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 Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 8:05 am
ORION MALEDICT
The Cursed
The moon was shining bright over the desolated sand hills. Howls and grunts of strange beast filled the night, this didn't bother Orion much though for he had recently fed and was capable of taking out any imminent danger. His sword was still bloodied and the kill was only a few feet away laying on the ground. The beasts of the night was the last thing on Orion's mind, the real problem was that he wasn't anywhere near the set of caves that he could safely sleep during the day and he didn't have much time to get there before dawn.
He got up, wiping his sword clean and started north, when suddenly a pack of starved reptilian beasts appeared almost out of nowhere. I don't have time for this, he thought, these creatures were little more than a nuisance for him and he needed to control his anger if he was going to survive. Orion quickened his pace and easily side stepped the seemingly frustrated creatures, his long black robe fluttering behind him as he almost glided over the barren lands.
Once again a race against time, this time I will not be beaten, he thought with remorse as unwanted memories crashed in.
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Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 7:14 am
 { Atreiyu } Atreiyu turned her muzzle towards the moon, letting a breath escape from her lungs in a yearning howl. It was a full moon and the light breeze, that accompanied her, echoed her song into the heart of Ravenheart - her old home. She turned away and broke into a trot. It has been several years since she had been exiled, but ever since the incident she has always returned to the shadow, that the floating city casts on the Badlands, to mourn her mistakes and everything that she has lost because of them. Her grieving trot became a gallop - an even stride that, with years of practice, carried over large distances of land effortlessly. There were some pros of being a wolf - no politics, no limitations. She could indulge in the thrill of the hunt and the only worry she had was that of food - but it was a lonely life that stretched out before her. Her gallop increased into a sprint that proceeded for hours. A flashy grin lightened her eyes as she placed distance between herself and the floating city she once loved. Running felt like flying and there was nothing better than the hunt. It was everything. Perhaps she worried about love and humans too much when she was a vampire. She wished to free them. She wished to free him.
She growled at her thoughts, which made them vanish, and quickly reached her den. It was a cave, a small one, but it served its purpose well. The interior walls were decorated with paw print-tales of who she once was so that she couldn't forget. Being a wolf should not make her one. She would cling onto who she truly is despite her memories that threatened to fade.
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Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 10:29 am
ORION MALEDICT
The Cursed
Damit! Damit! These things keep coming and I don't have any time for this!, Orion's mind was in turmoil, a battle for his survival, unlike the battle raging on around him, the reptilian beasts did no more than torn his already worn down robes as they fell one by one. Changing into his beast form now would mean almost sudden death, if not by the claws of the reptiles then later by the sun's searing flare. No, I will not change, I have not survived out here in this waste to die so pathetically, I need a place to hide during the day.
Orion sprinted, the sky was already changing color at the horizon, the darkness fading away, a creeping doom over the dusty sand dunes. No, this can not be..., Orion stopped, he knew he was done for, he hated those of his kind who showed any fear before they died, so he simply just stood there and closed his eyes as the shadows retreated behind him. Suddenly his eyes snapped open, Not yet, he whispered.
He remembered seeing a cave during the fight, and it might just be able to provide him with shelter, it was his only chance and so he took it, he ran, fast. A blur that would have been difficult even for the sharp eyes of a vampire to see. It was not fast enough though, the sun peaked it's last obstruction and fell full on Orion's back as he crashed into the cave's mouth.
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Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 12:01 pm
{ Atreiyu } A low growl erupted from within the darkness of the cave. Atreiyu sprang to her feet and warned the stranger not to come any closer.
It's a vampire. What is he doing here?
Her memory trailed off into a scene of a battle. It was in the Badlands, but the landscapes were lush. The battle was between human and vampire. They often referred to it as the Purge - apparently cleansing the land of the unworthy newcomers. That was before the pact was made. Atreiyu remembered how she was supposed to protect some elder, but failed terribly. That was one of the reasons they didn't take her protest seriously. She was a failure.
