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 Posted: Tue Jan 22, 2013 5:03 pm
Pure unbridled terror; the scent of iron wafting in her nostrils. These were the constant traveling companions of the form that blundered blindly towards a solitary patch of light. The path that she took was unmistakable. Snapped twigs, fallen leaves and a slight side to side weave all indicated that all was not well with the traveler. The fault did not lie entirely with her. The constant blurred vision and resounding pounding in her head combined to produce a debilitating fog that left her in a weakened and confused state.
She was trying to fend for herself as best as she could though. With her head injury though it made it tricky to even attempt tracking small critters. Sudden movements would cause waves of dizziness to overcome her small frame and she would crash to the ground until the spell seemed to pass.
Wounds on the side of her neck continued to ooze blood on these occasions. They were deep lacerations but hardly ones that could be considered life-threatening. The lacerations and head injury were gifts from a hazy figure in Lethe's mind. She still could not recall how she had come to receive her wounds. She obviously had been on the losing end of an attack but the identity of the attacker was still unknown. Only time could tell if she would remember. She was definitely growing weaker. As her journey continued to try and fend for herself she put herself into further peril. At last though she managed to step into the patch of light she had seen earlier only to discover that it was the edge of the forest that she had been traveling through. The full moon bathed her form in light as she panted softly. Would her journey be any easier now that she was out in the open?
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Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 11:23 am
Barracus' muzzle was stained red as he ripped into the limp carcass of a fallen deer, its limbs splayed crazily and its head was tilted at a stomach churning angle. The broken body had been otherwise flawless before the purewalker had set upon it to feed, only a small amount of blood had stained it's nostrils, evidence of a heart that had burst, overloaded by the intensity of the creature's fear as it fled from the ultimate hunter. Flesh was easily striped from limbs by razor sharp canines and hot rivulets trickling down his neck steamed in the cool night as powerful jaws crunched through bone and sinew.
He had come across the creature by chance while following the trail of Karloff, a foal who had escaped him a while back and whom he was determined to recapture and reeducate on the perils of vexing one of his kind. In the intensity of his concentration, he had unwittingly gone without food or water in the past few days. The sight of the deer fleeing had captured his predatory instincts and he had leaped after it without a second thought. Its' fear had been satisfying but no where near the usual banquet he teased out of his victim's with a lover's ardor but it's flesh satisfied the gnawing emptiness in his stomach and the blood sated his thirst. Once he had soothed the worst of his hunger pains, he slowed his voracious pace and began examining the forest around him. It was unfamiliar, he had never been in this area before, not surprising, he rarely had cause to travel far from his homestead. It was also unnaturally silent, the woodland creatures had fled before him, as was proper. But there, a clumsy crashing in the distance as some foolish morsel blundered through the underbrush straight towards where Barracus now knelt beside his kill. What manner of being would be so careless? Oh there was the odd hero every now and again that would brave the wasteland to try and slay him and end his reign of terror over the surrounding areas, but this noise was not purposeful. The creature seemed oblivious to his presence.
He tilted his head up to sample the scents drifting through the air and caught the peculiar fragrance of a young female. She smelled almost like the females of his kind but it was diluted by the scent of prey, how could that be? It intrigued him enough that his curiosity managed to just barely overwhelm his instinct to maim and torture, for now. Barracus scorned the idea of consuming the flesh from one of his own kind, or even of the lesser skinwalkers, but he was more than willing to kill them, occasionally supping on their blood if no other source was readily available. His full stomach, bulging with the evidence of his latest meal may also have curbed his appetite to some extent, and he was able to focus his attention on the part of this female's scent that whispered predator to his heightened senses rather than 'dessert.'
Barracus didn't move from his spot, there was no need, in a few moments the object of his interest would flounder right into his lap, and once his curiosity had been satisfied, he could dispose of it as he willed.
