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 Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 7:33 am
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Players involved:Sophia Phillipa Hale Kristan Demon (leaves page one) Maion (enters page two)  
Sophia gulped and backed away from the beast that had surprised her, her little voice trembled from her lips and it was taking all her energy not to cry. "Leave me alone!" She didn't know what she had done to deserve this, she had only been trying to explore on her own, to show her family that she wasn't as fragile as they believed her to be.... that she was big.
Oh how wrong she had been. "Don't hurt me." She all but whimpered as the beast advanced again. Her rump hit the wall of a rock face and she gulped again. A single tear dripping down her cheek.
Demon growled low and licked his lips. He had seen this mare hanging around here before, but every other time she had been with the company of strong looking stallions.... that was why Demon observed patiently, hoping to one day use her against them. His army was increasing daily, most of them volenteers but several of them bribed and blackmailed into his ranks. Of course Demon was not stupid enough to trust them, knew that once the threat was removed they would leave without a backwards glance. Yet Demon was still willing to use them, extra eyes and ears, added numbers to scare off his enermy.... and anyone who wished to take Cherish from him was his enermy!
"Don't worry little one," He purred, a habit he picked up from his mother. "I don't plan to hurt you....."
He watched as the relief flooded onto her delicate features.
Sophia was shocked, her heart had been thundering in her chest was no slowling and her breath was starting to return to normal. "You don't?" She asked, relieved by this revelation. "Then why?" After all, the stallion still hadn't moved away from her. Still hadn't left her trapped against the rock face.... what did he want? She started to shake again.
Demon smiled at that, she was almost, almost, brave. He leaned in and whispered, "Can you keep a secret?" Without actually waiting for her to give an answer he continued, "I am going to use you to force your family to fight for me... and if they won't, then I will kill you."
In reply to his words came a satisfying wail as tears started to flood from her eyes. Oh, what a show they were about to put on. |
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Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 8:26 am
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Kristan had left his herd behind... again. He couldn't even remember how many times his mother had told him not to wander off, but then again, did it really matter? He couldn't just stay in one place day after day, being looked after by his adoptive sister and having every little scratch healed by her unicorn powers! His heart yearned for adventure and heroism, for the stories of freedom offered by his older sister, Kamakana. She seemed to have done quite the bit of traveling when she was a foal--why couldn't he?
Oh yeah. Because his parents were settling down. No more fun.
He loved his family dearly. It was no lie. But he would have died if he had kept to the rules every day! He needed to get out, to explore. To finally earn a scar that wouldn't be quickly healed by a unicorn, so he could show it off to his friends and show how brave he really was!
And, of course, as he trotted through the trees at the edge of large open area, backed by large rock outcroppings, he hadn't expected the opportunity to come so quickly. His eyes widened and he came to a halt, staring at the sight before him. He had never seen a Kalona, but knew the stallion for what he was. And wow, was he big! And then his eyes flew to the small filly he had trapped against the rock, four beautifully fragile wings atop her back. His chest clenched, and he instantly knew he had to save her. If only he was bigger!
His mind raced, trying to think of how he could help her, but his options grew short. He couldn't openly fight the Kalona, but perhaps if he could draw him away...
And, without thinking, Kristan ran out of the trees, his little head lowered and horns pointing forward. His target: the Kalona's backside! |
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Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 10:11 am
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Sophia couldn't still the tears now, they flowed freely from her eyes and she made a very unladylike sound as she started to panic.... this beast was going to use her to get her family to fight? Or would kill her? She whimpered at the mere idea, not sure what would be better.... but deep down she knew the answer even though it scared her. She wasn't ready to die, but she also knew that she wouldn't let anything happen to her family if she could help it... they had always supported her although she was often ill and sickly.
She blushed, ashamed of how weak she was... how foolish she had been to venture here on her own. "Don't! Please..... don't!" The words were whimpered out, her tears still flowing freely down her pinkened cheeks.
Demon was smirking, had been just about to lean towards the mare again and grab her mane to force her to move the way he wanted. But he heard movement behind him, just as he had been about to turn and investigate the noise he felt the sharp pang of 'horns?' in his rump. He howled in agony and tried to swat whatever it was away with his spaded tail, using it in a motion very similar to that of a scorpian. His head finshed turning and what Demon saw did not please him...... a cerneyi male, a colt no less. How dare such an unworthy creature strike him?! Even adults feared him, avoided him as if he was carrying the plague, a fact that Demon enjoyed and prefered... yet this colt dared to attack him!
