|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 10:03 am
Europa's face fell as her father made his choice. "Fine," she said, forcing her head up. "That's how its going to be. I wish you all the best, Father," she said, her voice still barely concealing its waver. She flipped her long tail towards Tara and unfurled her wings, taking to the sky.
Perhaps had she inherited her mother's horn, she would have stuck around to tend to the inevitable casualties. But as it was, she was no soldier and could no just abide by. She flew off, away from the mountains and the swamplands, unsure if she would return
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 7:24 pm
Taraxippus's shadows coiled and rolled as Europa took to wing. "Coward," He rumbled after her. There, the truth of the matter was revealed. She did not have the stomach for what needed to be done. Innocents, he snorted derisively. Arcana's blood might have skipped a generation, or insidiously colored Diogenes' choice in a mate. REgardless, he was better off without his "little sister", and he was better off without her.
They had plenty of soquili with stronger mettle... and stronger in general, he thought as he eyed Legion and his brother. HIS bloodline. He smiled.
He regarded Inkling with a smile as her paper-like scales rustled and black ink already began to appear across some of them. Yes, he was very glad she was here. Already, she had spread the stories of the monsters in the woods. Soon, she would seed the stories of their power.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 9:05 pm
A shadow flitted along the outskirts of the gathering, watching silently. The progenitor of the herd, Anju, had not gathered and presented himself, but he DID watch. He cared little for wars. He felt no obligation to jump on the bandwagon that his son was building. Taraxippus might lead this cluster of soquili that he had gathered, but Anju knew Taraxippus's secrets. His apprehensions, and the silent approval seeking he nursed for his father.
Truth be told, Anju did not care to live among so many soquili. He tolerated his family. His progeny. A fascinating, long-term project. But even then, remaining too long made him feel uncomfortable feelings of... attachment. He often left, sometimes for weeks at a time, to indulge in his other projects. His darker projects.
Taraxippus was a stallion of projects as well. This was the one he had been working on for years. It was too involved for Anju's taste. Too risky. And Anju cared nothing for respect from others. Fear... fear was all he needed.
He slinked and wove through the trees, passing very close to where Taraxipus stood with the rest gathered.
His chittery whisper reached his son's ears as he passed, "Do not lose yourself in your project, Taraxippus... but... it shall be interesting to see its conclusion..."
He didn't need to say he wasn't going to be joining. But Taraxippus clenched his jaw to prevent the reaction from reaching his face. That was about the closest he was going to get to approval from Anju.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 7:14 am
Seance was a small and squirrely Soquili, not standing taller than many of the other, more monstrous in her herd. Often, only her long, spiral shadow tendrils could be seen poking out from between them in the crowd. But she finally made her way up to the front of the line, smiling to her father, her shadows billowing around her.
Despite being physically one of the oldest members of the herd, Tara's daughter was still very childlike. She had sudden and often violent moodswings, was easily excitable, and often seemed to spend more time in her own head than with the rest of the herd.
But she was, as much as one of her kind could be, a Daddy's girl, and would follow him anywhere. She was bouncing on her hooves like a excited foal when she finally pushed her way to the front of the crowd. "I'm with you!" she said, in a deceptively charming voice.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 9:42 am
Tisiphone never talked much. She spent nearly equal time between Anju's shadowherd and her two-legger, Kamiki's, outpost not far off. But she had seen the gathering and came to see what the rally was about.
If Tisiphone is wronged, there is no stopping her in her quest for revenge. But Tisiphone had no personal vendetta against her. Nor did it seem they had wronged Taraxippus in any way, other than existing.
She preferred to remain neutral, but at the same time; these were Soquili she considered family running into battle. It was her duty to act if her Alpha called.
"Taraxippus," she said, in her stoney, strange voice. "I am at your command as my the acting Alpha."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 9:57 am
Approval. He had always denied to himself that it was important. Always focused on the future, on his own plots and plans. Besides, Anju had paid more attention to him and even Arcana than any of his subsequent progeny. Yet still, some curse of being alive, concern with what his father thought of him always was something that stirred within him.
He masked his reaction. REfused to let it show on his face when he got that taste of approval.
Instead, he took another step forward, further emboldened as two more joined his ranks. Including his daughter. So recently reminded of that importance of approval, this time, he did not hide his smile - gave her a taste of that reward as well. "Good." He said smoothly to her. It was time she test herself. Time to see what she could really do. "Make me proud, Seance."
He nodded as well to Tisiphone, heartened to see another occasional member of the herd join. He never doubted the mettle of that one, but while her sister was easily manipulated, especially on her own, Tisiphone was more independent. Having her there would only bolster Megaera's confidence on the battlefield as well. "It is good to have you join us, Tisiphone."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 10:17 am
The purple mare watched as her grandfather lurked around in the shadows. While he was nearly invisible to most, their shared shadow-like blood gave her an advantage. It was almost if she could 'feel' him more than see him. She knew of her grandfather, but didn't speak to him much.
Seance's shadows billowed wildly as her father stepped closer. She did not mask her excitement of his approval like Tara felt inclined to. "I will, I will!" she said enthusiastically. She sounded so much more like a filly getting excited over the first winter snowfall than a fully matured mare getting ready for all-out war.
She rubbed against him like a cat, her shadow-tentacles wrapping around him like an ethereal octopus. She didn't let it linger too long, but her smile and infectious enthusiasm bordered on creepy considering the circumstances.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 10:25 am
Tisiphone nodded dutifully at Tara, her flames licking at her feet in anticipation. She had not been in battle for many years, and she was curious how she would fair. She was a rather old mare now, though, it was hard to tell between all her death-like features. Her feet were skeletal and burned like flame; her wings boney and held together by just a swath of dried, leather-like skin.
She found herself relieved not all her children were around. She did not wish to see their lives thrown away by war. Sybaris has gone off to find a dragon - a fool's errand in her own right - but Lamia would be fighting as well it seemed. She would watch over her, and keep her safe. That would be her prime directive in this battle.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 01, 2014 7:50 am
Taraxippus nodded with a smoldering smile as he surveyed the army that had gathered before him. His blood positively boiling in anticipation.
Soon.
Very soon.
He had been waiting for a moment like this for all his life. But.. there was no reason to be hasty and make a misstep now.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
