Moving with the skill and grace of a hunter was never an easy feat. The Blood Empress managed it, her elegant strides crossed through the Marsh. Rippling down through the trees, the sunlight warmed her back. The warmth penetrated through her flesh, working it's way right down to the blood that rushed around her steady beating heart. Blood and hearts, the one thing that made Gods and Goddess mortal like others. Could you kill a god? Yes. However it would not be easy, the effort it took would claim your life's blood as well. Cool wet mud slashes up onto her legs, the chill from it's contact was soothing. The mad rushing thoughts of Eris found themselves relaxed and slowed by the cold that now gripped to her legs. The vermillion goddess paused not waiting to be in a rush, 'if you rush while living, life will rush past you.' It was so true, but what was the sound that filled her ears now? Fresh blood? No, surely no fool would dare venture into this part of the wilds. Putting her nose to the air, the Queen of the mad men inhaled the new scent. It was not from one of her own...this scent was game that could and would be hunted.

A voice rang out and filled the heavens with sound. The normally quiet Marsh would not sleep today. No, the waters would be filled with fresh blood. As quick as a bullet leaving a gun, the mare was off. The cat began to hunt the squeaking mouse. What a joy it was to finally be back in the hunting game. The Empress had missed it sorely. Power surged through her tiny limbs, power that with years of training saw her though the toughest of times. Her speckled hide did little to help her golden coat blend in with the Marsh. The blood that coloured her hair, rippled down her back and flared out behind her. To one the caught a glimpse of her, well they would think she looked like death of christmas morning. The ugly smile that smeared her chops was on display for the whole world to see. Surely by now it was known that you respected the boundaries of the Marsh, Helovia's occupants must know of the mad the lived her. Most of all they must know of The Queen of the mad, The Blood Empress, The Vermillion Goddess. For Eris did not lead her people with a tender foot, the mad mare was not afraid to spill a little blood. This was the way that Eris had been raised after all. Never letting others doubt her for a second, trained to have no weakness. Only that had failed. Sometimes The Empress knew that she had done wrong.

Quickly the scent grew stronger, it was not long until the mare had found her prey, quickly The Goddess of chaos examined his appearance. The red horn that protruded from his scalp proclaimed him as a unicorn, Eris cares naught for this. Race did not matter to her and besides, her own Dragon Bone crown was more glorious than any simple horn. His light blue eyes were little to no match for her own sea eyes, proudly Eris held her head higher. His mane was a greying colour giving the black bodied stallion the most odd look. It was the same in regards to his thin and short tail. Nothing compared the the Goddess' tattered locks of hair. Not doubt this stallion had his own taste of blood though, whether it had been his own or anthers, Eris did not care. A jagged scar over his right eye, made Eris wonder how he had not lost the eye. The scar extended to the bottom of his face. The golden mare smiled at it, for now she knew this stallion was only a mortal. His red marking on his rump was interesting enough, however Eris found no real reason to be interested in this intruder. Knowing it would be best to just get rid of him, the mare decided to play a little with him first. It was always fun to...destroy one who thought they stood a chance. They would think that she was all threats and no action.

Oh how wrong they were.

"I do not have the grace you wished for..." Her voice is a whisper of death, dark and dangerous. "But I do not see one of my own kind." Now a taunting edge had been added to the voice of this stag's Queen. "For all I see before me is a stallion still trying to prove he is not a boy." The tone he used to call out her family annoyed her. Sarcasm had laced his tones, he was mocking them. Eris would not stand for it, everything else about the stallion annoyed her as well. His stance, the lazy way her had raised his voice. They were not here for his amusement. Eris did not care the finest bit who he was or who had invited him to meet her family. If so much as one scrape of disrespect sounded in his voice again, making them out to be clowns of the circus, Eris would happily tear him from limb to limb. It was past time she was allowed to taste some fresh blood, she hardly remembered what the power fuelled by iron tasted like. No doubt soon she would remember. "You are a fool, you know nothing of the mad men you summon."

Eyes still cold Eris watched the stag. "One more ill word from you and I'll call my dog." A few giggles tumbled from her lips. "She'll help clean up what's left of you when I'm done." Rather she would help kill him be Eris did not want to seem weak. Her dog would be happy to assist after all, no matter what words had been spoken before her arrival. Her dog was a ruthless killer...someone that made Eris seem perfectly normal.

...

Histe.

"Come now Arlo, you don't truly believe that I would call Histe my dog?!" Out loud. As if on cue the terrifying mare herself shrugged through the trees. Eris smirked glad that she would not have to actually end up having to call Histe to her like a servant. Smiling over the mare that had presented herself, Eris took a moment to study her, blood always seemed to be present on the darker raven's coat. Then again, blood was nearly always present on Eris' coat. She shouldn't really be one to judge. "Don't be a bother Histe." Eris sighed and turned her attention back to the annoyance that was the new stallion. "If you're going to kill him then do it, I don't like empty threats." Of course if Eris' little killer did move to slay the new General, the Empress would have to step in. It really wouldn't suit her to have Histe kill off any of the members that she liked. It was more a test to see how wild Histe was.

Did she think that had had come here looking for a fight. Her laughter was as loud as thunder. Did her take her to be an idiot?! "A fight?!" Shaking her head Eris took a single step away. "No. You came here to prove something. I can tell that you have no love for us."

Seele. She should have known that her Blood Sister would be behind letting someone like this into the group. Rolling her eyes the mare muttered, "for the love of all things holy..." under her reeking breath. Why would Seele allow such a...pathetic worm into their ranks? Surely this little bastard hadn't proved anything of use. 'Vulture' oh gods be good he was named after a bird...and not just any bird! Vultures were identified as scavengers. So they had mad men and a scavenging worm.

The Foothills must be shaking in their boots.

At least he was aware of who held the power. She listened to his ramble with little interest. Oh yes, she would love to kill him. A shortened tale of how she would kill him? The best way, once he was tired, she would start by tenderly breaking his bones. Once a decent handful of bones were broken, she would start to gently carve into his flesh with her sharpened hooves. Once his life's blood leaked dry with her bathing in it she would toss his body into the marsh's deathly waters. They would finish the job for her. However she could not do it. "Oh spare me from your rambling," sighed the golden mare. Her voice drawls out and interest is quickly fading. "I can't kill you. My sister has offered you a home with us. I am sworn to protect you. Not murder you." That didn't mean later, however, Eris might make Seele take back her words. Looking at the pale babbling worm, disgust fills her. Why did her charge include this piece of...well...waste?

As he babbles on about sinners and their blood the mare decides to ignore him and study Arlo instead. He was wrath attractive for a stallion, although he didn't scream danger like Skywalker did. No doubt Arlo could be just as vicious as her black General...but he just didn't have the same appeal. Realising that all of this time she had been ignoring Seiren, Eris' graces her with a glance. She liked the mare with a harsh tongue, the horned beauty proved to be rather entertaining at times. Yes, this crowned dove she liked. "Indeed. Why do you seek refuge...here" The golden beauty made the question seem innocent enough. She was quickly growing tired of this meeting and she was finding the worm's babbling exhausting. The Empress would see this through to the end though. "Never again will you assume it's okay to bore me with such tiresome tattle." Time to get to the root of things. "What do you have to offer mad souls that you hold no love for?"

They were sinking.