the Rift


Light As a Feather

Xanthos Posts: 99
Outcast
Stallion :: Unicorn :: 16hh :: 9 Buff: NOVICE
Azel :: King Cheetah :: Quantum Leap Adoptable
#1




I WILL LIVE FOR YOU


Life had always had a funny way of throwing him around.

In the beginning, as a colt, he had lived a rather simple life in the rainforests of Melhaven. Aside from the deadly jaguars lurking within the trees, there had hardly been a worry there. But after several years, Xanthos had grown tired of the humidity, tired of just how crowded it was made by the endless amount of foliage. He missed it, there was no doubt about it, but he simply couldn't see himself ever returning to stay.

Next, he had found himself in Helovia during the grip of winter. The unusual weather had been a shock to his system, but just as he had been promised, he was quick to grow accustomed to it. That same soul who had given said promise had also promised him a home in a place called Frostbreath Steppe. It was a land lost in time, for the ground was always covered in a thick layer of snow, and would never feel the warm breeze of Birdsong. Although he had pledged himself to the purpose of the Plague and try to help win their home back, his thoughts were quick to change regarding the racist unicorns he'd found company in.

Life grew miserable, fast, but there was a golden light shining at the end of his dark tunnel. That golden light's name was Romani.

Overall, his time spent with Romani had been regrettably short, their first meeting coming to a horrid end when Elizabeth had shown up. But despite his Corporal's harsh word's, he had vowed to himself that he would find Romani again one day, hopeful that she would forgive him for what had happened. The grullo had a lot of explaining to do, but thankfully, the Haflinger had been quick to forgive. There was still so much he wanted to tell the palomino, of the so many things that had recently happened to him, like his capture of Mirage, or how he had battled someone to keep her as his prisoner, only to join forces with the Weyrleader in the end. There had been other things, of course, like knocking the Basin's Haruspex to the ground, and attempting to lie to Psyche's face... It was a huge cluster of emotions, for even Xanthos found himself wondering why he was always so torn on decisions. Had he been smart, he would have turned Elizabeth's offer down from the beginning. Then, just maybe, he wouldn't have the whole world pitted against him.

But today was not a day to dwell on these problems.

Keeping himself at a steady canter, Xanthos made his way through the meadow with head held high. It was a beautiful spring day; the sun was high in the sky, and there was the most gentle of breezes to tousle his mane as he moved across the open field. His mission today was simple; to find a gift for Romani, to present to her whenever he managed to find her once again. Up ahead stood a small thicket of trees for which he headed straight for, slowing to a walk when he was upon them. The chatter of birds up above was impossible to miss, for there were many nests settled within the outstretched branches of the trees. Yellow, cat-slitted eyes lifted to where many of the avians perched, squaking their protests against his presence. Xanthos had never liked to disrupt peace, even if recent events were proving otherwise, but he simply could not pass up the idea that had come to his mind.

Suddenly, the stallion's attention was focused upon a blue bird; a blue jay, from what he could tell. A nest sat not far from it, and although he had no way of knowing for sure, he could only guess that there were feathers strewn about up there, but it was too well protected for the gentle wind to blow away. For a moment Xanthos thought, before he had come up with an idea. For a unicorn without magic, his options were limited, and he could only hope it would work. Stepping up to the tree, he knocked into it once, twice, three times. The tree itself was not terribly thick, no more than a foot and a half or two in diameter, and gave way to the force exerted upon it. The blue jay had wasted no time in flying away from the attack upon his home.

When the grullo looked, he was disappointed to see that none had fallen from the safety of the tree limbs, but one lone, single feather was hanging precariously on the edge of where it had been shed. "Seriously?" He cursed softly beneath his breath, but he was far from giving up. After all, it would take little to get it out now. Rising on his haunches, the stallion reached out and knocked his forehooves against the bark of the tree, hitting it as high up as he could manage, while still putting plenty of force behind it. Just as he fell back onto all fours, the feather finally gave in, slipping away from it's perch and drifting back and forth through the air until it floated down to the ground.

With a look of satisfaction, Xanthos dropped his head and took the stem of the feather between his teeth. It was a fine specimen of brilliant blue, striped with glistening black whenever it hit the sunlight. Why a feather, someone may ask? He wasn't sure Romani would appreciate the small gift, but she had never come off as a complicated mare to him. The hue reminded him fondly of her azure eyes, and it was with hope that she would like it as much as he anticipated.

One last, sympathetic look was cast to the angry jay that had finally returned to it's home, before the grullo gave a proud flick of his tail, and turning, he headed back off the way he had came.


ooc - This is simply a post to show how Xanthos got the feather he plans to give Romani, thus using one of my small item prizes. Feel free to post if you've got some crazy idea, though. XD

BEFORE I DIE

Credits

Histe Posts: 99
Deceased
Mare :: Equine :: 15.1 :: 5 Buff: NOVICE
Merikh :: Cougar :: Paralyze ali
#2


HISTE</style>
your breathing sounds like the sickest
music playing backwards in my head
</style>



Blood, dried and crusted was caked over the mare's forelegs, but there was fresh blood that dripped from her muzzle and onto the ground as she walked. Each hoof fall struck the ground with a force that would have made the ground tremble if she were a larger, heavier breed but she was not. Despite that, however, she was not a mare to be trifled with, not one to be taken lightly. The crazed gleam in her eye that was always present was warning enough to most. To those that failed to notice the crazed eyes there was the blood. The ones that did not heed either warning would experience her new taste for flesh and blood.