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Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 7:01 pm
The crashing sounds continued to grow nearer. The perpetrator of the noises had no idea that her scent had already been caught by something much more fearful than her appearance was. Her diluted lineage held nothing in comparison to the beast that now tracked her progress. The small filly had caught the trace of blood on the air and something else that seemed foreign to own scent. It was the scent of the blood that was drawing her in closer. If something had died recently it would be considered an easy meal to scavenge from. She wouldn't have to stalk anything and risk losing herself more to the debilitating side effects of her head injury. However as the scent of blood grew stronger; so too did the alien smell. Lethe paused and tried to identify what the source of the smell was.
The smell was similar to that of what she had remembered from her mother's scent, but it was definitely a more concentrated scent. Did this mean there was another skinwalker around? Something more powerful than Terra was?
Fighting against the pull of the blood proved useless and soon Lethe came into sight. A pelt-draped stallion occupied her vision foremost. The carcass of a deer lay open at the stallion's feet and Lethe's gaze flicked to the carcass and then back to the stallion. This was definitely another skinwalker. Unlike her mother though this stallion's legs ended in clawed paws; her own talons dug into the earth before fear caught a hold of her. Her gaze widened once before her instincts caused a reflexive swallow of her throat. The scent of iron in the air wafted into her nostrils. How absurd was it that she was still thinking of satiating her hunger when she was standing ramrod straight with a deer-caught-in-the-headlights expression on her face? What else could she do? In this particular instance, between two types of predators, she was the one that could easily become prey. Gripping the earth between her talons helped to ground the filly once more. Fear still easily swamped her petite frame but she tamped down on the sensation sweeping through her. Her ice blue eyes took in the stallion’s form once more. Here was a solidly built male. There would be no contest if it came down to a fight. He’d wipe the floor with her. She found herself taking a step backwards. Her teeth gnashed together in agitation as she realized that she was backing away. Her eyes locked onto the deer carcass once again. It was a strange game of push and pull that she found herself in. The deer carcass pulled at her to come forward and sup on its cooling flesh. But the stallion’s presence pushed her away at the same time. Hunger vs. survival … she walked a fine line between the two tonight.
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Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 2:54 pm
Barracus appraised the foal thoughtfully, she was scrawny, not much more than a mouthful really. And injured, his eyes flitted over the oozing wounds, dark against the paleness of her slender throat, she seemed to have suffered some sort of head trauma as well for her eyes seemed unfocused and dazed. The smell of her blood teased his senses despite his very recent meal and for a moment he felt his muscles bunch in preparation to launch himself at the filly and finish the kill until his gaze drifted downward and focused on the long lethal looking claws that tipped each toed foot. Perhaps the chit could be useful after all, she certainly didn't smell like one of the calf eyed grass eaters and her strange feet confirmed that her bloodlines were much more interesting. She seemed frozen with indecision, terror had clearly gripped her at the sight of him which had helped soothe his temper, had she not been wary he would have felt the need to educate her and that would have been a bloody violent affair, but she was staring with intensity at deer.
It would take time to track down Karloff and twist him enough to join his cause and although he had time aplenty, this tiny female had wandered across his path so conveniently. There would be time enough to punish Karloff later, for now he had found a new pet to shape to his purposes. And perhaps he would try a new approach for a time, killing the last foal's mother so gruesomely had been effective but it had set the little creature so firmly against him it would have taken months to break him enough to be malleable.
Reaching out with one heavy paw he sliced a hunk of meat off the deer's haunch with unsheathed razor like claw, then, gripping it between his teeth, he flipped it over to the foal and watched to see what she would make of his small offering. His golden orbs narrowed with curiosity and glinted maliciously, his tail twitched back and forth as his glowing gaze pierced the darkness.
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Posted: Sun Mar 03, 2013 2:18 pm
The small chit, as described by Barracus, was currently mincing her way forward. The alluring scent of the morsel that the purewalker had tossed in her direction had seemingly caused her common sense to flee. Her gait was still unstable but it was such a short distance to cover. Lethe's eyes caught the stallion's golden ones once more as he continued to watch her. The effect on any normal day might have held her spellbound but in her weakened state all she cared about now was the hunk of meat that lay directly at her feet. Of course indecision still wracked her mind about the whole scenario but the heady aroma that wafted up from the meat had seemingly short-circuited the logical portion of her brain.
