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 Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 12:34 pm
 He stumbled in the dark, a hidden branch under the snow providing the means to drop the stallion to his knees. His broken wing struck the ground, and Tlocatl winced and hissed in pain. It had been two days since he encountered the coyote-soquili - a mad fighting creature. Even now, with his sides and tail aching with dripping wounds and a wing limp and useless at his side, Tlocatl figured that the creature had just been lucky. He was lucky, too, in a sense. Though, the luck would have been beating the creature and having his own meal.
Two days. Two days since the fight, and even more since his last meal. The stallion could not hunt, could not fly, and instead tried to find his way back to the blissful desert from the ground. His sense of direction was warped, for without the stars and landmarks to guide him, he was just as useless as his wing.
Tired, hungry, beaten, and worn, Tlocatl got back to his feet and continued his slow trudge. He still didn't travel during the day, he was too accustomed to the dark. Even his flames at his feet were dimmed, too exhausted to even keep that up.
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 1:04 pm
 Wyrsa had been pawing at the snow, trying to find some grazing when she heard the noises. Something large, moving through the forest with no grace whatsoever. And - she sniffed delicately - it was injured. There was no mistaking the sweet odor of fresh blood.
Curiosity aroused, the mare moved as silently as she could manage in the snow to see what it was. She was a dark shadow on the powdered ground, but unlike the trees, her scaly hide occasionally reflected the light.
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 1:11 pm
Tlocatl might not have been in good spirits, and down right broken in his body... but he could sea and hear just fine. When he heard the slight crunching in the snow, he swung around to it. He couldn't help but flinch as the wounds on his sides rubbed against the wind he could not control.
The stallion was frozen then, waiting for the slightest change in the surroundings. His red eyes searched the darkness for the source, and it was the slight shimmer that gave his stalker away.
Baring those sharp teeth of his, Tlocatl growled. "Who's there? I may be hurt but I can still kill you!" he threatened. His voice was much stronger than he felt...for he felt if the wing picked up just a little more that he would fall over like a dried leaf.
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 1:16 pm
Wyrsa stopped. She knew that voice. She sniffed again - yes, the blood was his. If she'd been human, the mare would have raised her eyebrows. Tloc? Injured? It was quite remarkable.
Or maybe...maybe some god of vengeance had heard her swear to see him grounded. For she could see that one wing dragged, bled, and must be causing him a great deal of pain. Wyrsa bared her fangs in an expression that couldn't quite be called a smile.
"Oh you can, can you?" the mare almost purred with pleasure. Whoever had gotten the better of the Kalona had done a good job - even she could best him now, she was sure. The thought sent chills of delight up and down her spine.
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 1:24 pm
Tlocatl's snarl fell. Despite everything, pain and exhaustion, he felt that if needed he could take her on.... though also believed she wouldn't attack him anyways - so why was the need to try.
The stallion pawed at the ground, careful that the movement wouldn't shift his wing too much. "So..." he purred, still keeping his true condition out of his voice, "...why don't you come over and test the theory?"
Inside, the kalona was twisted and desperate. He didn't want her... anyone but her!... to see him like this, especially not after what she had said about grounding him. Sure, it seemed like some god with a cruel joke might have heard her, but it still cut to the core. Tlocatl never wanted to show Wyrsa weakness, but really, that was all he was right now. Maybe it would be better if he had just died in the fight. It was better that way, die in the battle, not in the aftermath as life is slowly drained from your body - soaking the white snow red with one's life-blood.
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 1:28 pm
The Soquili came forward until she was only a horse-length away from Tloc and looked him over thoroughly. Her eyes showed satisfaction, and something else - Tloc might recognize the bloodlust there, as he was one of the few that had seen it in Wyrsa before.
Before...
So much seemed different since the mare had woken up. Her wounds, from Tloc, interestingly enough, were much better. The old human's ministrations had worked and she was relieved. Especially because it allowed her to approach the Kalona from a superior position for the first time.
She smiled wickedly at him. "Test it? It would be my pleasure," she replied, taking a menacing step towards him.
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 1:37 pm
Tlocatl wouldn't falter. He saw the look in her eyes, and in an instant wanted to join her in that feeling. It would have been nice to feast in her blood once again, but he was far too gone already. He couldn't even muster the spark in his own eyes - his slightly flickering flames should have been a testiment to that.
