[FIN] Take me to your Leader (Samsara, Daimhin, Kayleena)

[tefla]

By all intent and purpose Kayleena prided herself on having a carefree nature. She had grown up mostly alone but that hadn't affected her outtake on life. After the small incident with Quetz it'd had taken just a little of her carefree attitude a little bit of time to bounce back. It had happened though. She'd trekked to a new location and forgotten about the moroseness of the usdia stallion. Soon she was back to her old form of frolicking. Then Daimhin came.

He was the stallion that had changed everything. He'd deceived her trust. Kayleena had yet to discover if herd life had been an option. Daimhin preyed on her weakness and taken her to the lands that were apparently his herd thrived. He forgot to mention at the time the nature of the herd and his true purpose for the deception. Now she was stuck it seemed. How did one bounce back from that much free fall?

A sound of hooves striking stone shook the mare from her mental musings. The blindfold still prevented her from identifying who might have intruded on Daimhin's hiding place for her. A shiver ran down her spine at the thought of someone having actually found her. Her voice, when she spoke, quivered. "W-w-who's there?"

Mentally she kicked herself for the stutter. It gave away the fact that she was nervous.  

[Revolutionary Roniel]

Daimhin's flanks were covered in a fine sheen of sweat. He smiled genially, as if he didn't have a care in the world. He doubted he was fooling anyone. It really had only been a matter of time before Samsara found out about his captured usdia. Now that time was up, she knew, and it was time to face whatever might happen next. Daimhin wished he would have told her sooner. He could have chosen the time and place this meeting occurred. Now, he had absolutely no control over the situation.

He could practically feel the malice radiating off their skinwalker leader today. If there was such a thing as a forgiving mood for a skinwalker, this was not one of them. They came to the mouth of the cave that he had stashed Kayleena in and Daimhin paused at the threshold. Samsara might kill Kayleena. In her current mood, it was more likely than not. "Well, here we are," he said through a dry mouth. "Kayleena, come on over."



It felt like a thousand pins were stabbing her beneath her pelt. Daimhin was right. Today was not a good day for her to be discovering something like this. Samsara's teeth ached in her skull and somehow she knew they could only be soothed by sinking them into someone. While the lingering rational part of her mind knew that this was the time she should separate herself from her meticulously gathered Mahapadma, her rational side was not the dominant one presently.

She said nothing and waited. She glared with intense enmity at the mouth of the cave, waiting to see the hidden creature inside that would emerge.  

[tefla]

"Well, here we are." "Kayleena, come on over."

That was Daimhin's voice. Kayleena gave a quick sigh of relief. She was about to take a step in the direction of where she'd worked the entrance out to be before pausing. She stumbled as she replayed his greeting. There had been a "we" ... and that meant that there was someone else besides Daimhin waiting for her to show herself. There was that tremble again. Closing her eyes under the cloth Kayleena drew in a large lungful of air before releasing it rather slowly. Who could have Daimhin brought to the place where he'd been hiding her? He'd just need to find someplace else now-

Kayleena's head snapped up in realization. If Daimhin knew this and was still bringing someone else to this very spot it must have been for a very important reason. He wouldn't have risked her safety amongst his herd by doing something that odd. This could only mean that the other individual had to be held high in regard. Her first meeting of this herd she'd heard a name bandied about and Kayleena made the connection. The "we" probably meant Daimhin and Samsara.

Fearing now that she was making them wait too long Kayleena shuffled awkwardly into sight of the two Soquili. She could not see them but they'd be able to see her entirely. She waited with a baited breath. Surely if there was any indication of an attack she'd hear it and react quickly enough. It was hard to tell with the blindfold on just what this Samsara was. "Daimhin? What's going on?"  

[Revolutionary Roniel]

Daimhin's eyes flicked nervously to Samsara as his ward emerged. The dangerous expression he saw there did nothing to calm his nerves. It pulled at his heart that Kayleena came out so trustingly, not realizing that she might be about to meet her doom. Wildly, he felt the impulse to protect her. He might be keeping her here against her will, but she was his and his alone. She was such a special little usdia, his very own pokesoq. He didn't want her to be killed... but that wasn't going to be his choice.

"You'll see in a minute what's happening," he told her. He then did something he hadn't done as long as he had kept her: He took off her blindfold. The long piece of cloth fluttered to the ground as he backed away once more to stand closer to Samsara's side. "Samsara... This is Kayleena."

