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 Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 8:59 am
"It's near. The forest is still and the creatures are quite. It's near. It's near!"
He'd never gotten used to the bird's voice, even after months of traveling with it. There was a subtle layer of insanity hidden under the shrill tones. And really, it was the latter part that bother Rosiotti most. He was far too familiar with insanity at this point. The stallion had quite a bit of his own. He had to to have agreed with the raven's plot.
Leires hopped excitedly on the branch he was perched on, giving a loud cry before gliding off ahead of his companion. Sometimes Rosi wondered if the familiar had some sort of deathwish. He certainly didn't fear death, otherwise he wouldn't be so keen on becoming a skinwalker's pelt. But the bird always took off ahead of him when a skinwalker was close, always taunted them endlessly, always flew just a little too close. As if he had some small hope the beast would snatch him from the sky and devour him whole. It really wouldn't be surprising. It certainly would be disappointing if the bird did manage to get himself killed. He was a great source of information. He knew how to find their quarry better than Rosi could ever hope to do on his own.
But unlike his feathered friend, the stallion wasn't interested in losing his life. There was only one thing he was after. Corpse powder. And it was so much more difficult to obtain than he had imagined. You'd think skinwalkers would be interested in increasing their numbers, but so far none of them had any plans to help in his endeavor. He'd left the first couple be, it wasn't wise to anger a skinwalker and Rosiotti typically wasn't a fool. But he started to get desperate and became more and more hostile at the constant denial. He still had a few scratches left from the last encounter. And he would undoubtedly have more after this next one, but he was willing to pay that price if it meant obtaining what he wanted.
With much more stealth than Leires cared to have, Rosiotti slinked through the woods. The tip of his tail twitched eagerly as he searched the darkness for a sign of his target. Where was it...?
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Posted: Thu Feb 20, 2014 10:58 am
 When she wasn't dealing with any on specific project, Kumiho spent a majority of her "free" time doing one of two things: hunting and bathing. Since she didn't faire well at taking down big game, she hunted typically in her more agile and quick feral form. The downside being, she had to eat a lot more. It seemed that regardless which form she was in; she seemed to have the hot metabolism of there more thoroughbred stature and therefore if she hunted smaller game, while her stomach filled up quicker she had to hunt much more often.
Not that she minded.... she loved to hunt. Like all skin walkers she reveled in the taste of blood, the squeal of prey in her teeth, and the satisfying death rattle as she finished the job. But it was messy...so the more hunting the more cleaning. Kumiho was much superior to the savage beasts that made up most of her race; she was not content to let the dead flesh and blood stain her perfect visage. As soon as the deed was done and the meat was stripped from the bones, it was time to bathe.
She hated the bathing part itself... she didn't find cool running water to be all that smoothing, or the smell of death all that unpleasant. But her pelt was precious to her. She didn't want a single hair out of place. She knew it made her special. Made her better. Plus the added benefit of not smelling like blood and murder could extend far beyond vanity; she was much less feared by many who were unfamiliar with skin walkers. A deadly mistake, but a lesson she was happy to teach.
This day, she was just finishing up... in her full Soquili form, using her long, sharp claws as a kind of comb; raking through her thick fur and making sure the damp pelt dried evenly in the meager winter sun. Her ears twitched in the annoyance at the berating piercing song of a crow, which she sneered at but didn't seem to take much heed.
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Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 10:07 am
Leires darted out from the trees and out over the river, searching desperately for the skinwalker. And there she was, silver coat glistening with dampness in the sun's rays. Tall, canine ears and oh, so many tails flicking back and forth. What sort of majestic creature had she killed to obtain such a glorious pelt? Then he saw them. The graceful pawed feet. A purewalker! A beast straight from hell, spawned with that beautiful skin. One with it. What luck they were having today. In all of his excitement, the bird had nearly forgotten to signal his discovery. Perching himself onto a nearby tree, Leires gave another sharp cry, eyes never leaving the magnificent creature before him.