As she strode forward, he had just enough time to admire the pose she took. Wyrsa came forward so calm, confident, and bold. Not even a memory of wariness that he had seen before. Tlocatl fought to keep his own composure, but with every passing second, just enough blood dripped down his legs and wing that his energy was being sapped a bit more.
So, to make up for it, he kept a straight and upright posture, his head high and his fucntioning wing curled tight to his back. Tlocatl took a stride forward, and now they were head-to-head. The stallion arched his neck so he could look straight into her eyes - defiance in his face.
"Would you?" he whispered, his mouth so close to her own sleek muzzle.
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 1:44 pm
Wyrsa was inwardly amused. Men. They just couldn't show weakness. They just had to posture and puff themselves up.
Then again...if he had shown weakness, she had the sudden feeling she would have attacked. Never mind that the thought wouldn't have occurred to her even a couple days ago.
But ohh...even injured he was still a sight to see. And his refusal to give into his weakness...it made her want to show him how weak he really was right now.
She looked him right in the eyes for long moments, looking, judging, thinking. Then, quick as the snake her hide resembled, she struck, teeth headed straight for his throat.
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 1:50 pm
Was she....? Tlocatl was shocked, for the move was much quicker now. Wyrsa was barely a flash and her fangs were biting into his throat. He could feel them tearing. It was good that they were small, for if she had wanted, the stallion would have been powerless to stop her anyways.
A gasp and shiver went through his body, though it wasn't fear or pain. It was the first bit of joy he had felt since their last meeting...but it didn't last long.
The whole encounter thus far was draining him, and it seemed that once the adrenaline and endorphines passed after Wyrsa's bite.... he was wiped. Her teeth still in his skin, Tlocatl swayed and then fell to the side. Crumpled on the ground, but not beaten, he lurched to his feet and slammed his left side -the not-so-injured one- into Wyrsa before he fell to the ground once again.
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 1:58 pm
Ohhh...to tear his flesh, to taste his blood, it was wonderful, it was fulfilling...it was so much more to her now than the last time. From the way she could feel Tloc shivering, she wondered if he felt it too. And if this was how he'd felt when he marked her last time...well...perhaps she could understand now. But not forgive. Never forgive. And hate the pain...
Hate the pain of loss as he crumpled and fell to the ground, leaving Wyrsa disoriented with her guard down. Hate the pain that blossomed as he managed to get up and slam himself into her and she went down.
Never mind that she was on her feet as soon as she could get them under her, she was mad now. Really mad. Eyes blazing, she hissed at Tloc.
"It's not enough, is it? The pain and weakness you already have...it can't possibly be enough. There should be more, shouldn't there?" Her voice was soft, as if she wasn't truly talking to Tloc, just talking to herself talking to him. Her tone was calm, but her threatening posture as she stood over him was echoed in her voice.
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 2:07 pm
He got one more hit in. No one could say he went down meekly, lay down and die - that was the cowards way, not his. The kalona struggled, but could not get back on his feet. He was too tired, too hungry, and had lost too much blood. But he would not go silently either.
Gathering his limbs beneath him for some semblance of the pride he felt for himself and even this mare that stood over him so valiantly. He could not have wanted her all to himself even more. Sure, he'd like to wipe that expression off her face, to put her down back into her place...but that was not even wishful, that was ludicrous. He was in no position.
His wits gathered, his breathing calm and accepting, Tlocatl looked up at Wyrsa and a corner of his mouth lifted in what passed for a smile. A smile for her new outlook.
"Fine, then do it!" He raised his head proudly. Now that he was not fighting to keep balance, he could expend the rest of his energy in what he said and did.
Tlocatl not only just raised his head, but twisted it back as he could. His neck, already slick with his newly shed blood, was exposed; and he gave no resistance for his she chose to take his life then and there.
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 2:17 pm
There. He was baring his neck to her. A true victory in all ways...
But...not completely hers. It was someone else who'd trashed his wing, taken his strength and stamina. She'd just capitalized on that.
No, she hadn't earned the right to take his life, no matter what he said. But there was a part of her that was egging her on, insisting that she could kill him anyway...
No. He was amusing, he was a good way to measure herself against others. Besides. She'd love to bring him to this point again in the future.