Samsara looked upon the usdia scornfully. He couldn't even have kept a full sized soquili hostage. Instead, it had to be one of their disgusting stunted cousins. "Pathetic," she hissed. Every word she said dripped with unspoken threat. "And how long did you expect to be able to keep her a secret from me? Did you really think I would never find out?" Her anger, already awake and ready within her, roiled with these thoughts. Her servant dared to hide things. It was blatant disrespect, and someone would pay with blood for that crime.  

[tefla]

At Daimhin's response that she would see in a minute almost caused Kayleena to laugh. How would she see with the blasted blindfold on? Sudden movement at her side caused her to stiffen before she felt movement near the top of her head. The mare couldn't help her reaction. She froze in place. Excellent choice of survival skills, she mentally scolded. The sensation of the blindfold being loosened though had Kayleena's mental dialogue stopped in its tracks. The restriction of the cloth fell away as if it had never been there.

But that was an illusion. The sudden return of her sight caused Kayleena to wince in pain and instinctively close her eyes. Even if she were in a cave the amount of difference in ambient light had struck a painful chord in her mind. However the blindfold was gone. It took precious moments for her to open her eyes again. The cavern floor greeted her and she nearly forgot about everything else until Daimhin began his introduction. Her gaze slowly traveled upward. Hooves came first into her view as she continued her scan. A pair of slender legs appeared next. Followed by a pelt-covered torso ... and were those wings? Kayleena finally settled her gaze on the expression that Samsara wore. It was one that definitely spoke of horrible things. Her words to Daimhin seemed to verify this thought.

With a small, almost unnoticeable, step back Kayleena's sight fell to the cloth on the floor before she gave a fear filled look to Daimhin. What was going to happen? She tried to speak ... but nothing came out. She was downright frozen in place.  

[Revolutionary Roniel]

"I didn't... I wasn't..." Daimhin surprised himself by his own weak stammering. His heart was pounding. He wasn't even certain whether it was for himself or for Kayleena that he felt this fear. For the first time, he started to wonder if he might lose his life over this indiscretion as well. He thought himself too useful to Samsara to consider killing, but what if he was wrong? He thought of his mate and their children with ever increasing dread. Would they be in danger too?

"I didn't mean to keep her a secret," he finally managed to get out. "It just... ah... never came up. Kayleena here isn't a problem to anyone. I thought it would be like Carmilla's mares she brings in... unimportant."

The little usdia mare froze up in classic prey shock response and Samsara's inner predator responded. Her head lowered and she took a step closer to the usdia, pupil widely dialated to capture any movement. "Do you know how this is different from what Carmilla does?" Her focus snapped from the usdia to Daimhin unnervingly quickly, like the bite of a snake. When Daimhin didn't respond she continued.

"She kills each and every one of them." Her single eye rolled back to Kayleena again and there could be little doubt of the meaning of that gaze. Though she stood still, her rage was just barely contained.  

[tefla]

Kayleena had never really felt the gaze of a predator before. Every instinct clamored at her to run. Samsara had closed the distance between them by a single step. The distance had closed by such a small amount and yet Kayleena swore that with how the panic washed over her that she'd moved even closer than she had. Her ears picked up the exchange between Samsara and Daimhin and yet she still had not moved.

The shock over learning what could have been her fate on day one almost broke the stillness she maintained. Carmilla hadn't been the leader but her genial act had in fact fooled Kayleena until she'd been threatened. Then the balloon had burst.

With Samsara there was no mistaking what could befall her. Here was a true predator and one that seemed quick to anger. Already Kayleena could sense that this meeting would not end with pleasantries and promises to meet again. Her body might have frozen in place but her eyes widened minutely at the realization. Was this the last sight she'd see; a crazed skinwalker? Kayleena's voice broke the tension she felt. A single word escaped before she clamped her teeth tightly together. "Don't."  

[Revolutionary Roniel]

That single "Don't" was what sealed the usdia's fate for Samsara. She wasn't going to let this pathetic pleading creature live. "I'm only doing what Daimhin should have done weeks ago." There was no room for compassion or mercy in the Mahapadma and there wasn't room for it in Samsara either. The burning madness would no longer be still. The only thing that could silence it was death.

She fell upon the usdia with a gaping maw, ready to rip and destroy.