The stupid bird was too late. Rosiotti was already well aware of the skinwalker. He could smell her damp fur. Could smell carnage and death. No amount of bathing could cover up a lifetime of killing. It was a scent he had become rather fond of, actually. Perhaps it had something to do with his time spent around Samsara. Or maybe it was simply because of his own lust for bloodshed. Either way, a twisted smirk pulled at the corners of his mouth now as he quietly stalked closer to the river.
It was always an exciting challenge, deciding how to approach a skinwalker. They were all very different, but exactly the same in the fact that they were very, very dangerous. Playing dumb and innocent always got a rather fun reaction out of them, but it wasn't exactly effective when your goal was to obtain corpse powder. Appearing tough and intimidating just seemed to escalate things far too quickly. While he got quite the thrill in scuffling with the beasts, it obviously complicated things. No, if he wanted any hope in reaching his goal, Rosi would have to take a few notes from Leires' book. Flattery and a bit of insanity went a long way. Speaking of which....
"That is...A very unique pelt you have." This was always their tactic. Have Leires distract the skinwalkers with sweet talk just enough to prevent an instant attack on Rosi when he finally approached. The raven had settled himself in such a manner that shadow had dimmed his form. The only light was that reflected in his eyes and the occasional flash from his gilded horns as his head twitched anxiously. Nothing beat the rush of staring into the eyes of a skinwalker. Nothing.
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Posted: Mon Feb 24, 2014 11:11 am
Kumiho's ears flicked when she heard someone approaching. Her stomach was full and her fur freshly clean, so she was going to let whatever beast that happening her way get away with their life today if they were smart enough not to engage her. But no, the creature came closer and as soon as she heard his voice she jumped up and whipped around to face him. Her fur stood on end her and tails danced behind her like writing snakes - 6 of them and one that seemed to have been mangled at some point - it was ripped ands scabbed over about twelve inches off the base.
However, Rosi's tactics seem to work, at least for now. She didn't immediately attack (front on assaults weren't her forte anyway), but her fur laid down, through her ears remained up and her muscles tensed and ready to attack. She regarded him; he was an interesting looking fellow indeed. He had the tail of a cat, which was something to note. She blinked at his compliment; while it did please her to know that he noticed; it seemed like a dense observation. Like saying the sky was blue or the grass was green. "There are none like it, anywhere in these lands," she finally settled on. Her voice was deep and rich; with just a stoney edge of malice.
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Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2014 11:31 am
Both bird and stallion watched the multitude of tails dance around the kitsune, a bit mesmerized by the motion. But while Leires was more than content to sit and simply admire them with eyes glinting from the shadows, Rosiotti had to be aware of all of this skinwalker if he wanted to do this right. So, he quickly shook himself from the trance, taking note of her slightly mangled tail, then her tense muscles, her pawed feet, the unusual apparel. All of her. He had mere moments to look her over and analyze this mare in the hopes of giving himself some sort of upper hand in the situation.
Clearly she was no spring chicken when it came to conflict, the scarred tail made that very obvious. But her posture was more cautious than anything else. She was ready to fight, but it wasn't her primary intention. That was a good sign. It meant she was willing to humor him, though Rosi was sure that wouldn't last very long. And the compliment to her pelt seemed to please her somewhat, so sweet talk would get him somewhere. Again, something that wouldn't last long he was sure. But that was all he had to go on, for now, so it would have to work.
"I'm curious. Exactly what sort of creature are you?" From the trees he could hear Leires hopping on his perch again."Yes, show us. Show us the beast!"Beast wasn't exactly the word he would have used, but hopefully this skinwalker wouldn't think anything of it.
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Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 12:42 pm
There were very few creatures in the land that would attempt to hold a conversation with a purewalker.
The first group, would be those who were acutely, blissfully, tragically ignorant to what Walkers are. Their parents had done them the disservice of not educating them, or the lacked the common sense to be wary of any creature who reeked of death and wore the corpse of an animal as a mark of pride.