That has passed, she growled at herself, but returned her attention to the intruder almost immediately. She snared at him, but he didn't leave. Only then she noticed the sunrise. She ignored this and presumed her battle stance. She remembered her pack days. When she first entered the Badlands as a wolf, a local pack took her in and taught her to survive. The alpha female challenged her to the death, because her mate had eyes for her. After that, she had to kill him too, causing the entire pack to fall apart. Exiled by vampires and disliked by wolves. There was just no mercy for her. The world was cruel and the sooner she accepted it, the better. The sooner she forgot her humanity...
She circled the vampire, just as she circled the pack leader years ago, her tail flicking to either side.
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Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 1:45 pm
ORION MALEDICT The Cursed Orion stood up quickly, he heard a snarl but he couldn't quite be sure. It's been years since he saw the wolf pack of The Bladlands and he had thought all of them to be extinct. His burns was bad, he could barely stand up straight but he saw it, a wolf most definitely, the strangest one he has ever seen, wearing what looked like accessories That can't be right, wolves don't wear accessories I must have gone mad... he thought to himself smiling. Off all the dangers in The Badlands, he never would have suspected that he would succumb to dementia. The wolf was circling him now, a look of determination on it's face Orion imagined. He tested his muscles, sending mental pings all over but they all returned the same terrible truth, he was not able to defend himself, just standing up was a strenuous activity. First dementia and now I'm going to be killed by an imaginary wolf he smiled again. Your not real... he said just before collapsing onto the cave floor, and as his eyes fell close he saw the wolf moving in for the kill.
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 6:25 am
{ Atreiyu } Atreiyu jumped at his sudden movement, biting his wrist. She spat it out almost immediately, making a small grunt of disgust.
Roasted vampire.
She inspected him more carefully than before. He seemed to be all in one place, despite his damaged skin tissue and stench. This could be her only chance. She could rip him limb from limb and he would be defenseless. Though, her pride and honor prevailed as she perched on a bump in the ground, watching him for a good hour and a half. Her eyelids felt heavy with fatigue and she soon gave in, curling into a little ball of black fluff.
When she woke, the sun's rays shone through the clouds in soft pastel colors. Oh, how she enjoyed sunsets in Ravenheart. She smiled with a longing in her heart. Then she glanced down upon a humanoid figure lying in the dirt. Atreiyu curled her tail in anger and snared at the being, but discontinued as the memories of the previous day caught up with her.
Disgusting little vampire, she mused, sniffing on his burnt cloak and wrinkling her nose towards it. It was awake. It moved in pain and lethargy, but it was alive and she knew well that it needed to feed.
She snickered at her thoughts. She realized that she despised vampires, even though she longed for her past. Interesting.
Get up! She growled at the vampire and stepped down hard on a burnt finger. The creature spluttered to life and Atreiyu smirked at it. Somehow she felt superior now. She was stronger than all the wolves in the Badlands, and now she had a wounded vampire in her midst.
Come, she ordered, knowing he could hear her in his thoughts - a charming teenage voice with as much wisdom and experience as a thousand century-old creature. All these features were evident, mixed with a sharpness that has grown onto her through her wolf-years.
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 2:37 pm
ORION MALEDICT The Cursed His mind was being battered from all directions by pain an invading force. Words he imagined, which couldn't be for the only creature with him was a wolf. "Get up!" it said, "Come" he imagined. Orion got on his feet staggering. Stupid beast, he sneered but followed none the less, he was at it's mercy for he had not the strength to kill it, if it didn't kill him yet then maybe he still had a chance of survival. I wonder where it's leading me, I need to feed, if only the damned sun didn't get me this wolf would have been history already...As they walked back outside Orion's mind started to clear, he noticed the wolf and decided that he was indeed not delusional. He deducted that it must be a young female, from the commanding voice he heard, but he had no idea what type of being he was dealing with. She was wearing accessories which no normal wolf does and also had the uncanny ability to transmit her thoughts, uncanny for a wolf at least. Some kind of shapeshifter maybe? I should be careful...Orion noticed a group of similar looking reptilian beasts to that of what he had encountered the night before and started to growl, he stopped dead in his tracks and saw that the wolf was leading him straight to them. I can't fight... he said with difficulty, If I could you wouldn't be alive. He felt helpless, useless in all ways and this frustrated him, anger starting to boil in his cold veins.