His Kayleena. His little hidden treasure. His prize after years of searching. Daimhin wanted to say something before Samsara attacked but couldn't find the words. His throat was closed so tight that he felt as if he could barely breathe, let alone speak. His reflexes weren't fast enough to get in between Samsara and Kayleena. He didn't even realize that was his intention until he felt his legs moving beneath him.

"No, no! NO!" He lunged forward to try to knock Samsara off Kayleena. He didn't have time to understand why he was doing what he was, only that it was what he had to do.  

[tefla]

The words had barely left Samsara's mouth and penetrated Kayleena's brain before she felt the heavy impact of something hitting her full on. The upside to this was that Kayleena's body finally responded to her commands. As Samsara's mouth opened and closed down on her back though it seemed as if the command had come too late. With every effort Kayleena kicked out with her little legs as she tried to combat Samsara. It would have been a losing battle.

Pain made it hard to think of what she'd have to do to stay alive and there was a distinct disadvantage on Kayleena's side. Two actually: her size and state of mind. She was not built to fight off those larger than herself and her mind was not wired like a predator's would be. This would have maybe been a more equal fight if that was the case. Alas it was not. Kayleena's shrill cry of pain might have evened the playing field a bit if it caused any discomfort to Samsara's ears but even before she could find out another heavy impact struck her. No, it had struck Samsara.

Kayleena's eyesight focused on Daimhin. She still found herself locked in Samsara's deadly grip and she thrashed about. The pain her motions caused multiplied the overall sensations. She needed to escape. She could feel the cool touch of liquid along her back and she knew for a fact that she was losing blood. Any predator would be wary to release prey at this stage unless threatened. She kicked out once more; her little legs flailing about wildly. Maybe she'd be lucky and strike the skinwalker.  

[Revolutionary Roniel]

Samsara's head was knocked back at one of the usdia's frantic blows. As her head whipped upwards she saw that Daimhin was about to crash into her. That was... unexpected. And unfortunate for him.

She became aware of his assault just in time to be able to not be knocked off her hooves. She careened backwards and away from the usdia, her small size unable to resist Daimhin's heavy weight. Her wings hadn't been folded during her attack and she snarled in pain as one of them bent against Daimhin. Purple glittering scales from her wing were left upon his fur as she pulled away, and fury consumed her.

"You DARE to attack me?" Though he had served her loyally ever since they met, she didn't hesitate before deciding to maul him. She turned her attack on him now, a whirlwind of flashing hooves and teeth.

He had kept her from killing Kayleena. That was good. He was now probably going to get killed instead. That was less good. Daimhin grunted in pain when the first blow hit and again when one of her horns struck him across his lip, splitting it. His choices were to defend himself or perish, and he chose to fight on. He snapped and bit at anything he could reach, all the while trying to keep his bulk between Samsara and Kayleena.  

[tefla]

Kayleena took in the scene before her. Daimhin had his body between her and Samsara and was fighting the skinwalker. The open lacerations on her back throbbed without mercy. The danger of shock settling in and making her more useless had Kayleena dragging herself to her feet. For the first time since arriving in these lands the mare had the taste of freedom between her teeth and was afraid to lose this chance. Both Samsara and Daimhin were too distracted in fighting each other that she'd be able to get away. She was sure of it. But to leave Daimhin now, after he'd saved her, would it be right?

Taking the biggest gamble of her life Kayleena stumbled past the dueling Soquili. Each step brought her pain from her wounds but she managed to exit the cave, hopefully unnoticed. The sounds of the clash inside clamored deeply inside her ears and Kayleena frantically shook her head to clear out the fracas. It didn't help. With something akin to guilt pinching at her heart the little usdia picked out her steps carefully. She needed to get away as fast as she could.

A gentle thump against her chest caused her to look down. A rough arrowhead sat snugly there. The coloration of the stone was unusual and Kayleena gave a frightened glance back towards the cave. This was the other object that Daimhin must have given her. Guilt washed over her again at the same time that her survival instincts kicked in. She gave her surroundings careful scrutiny before striking out. Her movements were slow and erratic. It'd be a long time before she could find a new place to hide and possibly heal.  

[Revolutionary Roniel]

Samsara didn't miss Kayleena's escape attempt. As the usdia passed them by she attempted to reach out and snap at her. If she had it her way, there would be two new corpses before the day was done. Fortunately for Kayleena, Samsara's attack fell short. She was jostled out of the way by a well placed hoof from Daimhin that left her teeth empty. The usdia slipped away and was gone.