Rage was bubbling within Demon, and he growled low shouting in his pure anger. "How dare you! I will destroy you you worthless colt!" And with that Demon turned, lowering one of his leather wings in an effort to keep the angeni filly trapped while he dealt with the young colt. "You will pay for that move boy."
Demon roared in the boys face, a move designed to intimitate his opponant.
Sophia started to shake again, not able to see what was happening due to the large size of her captor blocking her line of sight. But several words seemed to stick out. 'Colt' being the main one, and from the way her captor was screaming she believed that he was not happy to see the other foal.
Desperation took hold of her, and although she was scared she didn't want another foal to be stolen like she was. "Run!' She bellowed, "Get away from him! He's dangerous!" She only hoped the other foal would listen to her.... for two families to lose their children... it was unthinkable.
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Posted: Fri Feb 04, 2011 4:05 pm
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Kristan hadn't really planned what to do next--in fact, his first move was as foolish as it could be. The only thing that had been on his mind was becoming a savior, but as the Kalona's tail snapped him in the head, he thought that it wouldn't be so easy.
He sputtered, his vision going blurry for a second, and did his best to back-peddle out of the enemy's reach. He shook his head, trying to rid the slight nausea from his body, and looked back up. Now the Kalona's head was turned completely toward him, revealing abnormally large teeth and a set of fearsomely glowing eyes. Kristan felt his heart skip a beat and almost panicked--what had he gotten himself into?! But then the tiny voice of the filly met his ears, and he attempted to draw courage from it. Someone needed him! He couldn't just abandon her.
He shivered, but tried to make his voice sounds tough as he shouted, "Leave her alone, you big bully! Or... or else!" He brandished his horns again, giving a little foal snort. "I'll poke your eyes out!" He backed away a bit, hopefully out of range of the thing's tail. He prayed that the Kalona wouldn't be able to dash and pin him in one leap.
He turned towards the filly, trying to sound brave. "I won't leave until you come with me! Just... just hang in there! I'll save you!" He glanced around, wondering if there was some way to slip around the Kalona. Or maybe lure him off, just enough to where the filly could escape... then maybe he could outrun him. He was pretty fast, according to the dismay of his mother.
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Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 12:11 am
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Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 6:02 am
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Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 6:44 am
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Sophia's little heart was thundering in her chest, the tears threatening to come again with each second that passed. Her throat felt raw and closed. Her nostrils filled with the disgusting smell of fresh blood. Yet as her little knight spoke with a bravery she didn't feel to the beast that had captured her she feelt the will.... the want.... the need to keep faith. To not give up hope. She had heard their herd protector Maion say once that to give up was to always accept defeat, and Sophia didn't want to lose.... losing meant death for herself or someone she loved.
She wiggled and squirmed, forgetting about the wing for a moment as she tried to find another way free. "Can't give up. Can't give up." She whispered to herself, hoping that by repeating it enough it would actually work and come true. Then her ears twitched. A command. Sophia was used to taking commands, she took them on a daily basis..... do this, stay there, don't do this, eat up.... the list was endless. It was why when the command was given she didn't think about it, didn't even second guess it she simply acted.
Moving he mouth to the feathered joint of the beasts wing and slammed her jaw shut around it and tugged down to the ground.
Demon found his attention divided between the two foals, his desire to make his army stronger, to protect what was his was a need that simply wouldn't be ignored.... yet getting rid of this colt was standing in the way of him and his objective.
He turned, following the boys movement when...... AGH!!
Pain consumed him and his vision blurred for a moment. His wing was in agony and being pulled down...... somewhere in the back of his mind he knew what was happening but turning was impossible. He closed his eyes, and after a moment he managed to turn and face the filly.... he tugged and flapped his wing in an effort to dislogde her, she let go easily and Demon hissed at her taking a step backwards. "Why you little....." He growled, "Perhaps I should just kill you afterall!" His wing ached and throbbed, and as he bend the wing to fold it onto his back he nearly howled in agony.
Angry, plan forgotton for a moment he turned his rump swiftly around, tail ready to strike and he struck the young filly. The impact must have taken her by surprise because she rolled and slammed into the ground hard. Demon smiled and turned to the colt, eyes glowing white with anger. "Your turn."