The second, would be other Walkers. Sometimes, though Kumiho never could understand why, they would view each other as equals long enough to accomplish some brutal task. They could hold their own, and even could be friendly enough to coordinate. Even Kumiho had tolerated anothers' presence long enough to bear his foals a few seasons back.
The third, was the most tricky. Other beasts... ambitious enough to try to run with Walkers and yet still keep their hide. Cerberus was like this...and so was this fellow. Her curiosity was piqued, but she was ever-cautious. Anything that reminded her of Cerberus deserved a good, slow death.
"I am Kitsune," she said, raising an eyebrow at the chattering bird. "Something most of your ignorant Westerners haven't heard of. They are like a fox, but much rarer, grander, and powerful."
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Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2014 10:58 am
"I see. You're from the East then? Interesting..." All of the skinwalkers he'd encountered so far were from this general area. Not nearly as exotic as this one. He couldn't help but wonder if things were different for skinwalkers where she came from. But there was hardly time for questions like that now. Or ever, really. The stallion doubted he'd get another chance for idle chatter with this mare."Change your shape! Become the beast!" Rosiotti glared at the bird as it flew over Kumiho and into another tree. It was getting impatient. A mistake they could not afford in their current situation. Impatience led to annoyance, which then led to aggression. That would mean another chance lost. Hopefully the stern look would silence the raven and some sort of apology would keep the skinwalker's temper mild for a bit longer.
"You'll have to forgive him. He gets rather excited in the presence of skinwalkers. They're rather important to him. To both of us, really." There really wasn't any point in delaying their purpose any longer. He had her interest and it certainly wouldn't last. Now was a good a time as any, "You see...We're interested in obtaining something that only a skinwalker can offer. Corpse powder." Rosiotti watched her closely, waiting for her reaction. Waiting for a sign that she might indulge his foolish desire.
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Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2014 7:50 am
Kumiho openly sneered at the crow as he called at her, demanding her to change shape. "I'm quite fond of the taste of bird," she hissed, her tails twitching with annoyance. "You'll be wise to shut him up, and soon, for I'll have no qualms about doing it for you... permanently."
Her attention was drawn back to Rosiotti as he mentioned corpse powder. Her interested was immediately piqued, but with a hefty dose of skepticism. Of course she could obtain this dark gift, she had offered it others before.... but never quite like this. She had never met another creature who actually wanted the powder.
"Do you even know what you're asking for?" she asked, with a curl of her lip. It would be smart to end the conversation here, but she was curious of this foolish beast, asking for such a thing.
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Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2014 11:55 am
Leires cackled, a nervously excited sound, and hunkered down on his branch. The message had gone through. He wouldn't be making demands of the skinwalker any more. Or at least until something new threw him into another frenzy, which was rather easy to do. The stallion hoped the bird would shut himself up long enough to finish his conversation with Kumiho. And it didn't seem like it was going to last much longer. It was about this time that the other skinwalkers got tired of him, if they didn't attach immediately.
"I am well aware of what I ask for. I am asking to throw away my life and start a new one. As a monster." He couldn't keep the smallest of smirks from his face at the though. And he could hear Leires shuffling on his perch as he spoke it, "Or, to do such to another..." It was something he'd been considering. If it turned out the angeni blood in him was too strong. He still held out hope that he would be the one donning Leires' pelt. But if he couldn't there were other, less ideal, options.
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Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 7:18 am
Kumiho knew right away that she wasn't going to grant this creature's wish. To give the powder to someone who wanted it was a complete waste. The Gift was a twisted one to give, one you gave to those who may not normally spill blood. Anyone could be a murderer if they so desired to. Sure, it wasn't quite the same... but still.
She could have easily sent him away, or just rip out his throat for asking such a stupid thing. But she also realized how unique of a situation had fallen into her paws - far too interested to just send away.
