. Somehow they had to be related to the mazoku, she would have to be blind to notice the similarities in color and patterning on their coats. It was something she would have to puzzle over later, however, as they were still drawing near.
"Steady, Shrivatsa." She said into the mare's ear. "Act like you're too scared to move and wait." Lorenna didn't want to launch the counter too soon or she doubted it would be as effective. Time slowed to a crawl. Seconds passed like years as Lorenna watched the progression of the kalona and then, what felt like centuries later, she finally fluttered off of Shrivatsa's head. The moment she was clear of the mare she began her change and not even a quarter of a minute later she was standing at her full size beside the alpha of Padmapani. Now it was time for the herd to move.
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2012 6:04 pm
Tythoss coursed along after his brother, just as eager to sink his teeth into their main goal. His stunted wings were open and horizontal to the ground as he charged. It almost looked as if he was trying to fly instead of running, though this was not anywhere present in his thinking. He could see no way that they could fail. Their target was idiotically unprotected... or so he thought.
Tythoss' eyes shot wide with surprise as the flutter appeared seemingly out of nowhere beside the herd alpha. She had a friend with? One flutter wasn't terribly threatening, but then Tythoss began to see the other soquili rising from the bushes...
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Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2012 6:08 pm
It was not easy for Haya to lie in wait as long as he did. He fought the urge to leap into pursuit the moment that he heard the kalona hooves striking earth and only restrained himself with great effort. He forced himself to wait for Lorenna's signal. She was closest to the front along with Shrivatsa and most able to judge when the kalonas were in the jaws of their ambush. The moments stretched on for an eternity, Haya wondering if the price for action taken too late might be the life of Shrivatsa. When Haya finally saw Lorenna changing size, he dashed out of hiding before her hooves were even touching the ground.
There were three kalonas. None of them were the wicked and grinning Xelloss, both a blessing and a frustration. "Protect her!" shouted Haya to the hidden defenders. He had no intention of giving the kalona enough time to react. Without pause he ran, straight for the pale one in the lead.
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 8:10 am
Waiting had been agony for Phala. Every sound put him on edge and every wind that blew by seemed to carry promise of the kalona's attack. When he finally saw them he wanted to spring from the bushes and charge. Phala managed to resist remembering Revyra's orders. When the signal came from Lorenna he shot out of the bushes faster than a startled rabbit. A few branches cut shallowly into his skin but he paid them no mind, he had somewhere to be.
Phala vaguely heard Hayagriva bark an order to protect Phala's sister. He hadn't needed that order. He knew his place. Snarling like a wildcat he took up a position directly between Shrivatsa and the kalona and planted his feet. If anything got close they would find out exactly how dangerous he could be. From the looks of things, however, they wouldn't get close, Hayagriva was closing in and few things stood a chance against the herd's protector.
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 8:16 am
When Revyra caught sight of the signal she lead a couple of herd warriors out from the side closest to the white female and galloped towards the kalona. These were not the ones that had attacked them before but it hardly mattered. She opened her wings slightly preparing to use them as weapons against the kalona. They would beat off the devils before they ever had time to think.
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 8:24 am
Over the course of a few seconds Zelcion's emotions shifted more than he could ever remember them doing before. At first there was the joy of certain victory. Then when a flutter appeared, using a favored trick of their Lord Hellmaster, he felt confused. He hadn't expected that but it wasn't much of a problem. Finally soquili started emerging from hiding places and Zelcion felt the blood draining from his face. It had been a trap and they had charged headlong into it.
"Run!" Zelcion bellowed as the sight of a gigantic, golden half-kalona came directly at him. His own feet scrambled at the ground as he tried to turn quickly. They needed to get out of there, now. This had all been a massive miscalculation. Why hadn't Tythoss or Yseult stopped this from happening?
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 8:32 am
Yseult swallowed hard as the herd sprung their trap. It was clever but Yseult found that she just couldn't admire it the way she wanted to seeing as she was currently caught in it. A rather violent looking wind was closing in on her with a pair of others and she didn't even need Zelcion's order to start making tracks. She turned sharply swinging her tail out behind her in a wide arc to dissuade anyone from closing in as she got a new footing. If she had the space for it she simply would have taken to the skies but her run way had been getting shorter by the second. Right now running back the way they had come was her most promising option.