Now, Samsara could turn her undivided attention on her failed subordinate.

Daimhin couldn't tell if he was relieved or angry to see Kayleena disappear. She belonged to him! He was fighting for her life and she couldn't even stick around to watch what happened. She might live if she escaped...but she might also disappear. After all this, he might lose her and never see her again. Maybe he should have let Samsara eat her. He was bleeding and in pain but nothing that he couldn't recover from yet. He wondered how soon that was going to change. He had seen Samsara attack before. She was only getting started.



Svanbjorn had startled when he first heard the sounds of attack. They were in the heart of Mahapadma territory! Who would be stupid enough to try to fight them here? He could hear Samsara's distinctive yowling and someone else, maybe Daimhin. Whoever they were fighting had to be at least fairly impressive, or there wouldn't be that much fuss and noise. He rushed through the trees on over, but stopped when he saw Kayleena bloodily limping ahead.

"Kayleena!" he barked imperiously. "What's going on?" Obviously she had escaped somehow. He wondered how on earth that could have happened.  

[tefla]

She'd been spotted already? How unfair was this? Kayleena's gaze locked onto the white figure before recognizing it as Svanbjorn, Carmilla's mate. She'd taken the risk and now it seemed as if the dice she rolled had come up with snake eyes. Game over. She crumpled to the ground as her legs gave out. Another tremble coursed over her. Her back was on fire and was making it impossible for her to go any further. What would she accomplish anyway? If she even managed to evade Svanbjorn he would more than likely raise the alarm.

The clash from within the cave was still audible. She shook her head back and forth in denial. Even as she'd left she swore that she could have felt one last swipe of Samsara's claws. With a stubbornness that didn't know when to quit Kayleena pulled herself to her feet. The movement caused her world to momentarily tilt sideways. She was obviously in worse shape than she knew.

Her gaze locked on Svan's figure as she limped to lean against his legs. "You have to help. Fight. Cave." Another word, almost inaudible, followed. "Please?"  

[Revolutionary Roniel]

Daimhin whinnied sharply. As he pulled away from Samsara he was left with lines of torn skin on his throat. She almost had him. Had she bitten just a little deeper she would have either begun to choke him or pierced an artery. He had just narrowly avoided death. His prospects were starting to look more and more pessimistic. He didn't even know if he had the mental strength to kill her. She was their leader and he had accepted that for so long. It would go against everything he had learned to be in the past year to try to kill her now.

He kicked out again and tried to keep her from getting close. He wondered if he ought to try another tactic... like begging for his life. Would that work?

No... if I begged then she'd probably just kill me anyways for being so pitiful.

Meanwhile, Svanbjorn stared down with blatant distaste at the bloody usdia leaning against his legs. He had no idea what made her think that he in any way liked her well enough to let her use him for support. She was just a toy for Daimhin as far as he was concerned. He wouldn't be caught dead associating with an usdia.

"Don't touch me." He sneered and lifted his leg to push at Kayleena. He would have stopped to lecture her about knowing her place, but there were more important things to deal with. "Who are they fighting?" He didn't like being told what to do by anyone, let alone a measly little usdia. He stubbornly wasn't going to do a thing to help Samsara and Daimhin until he was doing it on his own terms.  

[tefla]

Kayleena flinched at Svan's response. The push he directed towards her didn't help either. She felt the pressure of his leg against her side and the fire from her wound flared once again. She couldn't help the harsh whimper that passed through her teeth. How on earth could she convince Svanbjorn to help Daimhin? It was folly to think that he'd assist if he knew that they were fighting each other.

As much pain as she was in, Kayleena merely turned away from the Kalona. She hadn't responded to his last question and it was more than likely that she wouldn't. Her gaze locked on the direction she'd come from. Was it suicide to even go back alone? Awkwardly she began to walk away from Svanbjorn. It seemed as if he wasn't going to be any help at all. She hadn't expected that he'd help her but faintly she'd held hope that he'd assist Daimhin. It looked like that bubble had burst. And if Daimhin lost, it'd only be a matter of time before Samsara would hunt her down.

As she struggled to put one hoof in front of the other she turned to gaze at Svanbjorn. She gave a soft cry of pain before her voice came out in a whisper. "Each other."