[SRP] Nightmare's End (Adar'Malik x Tethys)

[Epine de Rose]

He had him, he could practically taste him.

The taste of success gave him strength, pushed him onwards, and ensured that for the most part the pain in his limbs was gone. Granted he knew all too well that they would come crashing back into focus at a later date but for now he was free to run. As long as the thrill of the hunt remained he would be able to push himself onwards.

Obstacles became mere child's play, easily negotiated as he 'mimicked' the movements of his prey. Every jump, turn, twist... he was there, and while he knew that the being was just outside of reach, he was confident in that he wouldn't be able to outrun him. There was something to be said for being able to see what you shouldn't be able to, it was an unusual sensation, and yet until now it had always just been out of reach.

Perhaps a creatures true strengths really were revealed when they were at their most vulnerable, when they had no other choice than to adapt or die... But a small part of him could only assume that his father by be disappointed that it had taken this to make him see. For all the white lion knew, this might very well be his last dance, but if it was then this thing was going to come with him... it would be one less in the world at least.

...And then his warband could do the rest, the other captains knew the end game and he had faith in them, even if the casualties might be higher.

Vikings had more pride than to go quietly.

Words: 278

 

[Epine de Rose]

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That blood, it never ceased to amaze him.

He resisted the urge to chuckle as he bounded through the caverns, well versed in their twists and turns. One had to wonder what else could be produced and achieved with that blood, perhaps there was a measure of truth to all those ridiculous myths from the old home. The Justicars were not entirely 'mortal', they were a special set of individuals who had been 'blessed' - while he never ascribed to such magical explanations, he did believe that good lines and good blood could secure the same outcome.

...Destati had chosen their mother well.

Still, all good things must come to an end and Adar'Malik prepared to make his final play. As he dodged in to another hall he lightened his steps and crouched, keeping his entire body flat to the ground. As the air still around him, the indication of his presence would be much more vague once more and with the adrenaline coursing through him, it was unlikely that Tethys would calm down in time to make use of his new found skills.

No, he wasn't quite ready yet, but he the potential was there and Adar'Malik would acknowledge it. However there was a time and a place for everything and now was not the appropriate moment to congratulate the boy on his new found intelligence. He would welcome the child out of the dark ages another time... At this precise moment though?

Weeeeeeell, they were not part of his immediate plans...

Words: 254

 

[Epine de Rose]

And just like that, the beast was gone.

Perhaps there was a measure of truth to the tales of these things, the fact that they were phantoms... impossible to capture. Had it not been for the fact that he had witnessed the death of more than one, then he would have been inclined to believe it. As a result, logic soon won out and the lion surmised that his quarry was nearby, it was simply hiding.

Now when it came to this particular scenario there were really only two options - the first of these was that he had managed to trap it and aware that it wouldn't be able to flee, it had hidden itself. This would mean, in the grand scheme of things, that he had either won or the creature was going to jump out at him when he was at his most vulnerable. Of that part of the first scenario, and attack from his most vulnerable point seemed the most likely.

The second, was that he had indeed been led into a trap and while the singular being might be hiding, there was nothing to say that there weren't others lying in wait through the next doorway. Of the two scenarios, this was the most likely of them all, and like his former captain he would have to go down swinging.

Well...

"Today is a good day to die..." he murmured as he stepped through the doorway carefully, his lips parted slightly as he attempted to ascertain where his assailant might be...

Words: 255
Total Words (Tethys): 533

 

[Epine de Rose]

An accurate assumption had been made - as always, Adar'Malik was flawless in his execution. While the boy might have had an epiphany he still wasn't a man as of yet, and as a result, he was far too easy to expose. As he stepped over the threshold of the next cavern, the black lion opened his eyes and lunged. With every ounce of strength he had, he thrust Tethys and himself into the wall, enough so that the only thing the white lion would see as his head collided with the wall, was the gleaming red eyes.

Oh yes, Adar was well aware of what the boy sought.

They all were.

However, Tethys had already proven himself to be a durable sort and rather than given him the opportunity to recover, the black lion did precisely what he had been advised to do. He rendered the boy unconscious with several well aimed blows to the end. If he had survived all the other assaults, then he would survive this one... if he didn't, then at least the black lion would be able to report that he had at least died honourably. After all, he had almost passed the trials.

Almost.

As the white lions head lulled to the side and his eyes began to glaze over the black lion stood over him, pure black with nothing but the flicker of gleaming white teeth. It would be the last thing the boy would see.

"Come find us when you wake up," he ordered as the last glimmer of consciousness left the white lion's eyes.

"We'll be waiting," he murmured.

Words: 271
Total Words (Adar'Malik): 525