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 Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2021 11:48 am
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Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2021 11:50 am
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It was a sweltering day that greeted Bhalrak when he stepped out of the forest, headed for the ocean. His ‘half-brother’, the ever-charming Thunderhawk skinwalker Kadovar, flew ahead in his preferred feral form scanning the horizon for their nephew. To say the last few months of his life had been…exciting would be the understatement of the century. Here he was, minding his own business when this…odd buffalo thing showed up with a tiny foal begging him for help.
Apparently, the buffalo had taken the foal from his original family for his master, but when he learned what fate awaited the child, he fled with him into the night. Fate had brought them together, with Tupua Puru recognizing the markings Bhal bore and explaining that those markings matched the markings of the stallions on the foal’s home island.
Bhal had an inkling as to why his markings matched but dared not to travel that road. His sire was a winged devil, flying from place to place to spread torment and whatever else he saw fit. Puru was terrified of his father and described him in detail to Bhal as the stallion who told his former master where to find this foal. Unsurprised, Bhal agreed to take Puru and the young stallion named Rakahore, under his protection. Clearly, there was something about the boy his father hated, and if he was that desperate to find the foal, he would find Bhalrak instead.
Crossing the sands, he and Kadovar headed towards the lava flows where his nephew seemed to live nowadays. He took raising the boy seriously, shocking himself more than anyone else who knew him. The boy was innocent, and he did not deserve to be taken from his family in the way he had been. Perhaps this was Bhalrak’s redemption, his chance to prove to himself and others that he was not his father. Raka was a smart and charming kid, who grew up into a smart, charming, and tough stallion. It really was no surprise to Bhalrak the kid was royalty, sometimes one just exuded the air of regality.
Tossing his head, he called out to the Skinwalker taking point. “Kado, any sight of the kid?”
WC: 368 |
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Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2021 12:17 pm
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Beating his wings, Kadovar caught an updraft taking him higher into the sky. He was most comfortable in his feral form, blending in as much as possible. He wasn’t a fan of talking, not that anyone really wanted to take to a skinwalker, but there were a few who felt like tempting fate. None of them needed to know he wouldn’t hurt anyone unless they hurt his family, then he would bathe in their blood without hesitation. He circled the area, keeping his newly found half brother within eye line. Bhalrak was many things, an arrogant jerk at the top of that list, but he was a good male dealt a bad hand in life. His sire also sired Kado’s siblings on their home island, and while he had been unable to torment them as he wished, that left Bhalrak and his siblings to take the brunt of the male’s abuse. Bhalrak never spoke much of his father, but Kado knew his brother was under the impression the male had killed his mother and possibly his two siblings.
How his missing nephew Rakahore had ended up under the care of Bhal could only be chalked up to fate. Kado’s adoptive mother had sent him after Rakahore as soon as it was discovered he was stolen from the island, but it had taken him over a year to locate the boy. What Kado found was not a boy, but a fully grown stallion. He also found Bhalrak, looking almost identical to his sire sans wings, staring back at him in confusion. Kado was no fool, and it took him all of fifteen seconds to decipher exactly what was going on. His siblings were not the only offspring of that monster, and they were far more blessed by his absence than any of them had ever realized. Bhalrak was an angry male, but he raised Rakahore far better then anyone could have ever expected or hoped, and it proved to Kado he was nothing like his sire.
Spotting Rakahore by a lava flow not far ahead, Kado swooped back down towards Bhal, shifting into his legs with a grunt. Bhal shot him a half-annoyed look as he side-stepped his landing. Rolling his neck and folding his wings, Kado took the lead on four legs as he had on wings moments before.
“Yep. He’s by the lava flow about a half-mile ahead. Probably looking for that kelpi mare he swore he saw there last week.”
WC:413 |
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Posted: Tue Jan 19, 2021 1:33 pm
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The lost heir known as Rakahore tried to be unobtrusive as he lurked between the lava flows and the edge of the ocean. He didn’t want the beautiful Kelpi mare he’d spotted days before to think he was stalking her… but he kinda was. He never saw other souls around these lava flows, and when he’d caught a glimpse of her swimming out not far from where the lava flowed into the ocean, he was immediately intrigued. So he’d left his uncles doing…whatever it was they did and came here. He just had to act natural in case she showed up. He was part of a family of lava loving Suti, so he really did fit in here. He wasn’t being a creep, no sir not him.