Behind the beast Sophia somehow managed to wobble to her feet. Her head hurt. Her legs were shaking. And her wing was bend strangely. But she was standing... for now.
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Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 7:10 am
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Kristan skidded to a halt, sod flying from cloven hooves, and twisted around to see if the Kalona had fallen to the ground. His eyes widen and his hopes fell when he saw that he remained standing, if bruised. The filly had done what he had demanded, had pulled on the Kalona's wing, but to no avail. Kristan felt tears of anger p***k his eyes, for once thinking about his family. Would he make it back to them? Would he save this young filly? Or would the day turn deadly and he lose his life? It was no longer a game, no longer a dream come true--instead it was a nightmare, and he was running out of ideas.
Then the Kalona struck the filly with his tail, and Kristan couldn't stop the "NO!" that burst from his lips. The power of his own voice startled him, and his mind cleared once again. What could he do? He had to lure the thing away, perhaps make it so angry that it would follow him. There was no way that he could wrest the filly from the Kalona with his own body. He was simply too small and inexperienced. But he could run fast, and that was what counted.
"My turn, really? I was wondering when you'd stop with the child's play! Maybe I'll see some real fighting now!" He taunted the monster, then dashed to the side, trying to evade the Kalona's sinister fangs. He then twisted hard the the left, digging his horns into the Kalona's back leg (or at least he tried to!) and then back peddled, nearly tripping himself in the process. He couldn't even think, just prayed that it wouldn't be his neck that the Kalona caught.
"Come and get me! Or are you frightened that a little colt will best you?" He gave his best smile, though his legs were shaking. This was when his speed would matter for life or death.
Hang in there! He thought to the filly, hoping that she too was determined to win.
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Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 7:30 am
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Demon growled in frustration but found that once more a grin tugged at the corners of his lips. It seemed this 'unworthy' colt actually had a determinded heart of a kalona, no matter how dire the situation seemed he didn't seem to give up. It was a quality that Demon respected, and had even spared lesser beings for..... of course he would test this colt first, if he could still keep up his determinded atitude while facing death then Demon would reconsider him being classed as unworthy.....
...of course that thought occured before the boys antlers dug deep into his back leg. Demon howled in pain, the scent of his own blood feeling the air and making him feel slightly sick. Demon disliked the smell of his own blood, always had and always would. He turned with a speed most would never have predicted he could muster and faced the colt. With a single leg he raised he hoof and in a flash of movement brought it down hard before kicking it forward in a hope that it would catch the boy despite his obvious speed. Demon wasn't foolish enough to participate in a game of speed, knowing that to do so would be his undoing.
He spread his wings wide, preparing to create a breeze to knock the boy of guard but found pain flashing and blurring his vision again. He growled in agony and folded his injured wing instictively to his side once more. Eyes closed as he tried to regain his strength.
Sophia watched the scene as if it was all in slow motion. The colt attacked the beast.... the beast attacked back. The colt ran and taunted the beast.... the beast opened its wings and.... winced in pain?
Her eyes opened wide in shock. Her heart thundering once more in her chest. Since she was attacked moments earlier she had been unable to move but now.... well now seemed like the only time she would ever be able to move again. "Now...... leave..... now....." She called to the colt, trying to keep her voice low so that the beast wouldn't stir too quickly and dash their hopes once more.
She turned, he legs sore and achy, but she still turned. One step..... nearly fell over. Two steps.... needed to spread her wings wide to recapture her balance. Three steps.... getting better......
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Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 7:54 am
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Kristan stood with sides heaving, his attention completely focused on the Kalona who... what? Had paused and closed his eyes in... pain? Perhaps the little filly's bite had been more than he thought it had been. He suddenly felt a great respect for her, and knew that if they both survived this ordeal, he would want her to become his best friend. Times like this changed people, and he had a feeling that the two of them would never see life in the same way.
He let his attention lapse for a moment, focusing instead on his own body. For the first time he noticed a sharp pain in his rump--he looked back to see a large gash right below his blue marking, warm blood dripping down his leg. The Kalona must have caught him on his last turn... strange that he hadn't noticed till now. Perhaps it was the battle drive that had diverted his attention? Or his determination to save the filly? He suddenly felt both weary and proud, and hoped that the fight would end quickly.