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Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 6:37 am
{ Atreiyu } Atreiyu smirked at the growl rumbling in the vampire's throat. Pathetic. She halted a few meters away from one of the beasts' camps. There were two kind of reptilians - some were quite small and were often used in laboratories for their regenerating tissue. The other variation of them were an evolved species. They looked like oversize lizards and were stronger than any creature on these barren lands. They were, in a nutshell, the greatest local predators of the Badlands.
Stay back, she mocked the vampire and closed her eyes. A sense of serenity spread over her mind followed by a wave of something that seemed like a mixture anger and insanity. Atreiyu's tail flicked back and forth, aggravated. This is the hunt. She pawed the soil in front of her, loosening her shoulders, and then dashed forward with a laughter that echoed in every mind. Her laughter was that of power and the addiction thereof. She pounced, taking an enormous leap towards the first giant and landing on his neck. It crunched under her seemingly delicate paws. The young wolf seized another by it's throat, snapping it instantly. She seemed to be dancing back and forth between her targets, causing them to fall at her feet (paws, actually). Another beast's vertebra snapped and she knocked one unconscious with a whip of her tail. She used everything she had as a weapon - her paws, claws, tail, fangs, and even her spiked collar. Once she had wiped out the entire camp, she trotted back to a fallen log and jumped onto it with the same agility and grace in her movements that she had in the massacre.
Eat, she commanded, her voice purring with pride, as she licked her paws to rid them of the blood.
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 10:28 am
ORION MALEDICT The Cursed The battle lasted only a few seconds, she was faster, stronger and more agile than any other wolf like creature Orion has ever seen. Definitely a shapeshifter he decided. Although he didn't like her mocking style he endured it, for at this time it was all he could do, and if he were honest he quite liked this creature's way of doing things. Straight forward yet refined, like something that has lived a hundred of years but forced to change it's habits... like me he realized with a shock. Orion had been the first to receive this kind of curse as a cruel punishment for his errors, but he had never considered the possibility that there may have been others after him. No that's absurd, they wouldn't do this to another one of their kind, besides this wolf hasn't turned into her true form yet, his mind was racing but instantly clear when he heard the word Eat. Orion jumped the nearest body, disgusted by himself for eating another creature's kill but instinct taking over. He needed nourishment, he needed to survive, these took priority above the questions he had swimming around in his mind. When he finished he looked around, the wolf was still sitting neatly on a fallen log, watching him closely as if to size him up. Thank you, Orion bowed deeply, his wounds were healing at a great rate and soon he would have his full strength back. What are you? he asked rather straight forward, for he had to know.
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 11:00 am
{ Atreiyu } Inclining her head slightly, Atreiyu softened her gaze at the humanoid. She glanced at the sky, allowing her eyes to wander from one star to the next. She was trying to figure out what path to follow. The stars usually told her which way to look for the finest meat - meat so tender and succulent she would have marked it as her territory if another pack hadn't claimed it first.
"What are you?" The question startled her and she flashed her teeth at the vampire. It didn't concern him, but she couldn't appear offensive. If she was, he could attack her and she would lose. This reminded her how much she hates vampires, even though she has been one for the majority of her existence.
I'm a wolf. Can you not see that? She eyed him suspiciously.
What are you doing here?
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 11:55 am
ORION MALEDICT
The Cursed
The wolf growled at Orion, he looked at it quizzically. It didn't pose a threat and it didn't try to be aggressive but still she didn't appear to like Orion. I wonder why? Maybe because I invaded it's home, he thought. I'm a wolf. Can you not see that? replied an invading voice in his mind, not quite as intruding as before when he was wounded. I can see that, and you also speak and fight like something more that just a mere wolf. Here? The Badlands? he smiled, I live here, and have been for centuries. His smile faded, it was not easy living In the Badlands, especially the first decades. When he was mainly living as a enraged werewolf, with no powers at all, being in vampire form for only a few minutes at a time.
