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 Posted: Sun Jun 09, 2013 8:10 pm
 Nellene shoved grass into her mouth, trying not to gag. She didn't have the teeth to chew it, but she pretended all the same. Soon she would be sinking her sharp, deadly teeth into the long neck of a doe that was approaching curiously. Soon she would feel the pulse of her heartbeat upon her teeth as hot blood poured down her throat. Yes, that's right, come closer. She thought, her lips cracking into a malicious grin. Her leathery wings were pinned closely to her side, and her spade tail swished as if to swat flies away, creating the appearance of a harmless dairy cow.
She hated cows. They were large, smelly, and stupid. Their stupidity to her was even more disgusting than the grass they munched on. She was far from stupid. She had spent a lot of time studying the species, taking note of each behavior, each little movement. She had at first been disappointed by how utterly boring they were. At first she had been horrified at how closely her colors matched that of the slow creatures. But as she examined them closer she realized she would not be able to walk among them if she did not look like them. That gave her an idea. Just as the approaching doe, the cows did not suspect her due to her coloration. If she played dumb like the cows, she got food in her belly. From there the manipulative personality blossomed.
She looked up from the wretched grass now, the doe within striking distance. The doe, like many others before her, had fallen victim to Nellie's facade. Soon, she would give the fast and powerful blow, but first she wanted to see the look of terror on the doe's face. She spread her wings, revealing tar-black feathers and scaled wings, and then she opened her mouth to attack.
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Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2013 10:19 pm
Lazarus tore listlessly at the grass, his expression one of discontent. Usually, it would’ve been enough: the grass would’ve sated his hunger and calmed the raging pang in his belly. But not today. Not now, when his appetite screamed for meat, to the point where his normal sustenance seemed disgusting, and even unnatural. He fought back a convulsion before giving up his efforts and spitting the half-chewed lump to the ground. With a snort and a shake of his mane, he stepped over it towards the forest, looking with a predator’s eyes and hoping to find a suitable meal.
He’d had some lessons in hunting, and once he thought he even had a good grasp on it. But the longer he spent away from his teacher, the more his skills fell into disarray. Though he’d been alone most of his life, he was more of a social creature than he realized. When he no longer had anyone to hunt with or try and impress, he stopped trying, and now he began to wonder how he ever managed at all. It seemed so precarious, trying to keep his vision on the ground and on his surroundings at the same time, or attempting to trample something so short when he was high up while standing upright at the same time. A predator could go weeks without a successful kill, and he wasn’t even a full kalona. He wished it could be easier, that prey could just come running towards hi— umph.
A wild-eyed doe leapt over the bush to his side, crashing into his shoulder as she landed. With a panicked bellow, she found her feet and dashed off once again. A part of Lazarus’ mind told him that she had to be running from something, but a louder, more dominant, desperate part reminded him that he’d felt starved for days. Without a second thought, he quickly gave chase and overcame her. His wide jaws found hold on her slim neck and his pointed fangs dug deep, the resulting flow of blood driving him into a frenzy. He forgot his teacher’s lessons against causing unnecessary suffering, the companionship he once held with other prey animals when he was younger, and his fear of violence. All he knew was the hunger, and he began devouring the deer while it was still alive.
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Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 11:27 pm
It happened so fast that she still had her mouth hanging open and ready to bite into dinner, but someone was already eating her meal. Anger was not an accurate word for how she felt. Her eyes were wide and she was positively livid. The meal that she had put the effort into hunting, the stupid cows she had imitated to lure in her prey, all of that time and practice wasted. She let her wings fall back to her side and she uttered a low, irritable growl. She stopped growling just before the rumble turned into a shriek. She watched as the greedy intruder spilled blood upon the earth hastily as he ate and she wanted very badly to end his life just as quickly as he had ended the doe's. But then she had a thought. A wonderful and dark thought. He had gotten to the doe within seconds, before she had gotten the chance. With him around, she wouldn't have to do anything. Oh yes, she would make him pay for stealing her meal by turning him into her slave. But first, she wanted her dinner. The one she had earned.
She cleared her throat audibly, approaching the stallion and the doe. She placed a hoof on the body and pulled slightly. "Excuse me, but you're eating my dinner. I wasn't expecting company for mealtime or I would have tidied the place up a bit," she said in a fake sweet voice that was dripping with hints of deadliness. Her tail flicked behind her irritably. If he didn't give it over, she might have to end his life after all. There was no use in having a slave that didn't listen and obey.
Her anger was returning once again as she glared at him. He was obviously not full blooded Kalona, and therefore he was probably having difficulties with his need for blood. She had never known the feeling. Perhaps he would be too hard to deal with. She considered once again the option of putting him out of his misery. But no, she could use that weakness. She took a deep breath and decided to try again. "Would you please...share some of the kill," she said. It was hard to get the words out of her mouth, but she continued to tell herself that it would be worth it.
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Posted: Sun Jun 16, 2013 5:31 pm
Lazarus was so focused on his meal that, at first, he did not notice the mare’s growl – in fact, he didn’t even know she was there at all. Not until she tried to take back the doe, at least. His eyes were on her on an instant then, a sharp snort expressing both his surprise and his warning.