Lethe's gaze dropped from the stallion as she eyed the piece of deer flesh at her feet. It seemed to be cooling rapidly in the night air. Her decision made she slowly sank to the ground to consume the treat before her. As hunger won out Lethe's vision became a little less unfocused. The filly's pointed teeth ground through the flesh as she took in the nutrition it offered. With the size of the bites she took and with the urgency of her appetite it wasn't long before the hunk of meat had disappeared into her stomach. Her gaze returned to watch the stallion. She attempted to rise to her feet without stumbling. Why had such a creature offered her the chance to eat? Lethe managed to her feet without too much difficulty. What would happen now?
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Posted: Tue Mar 05, 2013 10:54 am
Barracus continued to study the foal for a few minutes after she finished her meal before standing, his movements bewitchingly graceful, and slowly approaching the filly. He circled her, enjoying the cloying aroma of her fear as the tension built up between them. A single swipe of his paw and she would lay broken before him but strangely he was able to quell the urge to spill her blood, for the time being.
Suddenly Barracus stopped and bared his fangs in a toothy grin, his eyes dancing malevolently as he gazed down at his little pet with dark intent. "What's your name, love?" he purred, his voice was deceptively benevolent, almost paternal if the listener didn't know better. Purewalkers were incapable of any sort of affection, "What brings you to this section of the forest, so very late, and so very... damaged" he licked his lips at this last word, one long claw reaching out to brush, feather like, against the markings on her throat, leaving a fresh trail of red in it's wake as the tender flesh parted beneath the razor like tip.
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Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 4:59 pm
There was a moment of uncertainty in Lethe's young mind as the stallion rose to his paws and began to circle her. The level of fear that she was feeling continued to ebb and flow in waves. Icy blue eyes tracked the stallion's motions before his words penetrated her thoughts. Her gaze flicked down to the ground for a brief moment as she paused to consider the question. What would happen if she refused to give her name to this 'walker? Coming up on no good reason to deny this stallion his request, she inhaled deeply before speaking, "My name is Lethe."
It was easy to listen to the stallion's words. Lethe's small body tensed as she felt the stallion's light touch on her neck. A fresh wave of pain swamped through Lethe and she almost succeeded in biting back the cry that came from her throat. The sharp scent of blood wafted into her mind again and she stared at the large stallion before her. "I'm trying to find someone. I don't know how I got damaged though. I can't remember."
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Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 11:26 am
"Lethe" he purred at her, leaning closer to sniff at the fresh blood trickling down her neck, his long curved teeth baring in a dark smile as the hot breath of a carnivore wafted over her small form in a pungent wave. "My name is Barracus," he revealed simply, "Do you understand what I am, my pet, what situation you now find yourself in?" he inquired mildly. He was holding back, the magnificent violence that lurked just beneath his deceptively civilized veneer pushing at the bounds of his self control as he leaned over this filly. He could use her, but he needed her to cooperate, to surrender to his will for molding. "Who are you looking for, child, perhaps I can be of aid to you." A hostage would be useful, he had learned from his previous error and would not dispose of it so quickly. And it would help him redirect his sometimes spurious violent tendencies to avoid damaging this creature more than necessary.
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Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 3:13 pm
Lethe attempted to hold still as the stallion leaned in closer to sniff at the crimson liquid that she could feel painting a meandering line down her neck. The fetid odor of the stallion's breath repulsed her at first but Lethe soon found a familiarity between the stallion's breath and the breath of another that she had known. Her mother had often performed the same motions, whether it was in an attempt to drive her away, Lethe didn't know.