Orion looked up to where the wolf had been staring, Many vampires looked towards the stars for guidance, or they had, it has been long since he had talked someone much less a vampire and he didn't have a clue about what was happening in Ravenheart.
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 12:13 pm
{ Atreiyu } She stared absentmindedly in a Northern direction. There was no other explanation for it. He had to be an outcast to roam these barren lands without any pursuit to return to the majestic floating city. She felt the urge to gape in the direction of her previous home. Even though she was quite accustomed to the Badlands, she always wondered if they'd take her back someday. Perhaps they'd even give her back her name and her original form. She growled faintly, facing down and attempting to clear her thoughts.
His persistence made her defensive and forced her to turn the growl upon him as a warning. That is none of your business, vampire.
With that, she stood, shook her black fur that caused her collar to rustle and her fringe swayed from side to side, and followed the promising stars. She remembered the path of the stars from her wolven youth.
You are not pure a vampire yourself, she said without looking back at him. Accompany me if you wish, or stay. Just remember, halfbreed - you owe me one.
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Posted: Fri Apr 20, 2012 1:29 pm
ORION MALEDICT
The Cursed
Watching the wolf closely Orion noticed that it had the weight of many harsh years baring down upon it. She traveled alone without a pack like he did, and probably couldn't change form. It must have been hard he thought, Not being able to take one's original form. The wolf still had a snappy tone but he excepted it. He was by no means able to be picky about company in the Badlands.
Fine, I'll need to head north anyways, my I perhaps have the plesure of knowing the name of a fellow traveler? he questioned in his most refined way. It did not come as easy as he remembered. Even a vampire's memory fades, given enough time in seclusion, he sighed. Starting to follow her he thought of what she said. She knew a lot about vampires, so she must have close ties with a vampire. Nevertheless, he did not like being in someone or something's debt and planned on paying it back as soon as he could.
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Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 2:26 am
{ Atreiyu } Iso... she stopped herself from saying her true name and replaced her mistake with, Atreiyu. You may call me Atreiyu.
Her tone of voice seemed sad, but she toughened up and tread on with her head held high and her shoulders proud.
To whom do I owe the pleasure?
She was a lot smaller than the other wolves, but still large enough to be regarded as a timber wolf. She carried herself well, despite her despicable past.
Abruptly, she fell onto another topic after he breathed his name into the wind.
Do you have another form? It partially out of curiosity that she asked this. She needed him to camouflage with the environment. All vampires were seen as foes in the Badlands and would be attacked on sight. She didn't care if he was able to kill then with a mere flick of his finger, he had to blend in for the sake of their travel and her plans for her rapidly approaching future. She was determined on claiming her pack. She planned to challenge the alpha in a one to one battle - the winner would take it's place. She would have to challenge both alphas. Perhaps she would make them a deal - to battle both at the same time so that they could have the illusion and hope of winning. She always enjoyed group fights. The vampire couldn't be seen. Either he had to become a woodland creature, or even a tree, or blend in with the shadows. Either way, she needed him not to interfere.
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Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 6:41 am
ORION MALEDICT
The Cursed
You may call me Atreiyu, she said sadly. A strange name Orion thought, it sounded more like a pseudonym and it did seem to him like she was going to say something else at first. It did not matter, he understood if someone was running from the past. Orion looked to the South remorsefully, where Ravenheart was located. Given the chance he would return, even if he did loath his own kind. I am Orion, though my clan name and title has been stripped, and I have been given the name Maledict, the cursed one, he said indifferently.
It seemed Atreiyu didn't recognize his name, Not surprising, I have lived a long time and she may not be that well connected to the vampire wold, Orion thought. Do you have another form? the question seemingly dropped out of nowhere. Orion was sure she knew he had another form, but didn't want to ask outright what it was. Not one that I change into willingly, he said with a challenge in his voice. His beast form was half wolf and also half humanoid, a werewolf, but it was also weak, something one cannot tolerate in the Badlands.
He did not want to tell Atreiyu what his form was, it was his curse to bear and he did not like thinking of it, that made him lose himself in anger.Why do you ask, wolf? he asked rather bluntly, but he was being ask something that he asked her and didn't get a proper answer.
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