Had she found him at another time, she would have seen a more timid stallion, one who’d be more receptive to a kalona’s threats. But not now, when he could so clearly taste the warm blood and smell its metallic tang in the air, his muzzle already red and growing redder still as it gushed from his lips and traced a slow and steady line down his jaw, to land with an almost imperceptible plop on the earth below. Hunger was his master now, and he kept a tight hold on his quarry, dragging the heavy body back possessively as a child might a toy.
The doe was large, and he didn’t get very far. A few steps more and he quickly realized how impractical it would be to continue. He opted for a new strategy instead, flaring his wings and bristling the scales and fur along his back, attempting to appear larger than he really was. Trusting his horns and scales to keep him safe from an attack to his neck, he cautiously lowered his head and ate where he stood, his eyes never leaving hers. Soon, he could feel his temper abating with his hunger, and when it had reduced enough for him to think more clearly, he folded his wings to his side and loosened his tense muscles: a unspoken invitation to join him.
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Posted: Wed Jun 26, 2013 4:53 pm
She watched every red, shining drop of precious blood hit the ground and splash upward. Her stomach growled louder than she did, the hunger in her belly spreading along with her anger, but she remained calm. She didn't want to lose her temper, not in front of someone she was planning to enlist as a servant. Besides, he was slightly larger than her and he was obviously in a state of bloodlust. Judging by his lean and slighlty smaller than average stature, if this were a normal introduction he would be nothing she couldn't handle. But she wasn't stupid enough to challenge the need for flesh when it had already touched the lips of a new and hungry predator. Begrudgingly, she waited for the inexperienced stallion to snap out of it.
She saw the change instantly and stepped forward to claim her meal at last, bending her neck and taking a bite out of the already mangled doe. Her blood had cooled, and it was already more stale than Nellene would have preferred, but it tasted alright all the same. She ate carefully, demonstrating how to properly savor a meal without making too much of a mess. "You're careless and sloppy, I'll have to fix that," she said aloud, her eyes glancing towards the stallion, a smirk on her face, "but you're fast, I'll give you that." She had to admit he would be a highly effective tool when she cleaned him up a bit. And she would begin that process soon, but first she needed to gain his trust.
"My name is Nellene," she said, straightening and licking the blood off of her lips and the tips of her sharp teeth. Now that her belly was full and the anger had drained out of her body she took it upon herself to inspect her new servant. He was handsome she supposed, but that wasn't what she was interested in. She walked around him, taking in the build of his body. He was thin, light, travel-sized she thought with a smirk. This would make him faster, but perhaps not stronger. She pondered this a moment before facing him again. "Well, what's your name?" she asked lightly.
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Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 5:28 pm
((OKAY last tag, though it's only here if you feel like replying. x3 HAVE FUN ON THE TRIP OKAY. Q__Q I'LL MISS YOU. <3333333333333333333))
Lazarus’ lips curled impulsively as the mare approached. The predator in him was loathe to share with a stranger, but he knew he would not be able to finish the doe alone and that this, at least, may serve to make some amenities between them. He’d only come here for a meal, not to make enemies.
He kept a wary eye on the kalona, more aware now than he had ever been before of the dangers that lied with the breed. Her horns pointed forward unlike his own, her hooves were sharper, and even her wings were spiked. It seemed a body a meant for nothing but killing, and he was grateful to note her smaller size.
Dark ears snapped towards her when she spoke, startled. Careless and sloppy? Admittedly, he did notice she seemed to know exactly which part of the meat she wanted, whereas he’d clung to the neck and simply worked his way down. Some patches of grass were better than others, so it would make sense for the same to apply to meat, he supposed. As for his hunting methods... well, he’d gotten the doe in the end, didn’t he?
But what really surprised him was the way she acted, as if she planned to stay a while and teach him. It reminded him of the mentor he’d left behind, and how peaceful and easy his life had seemed with someone to guide him. But this... this was different. She was no kirin, and they’d barely just met. He hadn’t forgotten the anger she had shown when they first saw one another, either. Was this some sort of trick? Or did the kalona feel some kinship with him because of his horns? Regardless, he was no stranger to unusual situations. He simply did what he always did: act as if the entire thing was completely normal.
"Lazarus," he replied easily, lifting his head just long enough to give his name before nosing what was left of the kill. Now that she’d finished, he sampled the areas she seemed to favor, curious. This was the first time he had anything large enough for him to be selective.
"What did you have?" he wondered, his tone just as casual as it had been before. Liver? Kidneys? He didn’t know much anatomy or what they looked like or where they even were, but they were his best guesses so far.
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Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 11:20 am
She smirked as his nonchalance changed to curiosity. "Lazarus. Well, I had the heart of course," her mouth curled in a grin, revealing her sharp and bloody teeth. "I was quite pleased to see that you had saved it for me, but of course I saved it for last and ate the liver first," she indicated towards where the liver had been for him. "The muscles are harder to chew and usually are not quite so pleasing, but they will easily satisfy an empty belly," she continued, taking a bite of what was left to demonstrate. Perhaps she could instill some finesse in this stallion, he seemed quite curious to learn.
