|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 11:40 pm
The fall came with just enough warning that she had managed to turn her head somewhat and landed on her shoulders instead of her head, but it was not graceful. Her body crumpled as her limbs fell down mostly numb and her head spun with dizziness. She couldn't take much more of this. She tried to lift her head to look at Grauen, and she turned her gaze just quick enough to see the incoming hoof before it clipped her.
Avia was knocked out cold. There was only so much of a beating a filly could take.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2012 11:52 pm
Not to be caught off-guard for a third time, Brutus was ready for Grauen's next lash, but couldn't quite move quick enough, and only ended up jerking on the spot before her round hooves connected with the foal's head.
"Damnit," the stallion sighed and looked down at the unconscious foal. He was calm, but he was now frowning. This was cutting it a bit closer than Brutus would have liked. She was still a child after all. Grauen was crossing that line.
He stepped around the filly and nudged her until she was less crumpled so that he could more easily maneuver her onto his back. As he did so, he spoke to Grauen in a soothing voice, "A dead mouse won't tell us what you want to know. Let's take her back to the camp. There I can stop her bleeding and wake her up so she can talk. And there she will be trapped." The last bit he added to show he was still working with her plan to get the filly to talk and not just pleading to fix her up. He also hoped it would seal his direction and lead Grauen into gathering her newfound possession and begin the trek towards camp. If she were to argue him, he would have to stand his ground here for he did not want to see the filly die. She had already pushed the limits today with this young one, and he would not let her finish the young life early. He hoped she would agree to go back to camp and not argue.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nyx Queen of Darkness Crew
|
Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 12:37 am
For a moment, the fury of her hatred clouded her judgment until she the harsh truth broke into her mind. She saw the point that Brutus was making, and she felt the wolves on her coat relax and lie down before turning back into less formed swirls.
She nudged Brutus almost kindly before leaning down to her books. "You're right my pet. Dead mice won't do us any good, and it's important that we know. Very, very important."
She pulled up the books and clamped them in her teeth and headed off back to the camp.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 12:51 am
In his head he sighed as she nudged him. She wasn't going to argue, she had calmed enough to see that she did still need this little one alive, and conscious. She had accepted his proposal without grievance. This was good.
"Then we must gather up and head to camp, Mistress. We can continue there." And thus he fell silent, kneeling down next to the foal and then tilted his head so that his forehead was brushing the ground and his horns slipped under the foal's shoulderblades. Shimmying down a smidge, he had gotten her ribcage in the right place and then in a fluid movement brought his head up so that the filly was lifted into the air and then slid down his strong neck to lay across his shoulders. Turning his head to one side he gently pulled on one of her clawed feet to even her weight out so that she would not fall off while they traveled.
Having settled the foal safely on his back, Brutus stood up once more and strode over to where Grauen had gathered the books. Without a word he bent his head in an offer of picking the bundle up to carry it in his gentle mouth, if she wanted him to, and then they could be off.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nyx Queen of Darkness Crew
|
Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 1:32 am
Grauen considered for a moment refusing him. It even jumped to her mind to bite him, but something in her decided not to. She breathed out luxioursly and moved away so that he could pick up the book.
He was a faithful servant. In the midst of all this, he had done everything she had asked of him. He had restrained her from killing off their only lead to the mystery of why these books didn't open.
She ambled along behind him as they moved toward their home. She could smell the confines of her home, the dank leaves and hominess of it all. She settled in to eat some grass as she watched Brutus take care of the foal.
"You understand why don't you?" She asked. Not that she had ever cared if he understood before. But keeping him wise, keeping him informed seemed to help.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 1:45 am
His gaze was steady, calm as he waited for her to make her decision. In the end she did leave the bundle for him to carry, almost as if she had no care in the world for them. He knew better.
Picking the bundle up by the knot, he carried it with a gentle mouth, careful not to damage it or bump it around as they walked. The journey home was uneventful, and even comfortable, he would say. The weight of the foal on his shoulders felt... good somehow, as if he was meant to be carrying something, or that he deserved to... or something. He didn't know why.
Once home Grauen settled in immediately, because it seemed to him like she needed some time to breathe and to think, so that she could tackle the rest of this situation calmly. He wouldn't allow her to injure the foal again, it would be too risky. So after gently placing the leather-wrapped bundle at Grauen's hooves, Brutus set to work taking care of the foal.
As he gathered herbs and clean cloth and water Brutus sort of began humming. It was the tune that the filly had shared earlier. Something familiar should wake the foal eventually, and he knew nothing else about her. So as this heavy but soothing hum wove it's way into the silence of the night Brutus cleaned the foal's wounds and bandaged them carefully, and rather deftly for such a big brute. He could be gentle when he wanted to... if he was concentrating. His ears flicked over to listen to Grauen when she asked him an important question and after a moment he replied, "The foal knows where the books were last, and you need to know who had them. We need to know where she stole them from, who she stole them from, and where." Usually didn't speak so much, but this was what he had been considering the entire walk home and now had the opportunity to share it, and possibly confirm it. After answering he began humming once more, but quieter this time so as to continue respectfully listening to Grauen as he washed the blood off of the pale foal's coat.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nyx Queen of Darkness Crew
|
Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 2:00 am
"Yes," Grauen answered evenly as she watched him, her eyes flickering back to the books.
She glared at them, wondering what all of the rumours were true. "Do you know that I've met some of the previous owners before?" She spoke evenly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 2:04 am
Ahhh, so he was correct. Simple conclusions really, not like he was being astoundingly innovative here, just observant. But good, good. He seemed to mostly be following along, and that was always good. Being blind-sided just sucked, better to be prepared or at least aware.
Raising an eyebrow, Brutus looked over at Grauen and prodded further, "No, mistress, I didn't. Did they take the books with them?" For if she knew the previous owners surely she must have been able to go and find them whenever she wanted unless they ran away from her with the books.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nyx Queen of Darkness Crew
|
Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 2:16 am
Grauen listened to his response, "No...when I found them they didn't have the books with them. They told me where they had gone. The last stallion was vindictive and evil. Begrudgingly he told me where it was. I burnt his home while he was sleeping to find out he'd lied to me."
"I learned about killing the mice before they talk," she looked up at him. "You don't want the mouse to die. I won't kill it if I find out what I need. But you, most of all, should know that I dont' tolerate lies."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 2:24 am
He listened patiently, intrigued by what she had to say, by what she had to reveal about herself and her past. It wasn't often he got to hear about her past and to learn more about her by way of personal stories or recollections, usually it was stories that she told to scare the prey into revealing their fear for her to eat.
He nodded solemnly. He understood what she was saying. She would have mercy, but under the condition that she was not lied to. Break that, and the bet was off. Which meant there was only one option. "She will tell us what we need to know." He left it there, but he gave her a confident look that showed he understood the ultimatum and the consequences of it.
Curious, he ventured, "Could that stallion open the books?" Perhaps he was pushing his luck here, but Grauen couldn't earlier, so if no one could, what would be the use of them? Someone had to be able to open them, right?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Nyx Queen of Darkness Crew
|
Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2012 9:14 pm
Grauen picked at a few pieces of grass lazily, "No, he could not." She kicked a little dirt, "Legend says that only one can open the book." Her face crinkled in rage, "I had thought it would be me. I thought it was my destiny...but it's not. I can't open it and neither can she. So there has to be some clue...some knowledge of who can open it. Because someone out there is able to and we have to find them. What's in this book can change everything."
Her eyes blazed up, "Do you know how important this is?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