As Barracus revealed his name Lethe glanced up to glimpse his golden eyes watching her intently. She waited until he was finished speaking. "Barracus," here Lethe paused. The filly was unsure if she should reveal what she understood him to be or not. A simple lie would be easy but considering that she was in the presence of another being like her mother it probably wasn't the best idea. On legs that trembled still Lethe plucked up any courage she had left in her tiny body before continuing to speak. "You're a skinwalker." The question about what situation she now found herself in confused Lethe and she bypassed that answer. The filly instead focused on the last question posed by Barracus, "I'm looking for my mother."
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Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 2:23 pm
He nodded, satisfied that her fear was more than simple instinct. Although he thoroughly enjoyed educating others on why his kind were to be feared it was gratifying to know that that primal fear was being cultivated by outside sources as well for that fear gave them another means of power over the other breeds, sometimes even more profound than what they were capable of with pure brutality.
Barracus pulled back, his mouth twisting in distaste at that hated word, mother, what was it with the inferior breeds and their detestable affection for their parents. He had known his father for a matter of hours before he was killed, by the other pitiful excuse for a female that produced him, Mergha he had killed himself, and relished her screams.
"Why would you want to do that?" asked mildly, momentarily rattled by the childhood memories that were flashing before his mind's eye. His intensity diminished and he pulled back a little, furling the violence that always simmered just beneath the surface until his visage was merely intimidating rather than alarming. He glanced down at her clawed feet and wondered what manner of being had spawned such a creature. "What use is a mother, Lethe?" He watched her closely to see her reaction, her answer would determine his next course of action.
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Posted: Fri Mar 15, 2013 10:03 pm
Lethe was glad to witness Barracus nodding his head at her answer. It hadn't been a hard thing to answer though as she had been raised, albeit seemingly briefly, by a skinwalker that bore the mantle of mother in her mind. Lethe although had to begun to question her mother's abrupt disappearance from their home. This is why she had begun her trek. Although Lethe had to admit that setting out while injured had not been the best idea but her hunger had gotten the best of her and her impaired judgment didn't help her cause at all.
At the reaction from Barracus perhaps it had been better if she hadn't admitted the truth about whom it was she was searching for. But the answer had been given and couldn't be taken back. Instead Lethe studied the other stallion's expression of distaste. What was going through the skinwalker's mind to cause such a visceral change in attitude? Lethe's talons scored the earth as Barracus spoke and asked two more questions of her. She contemplated her answers carefully. What use was her mother to her? And why was she doing this? Would it be better to feign forgetfulness?
Lethe figured that honesty to a skinwalker was better than lying. "I was looking for her because she has seemingly disappeared. I don't know where she was when I was attacked," Lethe paused as she tried to pull up any memory of the attack again before sighing. "She wasn't there when I woke up and ever since then I've been alone." Lethe flexed her talons again. "As for your other question ... I thought a mother would be someone who is always there for their children but perhaps I am wrong."
That answer seemed dead on. Lethe couldn't recall the attack but she could still remember how cold her mother's attitude had turned towards her. Her voice went quiet as she uttered her next few words, "was it because of me she's gone?" Lethe's gaze flew to Barracus. Would the skinwalker give her an answer to that? She also watched the stallion carefully. She didn't want to let her guard down yet.
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Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 10:56 am
Barracus arched one eyebrow thoughtfully, would it be better to allow this filly to maintain her attachment to her mother or to sever it entirely, which would push her more in the direction he desired. He regarded the filly in silence for a few moments, the end of his tail twitching every so often, before coming to a conclusion. Killing Karloff's mother had pushed him away in the end, it had certainly broke him to his cause quickly enough but the loyalty had been fragile and short lived. A bond of fear and despair was no bond at all despite being much more amusing to forge. If he wanted this filly to join him, he must sever her connections to all but himself. Her curious lineage made it easier to control his murderous instincts and although he was sickened by the thought of predator mating with prey at any point in her ancestry, the prey's blood had diluted the scent of a female of his kind enough that it didn't scrape at the edges of his temper until he was lost in a bloody rage. It seemed the perfect mix.