He shot his gaze towards the filly, noticing that her way to escape was clear at the moment. His heart leaped, and he shouted to her, " Go! Go now! Get away from him and into the trees!" He trotted nearer, ready to divert the attacker's attention, and winced from the cut on his rump. He had underestimated the Kalona's reach!
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Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 11:11 am
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Sophia limped and wobbled away from the fight, away from the beast. Still, she couldn't forget the kindness of the colt. She turned, hoping to see him following her. Her heart leapt and thumped in her chest. The colt seemed...... so far away.
She stopped, waiting for him, refusing to leave him behind..... it was so against her normal ways that she was shocked. Usually she was babied after, the youngest member of a large herd. Usually she let everyone care for her, carefree and innocent they would call her.... yet here she was, the dainty sickly mare who probably should have died at birth trying to save another. She had been brought up believing that only together the herd was strong..... perhaps that was why she wanted to wait? To be strong for once?
Her throat felt dry, but she somehow managed to get out a word on a squeek- "Quickly!" Her attention never left the colt. Never ventured to the beast whose cries of fury and pain echoed in her head even as they spoke.
Demon's head was thrashing from side to side in agony. How had two little foals done this to him? Snarling he finally managed to open his eyes and look down at his injured wing. The feathers were torn and battered, the delicate bones seemed to be broken and the muscle slightly torn with visable teeth marks....... he would have been impressed had he not been suffering from the agony of it. Of course Demon had taken injuries to his wings before, the leather torn and battered from using it as a shield in battle. But this......
Then Demon remembered something. A memory buried deep within himself. Ice. Cold. Water everywhere. Freezing his small body.... his sister Fathom shaking with fear and cold next to him as he tried to carry her home. Their secret. His wing had been injured then.... but he had never cried for it.... was this? Could it be?
He shook his head, he had heard of lesser creatures experiencing pain memories years after but surely this was too much? Surely this wouldn't affect someone like him? He growled, confused and not understanding it..... yet he did feel cold. Shock seeped into every pour of his body and he started to shake.
It was then that his attention turned to the colt and the filly that were escaping him..... but he was frozen to the spot, not wanting or willing to move.
After a moment he started to thaw out. Started to feel better. The pain disappearing with each moment that passed. He took a step forward and...... stopped.
His mind full of so many thoughts, memories that should never have been recalled, fears and feelings that he had long supressed as weakness. He growled. A menacing sound that rumbled all around him and increased in volume until it erupted as a roar. But still he didn't follow them. "Soon." He told himself, and turned. They had earned their freedom for today..... but Demon knew he couldn't give up. He had something that was worth protecting and he would protect it no matter what, no matter the personal cost. No one would ever take Cherish away from him. NEVER!
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Posted: Sat Feb 05, 2011 8:14 pm
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Kristan watched in amazement as the Kalona seemed to come under some kind of panic attack. What in the world was happening to him? The two foals couldn't have injured him that badly. Especially such a large, fearsome beast. It just seemed too much like a dream.
But then his head snapped back around to see the little filly, successfully hobbling away from the trap that the attacker had set. She wasn't moving too fast, but was already out of striking distance. Perhaps he could get back to her, help her get home. Make sure that the Kalona didn't follow.
But then the great stallion seemed to shiver, as if in defeat, and his final statement seemed deflated. Did he give up the fight? Could they truly escape?
The filly's cry was heard by his eager ears, and he willed his legs to action. Gathering the last of his adrenaline, he dashed across the meadow to her side, giving the Kalona a wide birth as it turned away. He didn't dare to think that the escape was so clearly laid out in front of them, and thus kept a steady pace.
He nudged at the filly's side, for once taking in her beautifully delicate appearance and the colorful gleam of her eyes. His eyes drifted to her injured wing, and he gasped, lending his shoulder for her to lean on.
"Come on, let's go! Tell me where your family is and I'll take you to them." He looked back to see the retreating tail of the Kalona, and let a bit of relief flow into his chest. "It's alright now--we're gonna be alright." He gave her a grin, albeit shaky. They did it! Defeated a monster!
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Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 3:30 am
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Sophia's legs started to shake again, and she wasn't sure if she stayed still for much longer that she would ever be able to move forward again. The adrenaline in her system had already faded and the pain in her wing made her wimper every now and then. But she tried to stay strong.... tried to remain unmoved by everything. Just look at him..... don't focus on anything else. And so she did, she watched the colt, a mixture of emotions swirling within her. Respect, pride, envy, regret.