"And what exactly would you be willing to do for it?" she asked with a sneer. "What you ask for is rare and more precious than gold or silver."
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Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2014 1:09 pm
This was becoming a bit familiar. Reminiscent of his first encounter with a skinwalker. Of course, at that time Rosiotti hadn't been interested in corpse powder. He hadn't been interested in anything. But that skinwalker had given him something he never knew he even wanted. In exchange for something she had wanted. Entertainment. Perhaps he could offer something similar to Kumiho.
"That would depend on what desire, wouldn't it?" Rosi chanced a quick glance to his familiar. There was a bright glint in the bird's eyes. They were so close, so very close to what they wanted and both felt and eagerness rising in them. And a great dread. This was going too smoothly. Things would go south eventually, the stallion knew that. It was only a matter of when. But for now he would carry on, "What is it a purewalker such as yourself values the most?"
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Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 8:08 am
Kumiho felt her claws tap the ground and her jaw clench in thought. What did she want most in the world? A smile slowly crossed across her face as she took a breath. A plan was forming. "The head of Balrog, the great wind stallion," she said, purring her words out as if she was asking for a simple apple from a high-handing branch. "Or one of his children." She gave a definitive nod, a certainly in her eyes. She specifically didn't ask for Stormwild herself...no, that would defeat the point. She wanted to see her suffer.
"That's what I desire. Bring me this, and I'll grant your wish."
It was a win-win situation for Kumiho. Mostly likely, he would fail. Balrog was a force to be reckoned with, and this whole territory was greatly fortified. But, even if this strange creature was able to succeed in his task, then she would be sure to check up on Stormwild and see the emotion wreckage the toll would take.
She lifted and eyebrow and stared into his eyes, seeing if he would take the bait.
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Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2014 11:12 am
Rosiotti returned the skinwalker's stare without hesitation. It was a rather interesting request coming from one like herself. Had he been a less intelligent stallion, he would have taken this chance to mock her.
What, can't kill him yourself?
It was a blessing skinwalkers, along with their multitude of other abilities, couldn't also read minds. He would have been dead on the spot. Some of them could read faces, though. And Rosi made a point of not letting his thoughs show on his. And he really shouldn't have felt so smugly about the situation as he did. In the back of his mind, he knew that if she was asking him to do this, then this stallion had to be quite formidable. Or at least well protected by others. Or both...
Now doubt was crossing his mind. Just the smallest amount. Certainly not enough to dissuade him. Hopefully not enough to be visible. He had fought others before. Never killed any of them, but he'd been so very close a few times. If he could catch this stallion, or any of his children, at the right time. Alone, distracted, with their guard down. Somehow, he felt like his chances of even one of those conditions being met were very slim. But oh how he wanted that corpse powder. His desire for it vastly outweighed any bit of sense that might be trying to tell him how horrible of an idea this was.
"Balrog, huh?" He glanced away for just a moment, as if considering the offer, then quickly looked back to Kumiho, "Or one of his kids...?"
There was something very familiar about this situation, and strangely, that gave him some comfort. He had been successful that time. It had led him down the path he was on now. He would be successful this time as well. And he would get that corpse powder.
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Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2015 7:39 am
((I'm so so sorry I didn't realize you replied crying ))
"Are you hard of hearing?" she snapped, hating to repeat herself. He should be hanging on her every word; not doubting her. She snorted through her nose and flipped her head, a few long, dark strands of black mane still visible under her permanently adhered pelt.
"He's a great and powerful wind stallion that lives up in the mountains," she said with an exasperated sigh; hoping he realized how generous she was being with her information. After all, if he was serious about this task then he should be thoroughly prepared to do a lot of reconnaissance. "He has a mate and a whole..." she sneered, "plague of descendants now. I'll take any of the children, I suppose. But Balrog, well, to be honest that would simply be the most impressive."
She looked at him in the eyes, challengingly.
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