Yes. She smiled at Tloc. The smile that said she knew she held his life in her teeth and could do whatever the hell she wanted to with it.
"Poor Kalona," Wyrsa spoke in a soft voice filled with triumph and threat. "He's given up, lying in the snow, waiting for the end." She paused and raked him with her gaze. "But I don't want that. Not yet."
She looked around. "There must be some place you go for shelter. We'll have to get you there." The threat lifted...a little. But there was the suggestion that she would be even more angry with him if he didn't recover. Almost as if she considered him a possession of hers...
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 2:26 pm
Tlocatl dropped his head, since she wasn't going to give him that 'gift' - that end to the pain, end to the hunger. The stallion sighed, a bit relieved but sad and frustrated as well.
But then she mentioned shelter... and 'getting there'.... The kalona lifted his head sharply and gave her just a Look. His normal self peered out from those tired red eyes. "Are you MAD, Wyrsa?" he growled, even though the motion stung where she had bit him. "I've just TRIED to get up, and unless you are capable of carrying me away - I doubt it - I will not be going anywhere tonight."
In a dismissive manner, Tlocatl curled his head back and -though it was painful- buried his nose under that destroyed wing. He didn't care at that moment what she did, but given her reaction to his offer, the kalona also did not think she'd kill him in her sleep. Who knew, maybe she'd actually watch over and keep that coyote-soquili away if he was in deed following him. Unlikely.
Closing his eyes, the stallion gave in to the unconsciousness that had been waiting for him for so long.
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 2:38 pm
Wyrsa merely snorted, refusing to allow him to bait her. But she watched as he curled up as best he could and was out cold in seconds. The mare curled her lip in distaste. A full-grown Kalona, reduced to this sad state...the only way it would truly please her was if she'd accomplished the feat with no aid at all.
So he had to live.
Wyrsa stood watch until the growing light and it's reflection off of the snow began bothering her. Then, she too curled up in the snow, next to Tloc, and fell asleep.
---------------------
The mare awoke as the sun set and checked on her companion. He was still sleeping soundly. She considered her options, squinting in the fading, though still bright, light. Eh...she'd wait until full dark before waking him. If he didn't wake on his own. For now, she had an empty belly to fill.
Night had come before Wyrsa returned, and the Kalona was still sleeping. She would have curled her lip again, but that was impossible with her current burden. Hmph. The Soquili opened her mouth, letting the dead rabbit fall right on Tloc's face.
Not that she didn't regret giving the rabbit up...the hunt had been so exhilerating, the blood had tasted good (though not quite as good as his) and she was filled with an odd possessiveness over the dead meat that she'd never felt before.
She shook the feeling off as she watched the stallion. She didn't eat meat. She ate grasses and such. Why would she want to keep the thing for herself? Well, it didn't particularly matter at the moment. She'd worry about it later. After she was sure Tloc would recover.
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 2:51 pm
Tlocatl didn't have any dreams. He was saved that, for surely it would have been a certain coyote-soquili who would haunt them. Somewhere in his sleeping mind it was registered when Wyrsa fell asleep next to him - maybe that would have been something that pleased him - but he would never know.
It wasn't until his body was having trouble breathing. He was being smothered!
The kalona woke with a start and with a jerk of his head freed himself from his attacker. When the corpse of a rabbit feel directly in front of him, Tlocatl paused to look at it but didn't hesitate for a single moment.
The rabbit was gone in an instant.
Tlocatl paused after he was finished, letting the food settle. Then, in his own time, the stallion turned and looked at Wyrsa quietly. He was thankful, but like he'd ever say that to her! When nothing was said, he looked to a new task.
Grunting just a bit, the stallion unfolded and -thankfully- on his first attempt was able to get back to his feet. It seemed that sleep and food was all he needed. Tlocatl felt the immediate breaking of his wounds. Only his neck wound remained clotted. It was if there was something that was keeping his wounds from healing.
As the blood trickled back down his side and leg, Tlocatl turned back to Wyrsa. His limbs were stiff, but they worked. "So... I do have a place in mind..." His voice dripped with scorn. It was not a place he wanted to go, but it was perhaps the only place he could go. Sure, he was on his way there before he met up with the mare, but now she'd know - and Tlocatl didn't know at this point what was worse. But he was not about to stay this weak forever!
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