Her eyes felt heavy, and she found herself blinking more. She saw movement in the corner of her eye -the beast? Followed shortly by a flurry of hoofsteps towards her and the yellow eyes, surrounded by blue, looking down at her. Suddenly she felt as if she was looking at the situation from a far distant place, brought back only by the sound the colts voice ordering her to move once more.
Sophia nodded and tried to smile, her lips delicatly curving as she tried to take a step forward... then another.... followed by another. "Thank you." She said in a voice no more than a whisper, she should have known better than to wander off on her own. Should have never placed herself in the type of situation that she needed saving from. "You're very brave." She said as she turned her head to beam up at him, her golden brown eyes sparkling up at him.
Then she did something that all 'princesses' did when they were rescued by a 'prince', she kissed his cheek, the slightest of pink blushes filling her cheeks. "My name is Sophia.... my herd isn't too far from here." She turned her gaze from him then to scan the area and recall which path to take. "That way." She answered, lifting up her right hoof to point towards the river and the trees that headed off to the north. If you followed the river you came to the lake, the center of the Miakoda herd, her family and home.
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Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 11:36 am
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Kristan helped her as she walked, trying to mind her injured wing. He couldn't help but stare for a moment at the shining feathers. His family and most of the friends he knew didn't have feathered wings, but either flutter wings or none at all. Even the slightly glowing aura to her skin made him feel awed, and he suddenly felt insignificant in appearance. Sure, he had markings that even some of his siblings were envious of--but he didn't have beauty. Just... individuality. This filly was the truly beautiful one.
He wondered if her family was just as magnificent.
He was brought out of his thoughts by her words, and a small grin came to his face. "No problem. You were pretty brave yourself--I think it's safe to say we did it together." He wouldn't mind sharing his glory, at least this once.
Then she kissed him on his cheek, and he couldn't help his own blush that spread under the lighter fur of his face. He forgot to draw in breath for a moment, but when he did, he grinned all the wider.
"Sophia? The name of a damsel if I ever heard one! My name is Kristan. I like to think that it's a knight's name. Kind of like a fairytale, right?" He quickly stopped himself from blathering, instead nodding his head. "Alright then, I'll help you get home. Will there be someone there to heal you? Your wing doesn't look like it's in too good of a shape." He glanced back to the injured wing, which seemed to bend in a slightly awkward way. His face twisted into a grimace. "Ouch. You're really tough to be handling that."
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Posted: Sun Feb 06, 2011 11:54 am
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Sophia nibbled on her lip and shook her head. "I'm not brave." She whispered, and in her mind it was true. Sure, she had followed his orders and had 'helped' as much as she had hindered, but if she hadn't got herself in trouble to begin with there would have been no need for anything to happen.... of course she may not have met this colt then, and that would have been a shame.
Shaking her thoughts of that for the time being she smiled as he gifted her with his name, "Kris-tan" She repeated, trying to make sure she pronoucned it correctly. "I like it." She beamed at him, "it suits you." Sophia was still blushing, but tried to pretend in her own mind that she wasn't, her bright white pelt made it difficult to hide any of her emotions -not that she was really interested in doing so- but it did mean she could be read like an open book.
As he commented on her wing she found herself stopping and turning to look at it. A few of the feathers were rumpled and the muscle seemed to be torn but she didn't believe the bone was broken. It hurt, of course it hurt, but having someone to talk to was helping keep her mind off it. She flexed it, wincing slightly as she did so. She needed a healer it seemed.... something she always seemed to need. It had been Chandra who had saved her life before she was placed securely into her basket, her mother had been ill for months while carrying her and her brothers but of them all Sophia had been the smallest and sickest. That trend had continued, and the healer from the allied herd just up river would come and visit once a month to check on her. All in all it made Sophia feel trapped just as it made her feel loved. She knew everyone cared for her.... but.... she wanted more for herself.
Her expersion fell sad for a moment and she carefully pulled all four of her wings into her body so that they couldn't get hurt more before turning to look at Kristan. Just looking at him, with interesting markings and horns the like she had never seen before cheered her up. She had never seen anyone with his kind of tail either..... she had seen unicorn tails, kalona tails.... but not his. She smiled, curious now. "Being with you is helping." She chirped, before tilting her head in a cute innocent manner before asking, "What are you Kristan?"
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