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:07 am
Tythoss had just one moment to size up their attackers. There was some feathery purple mare. There was a giant golden stallion who looked suspiciously like an elder. He belatedly remembered hearing about the half-kalona elder, something he maybe should have considered prior to running face to face into him. Tythoss was curious about the strength of such a soquili... but didn't want first-hand knowledge of it.
He turned and ran, hoping that speed wasn't part of the elder's talents.
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:15 am
It was almost surreal for Shrivatsa. She stood still while the members of the herd's defense team thundered past her. Her heart felt like it stopped when the kalona first appeared, and now they were the ones running away in fear. It was a complete turnaround from the Padmapani's last encounter with kalonas. How strange it was to think that they had come this far.
Glissando followed Haya, running at the kalonas with unsuppressed rage. Xelloss had killed his sister. He wanted to take vengeance on Xelloss' ally kalonas, the bloodier the better. He was one that somewhat hoped they would turn around and make a stand. He wanted a chance to sink his teeth into them.
Kakumei held his sword within his teeth as he joined the charge. He was careful to avoid any trees or bushes that might knock it from his grip. His mother had taught him how to wield a blade and today he used it to defend the Padmapani herd.
Padmasambhava came out last of their group but with no less ferocity. She might not be the best of friends with the herd alpha, a mare half her age, but she would not let a kalona touch her.
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 11:51 am
Revyra followed after the kalona until she was sure that they weren't just trying some trick and that they were actually running for their lives. Once she was certain that they weren't going to turn back around and attack she turned her group around and waved a signal to the soquili stationed around Shrivatsa with her wings. This had been a victory for them and, thankfully, it had resulted in no casualties. She smiled at the herd members gathered around, they had done well. She would give it another few minutes before going to alert the members who weren't present that the danger had passed. First, she wanted to make sure that everything was well and truly done here.
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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2012 4:24 pm
Lorenna was pleased to see how quickly the kalona turned tail and bolted. She had actually expected to see some fight out of them but then again she supposed that Hayagriva did cut an intimidating figure. If he had been coming at her with a small army she would have fled too. Lorenna took notice as Revyra did an unusual maneuver with her wings and judging by the relieved sighs from a few around her she gathered that this was some sort of "all-clear" sign.
Lorenna turned to Shrivatsa and said, "You did well." Lorenna knew that it was difficult to pretend that everything was normal when nothing was and without Shrivatsa's acting Lorenna doubted that everything would have gone so smoothly. This was far from the end of it, however, she still had work to do. "Do you imagine that Hayagriva will come back here anytime soon?" She questioned, she wanted to discuss a thing or two with him before she went sending birds to her other informants.
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Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 9:55 am
No more kalonas. Shrivatsa could hardly believe that it was over so quickly. There had been no blood shed on either side, something she was very glad for. The kalonas might still be in the area, but the Padmapani forces would be on the hunt. They wouldn't be able to stay anywhere near the herd without being spotted in the land or the air. The bird network all but assured them of detection of the kalonas at this point.
"I expect Haya will be back soon," she murmured. She could hear the fall of heavy hooves. That was probably him returning right then.
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Posted: Sat Dec 22, 2012 10:05 am
Shrivatsa had been correct. Haya left the other defenders to keep pursuing the kalona and returned to the leaders. He didn't want to leave them alone with kalonas around, even knowing that the kalonas were probably far away. They had fallen into traps before. Xelloss could easily be still around lying in wait for the right moment of distraction.
He nodded to Lorenna and the others as he returned. "Glissando and the others are still chasing them, but I don't think they'll catch up." The kalonas ran like their tails were on fire.
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Posted: Sun Dec 23, 2012 8:45 am
Lorenna nodded at Shrivatsa to show that she understood. Not long after Hayagriva arrived bringing good news. "Good, let this be a lesson to those kalona, and kalona everywhere, that your herd is not a force to be trifled with." She smiled at the herd alpha and protector before a more business like expression settled on her face.
"As much as I would like to stay there is work to be done elsewhere. I will keep this brief so I may continue my work. I would recommend leaving up the bird perimeter for at least a week in case those fools try to give all this another go. I'll be sending a few of them to track the kalona and make sure they get home and others to alert our members of what transpired here today." Lorenna shook her head gently to settle her hair without upsetting her hat.
"You know how to reach me if you need me and I shall make sure you are informed of any developments." She was hoping that he intent to depart immediately was clear enough and that they would dismiss her soon. She was quite busy as always.
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