"Not in my experience, Lethe, mothers are wretched, wicked creatures that live only to bring harm and injury to any offspring they bear... They are not to be trusted, not ever, she will bring you only despair and abuse." his voice was dispassionate, matter of fact, he did truly believe his words even if they were being carefully orchestrated to ensnare this young one's loyalties. "That could very well be the case, my pet, if mother's are always there to protect you, where was she in your time of greatest need, surely she would have protected you if she really cared." He stepped away from the kill, crushing his territorial instincts as he cleared the path between Lethe and the fallen deer. "Eat dearest, you look to need it far more than I do." his silky voice wrapped around her in a gentle croon.
"Why would you want to go back to someone who would abandon you darling? How could a parent who cared in the slightest lose track of such charge as precious as their own flesh and blood?" He had heard his victims cry for their children many times, he knew how strong the bond could be between parent and foal in the other breeds, at least he knew enough to use his scanty knowledge to manipulate and corrupt the perception of an emotional connection he himself had never experienced.
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Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 6:09 pm
Lethe examined Barracus with interest as he spoke. Her mother had protected her for a while but eventually it seemed as if she had stopped caring. As young as she was, Lethe couldn't understand the reason behind the sudden attitude shift. As Barracus' words continued to circle around and enter her ear Lethe felt her insides tremble. Was this true? Was it the reason that her mother had seemingly disappeared on her. Was it in an attempt to injure her? His words were having the desired effect it seemed. Lethe's gaze swept towards the ground before she refocused on the other skinwalker. He had said something else. What was it? She glanced towards the carcass of the deer and noticed that Barracus stood off to the side. He was offering her access?
Slowly Lethe drew closer to the lure of the promise of a good meal. Her gaze kept flicking towards Barracus unsure if he would change his mind. Lethe closed the final space between herself and the dead animal and lowered herself to the ground. Her teeth found purchase in the cooling flesh of the deer and she made a small noise of content. She was still quite aware of the danger that Barracus poised but the taste of meat overrode everything. His crooning words still circled within her mind.
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Posted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 8:26 pm
Barracus idly cleaned his unsheathed claws with his tongue as the small, rather closemouthed creature feasted on the last of his kill. It irked him to see the small female feasting on his kill, but he thought she might be of use to him yet. She was most certainly stirring his curiosity so he would let her continue on with her pitiful existence for the time being, that meant she needed nourishment.
While he enjoyed the scent of her fear as well as the knowledge that he was most certainly the cause, he didn't want to wait forever for her to finish her skittish meal. Sighing in a long suffering sort of way, he lay down and gazed off into the woods away from the little foal. Ideas for her education and corruption boiling in his brain as he worked at a torn strip of flesh stuck between his pointed teeth.
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Posted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 8:58 pm
She felt the moment when Barracus left the immediate area. The fear that laced the air was still present with the skinwalker's continued presence. Her eyes flicked up to gain a sense of the new location that Barracus occupied before the smell of the kill overrode her priorities. The carcass held promises of future recovery from her ailments. The wounds on her neck still itched. Did that mean that infected had set in? Pushing the question from her mind Lethe settled in at the side of the carcass and began to gnaw at the flesh. Her teeth ground down the flesh she stripped from the kill. The sensation of swallowing set the hunger pangs in her stomach at ease. The moment passed and Lethe recalled the stallion who had given up his kill to ensure she could feed. Why had he done that? If he was anything like her mother he should have fought tooth and nail to deny her access to the kill. He should have driven her away.
Why? Why? Why?
The questions lingered as Lethe finished at the carcass. Her gaze swept area before she paused. Her hooves carried her to Barracus's side. She could still taste her meal on her tongue and she owed her life it seemed to the skinwalker. He could have easily killed her in her disabled state. "Perhaps I don't want to go back to what I've left behind. Maybe what you say is right."
The words had been spoken and she could not take them back. Barracus had given her a second chance at life. Would he strip it away from her just as swiftly? Lethe mumbled a pair of words that would probably seal her fate one way or another. "Thank you."
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