Rounding one of the lava flows, the stallion kept one eye on the water’s edge and the other on the lava. His uncle Kado had told him his father and other uncles collected rocks from inside volcanos and could often be found swimming in lava. They even made weapons from the magma to sell to others. It depressed Raka he couldn’t meet his father and other family yet, but Kado flew back off and on, bringing him back small gifts from his father until he could make the trip here himself.
Bhalrak had taken that spot as ‘father’, not that he ever told him that. Bhal wasn’t exactly an affectionate male, but he did have soft spots for Raka and a very pretty mare that Raka had only met once. His voice was different when he spoke about her, and he seemed happier after he’d come back from spending time with her. He’d witnessed his uncle’s love for him when he’d put himself between Raka and Kado before they were aware who Kado was, willing to die to protect the young stallion. He didn’t need his uncle to tell him, he already knew.
Digging his claws in, he scaled some rocks, moving away from the ocean. Bhal was a great father, especially for having such a poor excuse for one himself. Raka hoped to one day meet his grandsire just to witness his death. It was obvious he was despised by many, and it seemed his days were numbered if his uncles had anything to do with it. As he crossed a smaller lava flow, he heard the voice of her adopted father calling across the beach. Lifting his head, Rakahore spotted them both wandering in his direction, mindful of the flows around them.
“Found me, did you uncles?”.
WC: 426 |
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Posted: Sat Feb 12, 2022 4:06 pm
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Shaking his head in sheer amazement, Bhalrak watched his nephew stop inches from a large lava flow and just…stand there. He knew from Kado his brothers and sisters on the island were half Suti with a penchant for crawling around in active volcanos, but nothing prepares you for finding the adoptive son you love ankle deep in lava like he was standing in a puddle. Watching his fox companion Vaka spring along with them, Bhal was suddenly struck with the strange sense they themselves were being watched. Scanning the ocean and the edge of the forest, he didn’t see anything, but that certainly didn’t mean no one was out there. Kado had noticed too, his sharp eyes trained on the forest edge. He didn’t appear to be on edge, head tilted to one side, wings folded to his back. If Kado wasn’t worked up, it must not be anything more than a random traveler, not something to stress himself over.
“You’re not exactly a mystery there kid.” Bhal huffed, hopping precariously over a smaller lava flow. He never wished to have his fathers wings more then when he was stuck chasing Rakahore and that strange buffalo friend of his around these lava flows when he was a kid. Now he was easier to find, and not as likely to leap headlong into a volcano, being grounded still made if difficult for him to keep up. Focusing back on Rakahore and Tupua, Bhal had to chuckle. They made and odd pair, those two, but Tupua had proven time and time again he adored Raka, and in turn his nephew had a friend to run and play with as a foal, and a companion on longer trips as an adult. The buffalo was springing easily around the flows, chatting away with Vaka when he caught up.
“I know we’re pretending like you’re here just because you like the lava, but you can lurk creepily from the sand you know. Where I can actually walk without fear of imminent death.” Smirking at the stallion sputtered angrily at him, Bhal came to a safe stop in an area blessedly away from the heat of the lava. Turning, Bhal noted Kado had not moved since they had reached the lava rocks, eyes trained on the forest a few hundred yards away. He was still relatively calm, but he clearly noticed something in the woods the rest of them didn’t.
Take a few steps towards him brother, Bhal scanned the tree line. “Kadovar…what do you see?” Hopefully nothing, or no one, that would be a threat to them…
Watching his brother, nephew and their companions traverse the lava rocks and flows, Kadovar felt a sense of home. It was almost a scene from life back on the island, family frolicking around the volcanos and beaches that lined his home. Minus the lava races, which was probably for the best. Bhal was already squirrelly when it came to the lava, no need to scare the feathers off his head seeing Raka flank deep in the stuff. He’d leave that to his siblings to teach him anyway.