"You will find that switching to a diet of meat only will benefit you," she said darkly, turning away from the doe. She knew he was not accustomed to eating meat or she would not have needed to give him lessons. "But you must know that if you were to steal a meal from another kalona, you might not have been let go so easily as you were by myself," she warned, peering at him over her shoulder. "Come, I will show you where you can clean yourself."
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Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 10:14 pm
Ah, the heart. Of course. Lazarus knew where that organ was, especially when he was reminded with the hard hammering of his own. He did not return Nellene’s grin, but the action did make him aware of the strange bits and pieces of meat that were stuck to his teeth. He picked at them self-consciously, keeping his own lips closed so she would not notice. Despite the embarrassment, he eagerly followed her gaze and listened to the information she readily gave, as willing a student as he’d ever been.
“How so?” he wondered aloud, not challenging so much as curious. Though he was no longer hungry, he reluctantly pried himself off the doe. His mentor had taught him to never waste the lives of others. But they’d eaten a lot, hadn’t they? And what remained would serve as a fine meal for some other creatures, wouldn’t it? He rose and followed the mare.
“The part of me that wants meat is only a small fraction of the whole,” he continued. It could be a powerful fraction as his earlier bloodlust had shown, but was it strong enough to support him if he went with the mare’s recommended change in diet?
At her warning, he dipped his head, acknowledging her words, appreciating her mercy, and well aware of the fight she could have put up if she’d wanted to.
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Posted: Wed Jul 31, 2013 5:35 pm
Ah, so she had been correct in thinking he was not full Kalona. No matter, she could work with that. The curiosity in his voice was precious, and she turned to him with a serious face. "Meat will make you stronger, build your muscles, build your character," she said, looking him up and down and sneering at his slight frame, "You will learn to be more refined with your kills, more selective in your process." She explained only some, pretending that she hadn't heard him when he spoke about the small fraction of the whole.
Her eyes widened greedily at the pathetic sight as he dipped his head, and hoisted her head high as an alpha might. She had him right where she wanted him. All she had to do was harness his carnal nature and she had her servant. "Come," she said again, leading him into the trees that she knew hid a small stream. The smell of the blood upon him made her mouth water despite the fact that she had just eaten. She knew other predators and scavengers in the area would soon come sniffing about and she didn't need that right now. She reached the water and drank from it, cleaning the little amount of blood from her face.
"Wash yourself thoroughly and return to me, I will be waiting over here," she said, stepping over the stream and through the trees. Now would be the test of his obedience. If he did as she said and came after her in the forest, all would be well. If he decided to run, she decided she would hunt him down and kill him. There was no use in the world for someone so pathetic, she would have to rid the earth of his filth. But she was sure that his curiosity would have him chasing after her, and had little worry that she would have to end the stallion's life. Either way...it would be fun for her.
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Posted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 4:40 am
“Ah,” Lazarus commented simply, not agreeing, but not disputing it, either. He was trying for neutrality, but it was obvious he already leaned towards her side when he followed her without complaint, or even hesitation. What did she have in store for him? She wasn’t the nicest of mares, and he highly doubted she’d help him out of her own good will. Still, he was curious to know where she was taking them. Not somewhere dangerous he hoped, and he opened his mouth, preparing to ask her, when he decided against it. He’d know soon enough.
“It’s a stream,” he stated stupidly once they’d reached their destination, almost bursting out laughing. It was slow and shallow – certainly not the pack of angry kalonas or some other dangerous scenario he’d been expecting, and the relief made him more amiable.
He stepped towards her side, already falling into the familiar role of a student. He’d chosen to be respectfully downstream of her so that the gore on his own muzzle wouldn’t drift her way and took a long drink, apparently unbothered by the kill he’d made. The thing about acting as if it were all normal meant he was especially receptive to Nellene’s own responses, and as she was unperturbed, so was he. The blood on his face washed away, with no comment offered from either of them.
Thirsty from his hunt and unwilling to remove his mouth from the water, he nodded when she spoke and left, his ears tilted to catch the sound of her steps so he’d be able to follow her again. But did he have to? What hold did she have on him to command him so?
For a moment, his kalona pride bloomed and he growled at the idea of considering her his superior. It was his kill, his food, and his strength that had gotten them their meal, hadn’t it? He may not have been as refined as her, but he was no true carnivore – what use would it be to him to follow her lifestyle and her habits?
‘Meat will make you stronger…’ Her words echoed in his mind. More powerful than base instinct was memory and experience, and he remembered now his adopted mother, who’d taken him in and had cared for him. He remembered Nikandros, too, the kirin who’d helped him accept his heritage and went so far as to teach him how to hunt, when most would have shied away from the very thought. He thought them his betters, and they’d made him stronger, hadn’t they? Nellene could, too.
He cleaned himself as best as he could in the low-lying stream and obediently trotted forward, his steps taking him straight to the mare.
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