Speaking of the prince, the stallion was sputtering at his uncle in response to the jab, poignantly not glancing at the ocean as he glared at the two of them. It would have been far more amusing if Kado didn’t feel like the group was being watched from just inside the tree line that he and Bhal had broken through minutes before. Turning his large form in the direction of the woods, the stallion stared. He didn’t feel particularly threatened, but it was clear whoever, or whatever, was over there wanted to approach. It was a small creature, something weaving itself slowly through the underbrush, keeping them in its line of sight. He could hear Bhal and Raka moving into flanking positions behind him, and Bhal speaking brought his attention to them for a moment.
“I don’t quite know, Bhalrak… I see something in the underbrush to the left, but it’s not very big. It’s crawling through the brush, keeping low. I think it may be a mountain lion or a bob cat. Now, why it has interest in us, I have no idea. But keep Vaka and Tupua in your line of sight, even though I doubt it would dare with us here.”
]Shifting his claws into the rock, Kado took a few more steps toward the woods. He wanted the animal to know that he was aware of its presence, and if it dared, he was prepared to defend his nephew and brother. It was his job, and he was larger then both stallions. They both were quite capable fighters, and if push came to shove he knew they would be fine. But, it would be over his cold, dead body the two of them would come to any harm, that was certain.
“I’ve got an eye on it, don’t worry.” The male smirked at Raka over his shoulder. “You can keep on looking for your mysterious, imaginary girlfriend in the waves prince. Be sure she knows your royalty… I hear the girls like that.”
I hate them both, so much.
Raka knew his uncles got far too much of the joy in their lives harassing him, but still. He wasn’t lurking by the water! He was enjoying his favorite lava flows, which just happened to be by the water the beautiful mare had been swimming a few weeks ago. Nothing creepy or stalkery about that! Glaring at his adoptive father Bhal, he opened his mouth to give a sharp retort when he noticed his other uncle’s sharp attention to the woods.
Raka herded Tupua and Vaka closer to him as his uncles approached the edge of the lava rocks. He followed a few paces behind, keeping a close eye on their friends as his uncle had instructed. Raka was aware the monster that had ordered his kidnapping was still out there, as well as his grandfather. Neither of the stallions in front of him appeared tense, and when his uncle rattled off what he saw, a flash of recognition struck him.
“Kadovar, is it a red-colored mountain lion?” When his uncle responded in the affirmative, Raka left Tupua and Vaka to join the other two stallions. “I’ve seen her around here, usually in the trees. She’s an odd little thing, it looks like she has wings. But she’s never bothered me or Tupua before.”
Dead silence was his answer before Kadovar chimed in.
“…You’re calling HER strange? When you run around with a demon buffalo with a snake tail and glowing eyes?”
Fair point.
Glancing down at Tupua, who flicked his tail and shrugged his shoulders, Raka snorted. “Touché uncle. Still, she isn’t of the normal breed of lioness that roam these parts. What could she want with us now? She’s seen me here before.”
Clearly, one of his uncles drew her interest, and Raka had a sinking feeling he knew which one. Glancing at his adoptive father, he knew he was thinking along the same lines. Many knew of his grandfather and his evil; it wouldn’t be the first time someone approached them to ream out Bhalrak for the sins of his father.
He knew very little about his grandfather, only that he was a cruel beast who tormented all of his children. He’d been run off by his grandmother and Kadovar before he could do much damage to his father or his siblings. Unfortunately, Bhalrak had not been so lucky. He’d only left his son alone when the boy grew larger, and angrier, then he had expected. Where the stallion was now was a mystery, one that neither of his uncles were as eager to solve now. Bhalrak had a family of his own on the way, and Kado was happy to back his play. But, if they ever ran across the male, he would be dispatched without a second thought.
Broaching the topic that all three were thinking, the prince’s quiet voice broke the heavy silence. “…Father… you don’t think?”
Heaving a heavy sigh, Bhal glanced at his son over his shoulder. “I don’t know, but I have a feeling we’re about to find out.”
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