Beside her a low growl rumbled in Merikh's chest, causing pale eyes to flash briefly in his direction. A slight inclination of her head sent the cougar into the trees to scan the area around them. His keen eyes swept over the land, soon finding the unicorn that he had scented moments earlier. Flashes of what the cougar was seeing was sent to Histe and she smiled to herself. She had been traveling for far too long without any sort of interaction with anyone other than her cougar and the unfortunate animals they fed on together.

Scratching and a soft grunt was the only sound Merikh made as he descended the tree and began to walk with his bonded once more. There was a purpose in her step now that she had a target and that sparked excitement in Merikh. As they drew closer to the unicorn he hung back at crouched down in the tall grass so he was barely visible as he watched.

"Well, well." Histe purred as she neared the unicorn stallion. "What have we here?" Instinctively the mare began to circle around like a vulture. "I've only ever seen deer do what you did." There was a brief look at the tree before she was looking back at Xanthos and smiling again. "Deer is quite tasty, you know." She leaned her neck toward the stallion and snapped her teeth together. "I bet you would be right up there."



ooc:// uhm .. sorry histe is weird >_>

CREDITS

Xanthos Posts: 99
Outcast
Stallion :: Unicorn :: 16hh :: 9 Buff: NOVICE
Azel :: King Cheetah :: Quantum Leap Adoptable
#3




I WILL LIVE FOR YOU


Xanthos had been all ready to go off and and head back to the Edge, but it would seem fate had other plans for him today. Big surprise.

The first inkling that he was not alone came to him on the breeze. There was a sickening metallic scent to it, and instinct immediately told the stallion that he needed to get out of the meadow as quickly as possible. But when his golden eyes landed on the approaching form of an equine, they were alight with confusion and concern. The scent was no doubtedly coming from the mare. A feeling of worry welled deep within the grullo.

Ever so gently he set his newly found feather to the ground, using a hoof to pull close a rock, using it as a weight so that it wouldn't blow away. Quickly he lifted his head back up and turned his attention upon the mare, moving into a walk to approach her. "Are you alri-" he had begun to speak, but was promptly cut off when she herself spoke. He supposed his actions had been strange, yes, but he had had a purpose behind them, and had been succesful with his reasoning. He might have chuckled and gone along with it if not for what she said next.

All of a sudden, any concern he had felt towards the brindle in front of him vanished, and pieces of the puzzle quickly began to fall together. It was not her own blood melded into her hide, and it was not the result of some spar, either. Or at least, not what he would consider one.

A shimmer of fear ceased the grullo at her last words, and although he didn't quite notice, he shifted in discomfort. It only intensified when she began to circle him like a predator. He wanted to whirl around and run away, but he had done enough of that in recent days. Managing to compose himself, Xanthos eyed the mare closely, and dared to open his mouth to speak. "I'm not sure I would agree," he said, taking a rushed step back from her when she snapped her teeth at him. "You know, I was just about to leave, miss. I... I'm sorry, if I've gotten in your way."

BEFORE I DIE

Credits

Histe Posts: 99
Deceased
Mare :: Equine :: 15.1 :: 5 Buff: NOVICE
Merikh :: Cougar :: Paralyze ali
#4


HISTE</style>
your breathing sounds like the sickest
music playing backwards in my head
</style>



"Peachy." Histe growled when the stallion began to ask her how she was. "A little hungry." Her pale eyes glinted as she grinned again. Poor little stallion, already terrified and she had done little more than speak. The brindled mare's head tilted as she watched him for signs of fear. They were very apparent from the posture of his body to the look in his eyes and everything in between.

Her dark tail slashed through the air and she cackled as he backed away as quickly as possible when she snapped at him. Only when he began to stammer about leaving did Merikh make his appearance. Though his growth was stunted from his lack of food he was still a very menacing, very dangerous force to be reckoned with. His teeth and claws could easily rip through flesh and muscle and strike bone.

"Oh, but why leave so early?" She asked. "The party's only just getting started." The sky began to grow dark as dark clouds rolled in and obscured the sun. Thunder rumbled and lightning streaked through the sky, making the threat of the storm all the more real.

"I'm afraid we can't let you leave just yet."


CREDITS

Xanthos Posts: 99
Outcast
Stallion :: Unicorn :: 16hh :: 9 Buff: NOVICE
Azel :: King Cheetah :: Quantum Leap Adoptable
#5




I WILL LIVE FOR YOU


Unwillingly, and somewhat surprisingly, a shiver of fear ran down the grullo's spine as the mare spoke. The way she looked at him, drinking in his every little movement was nothing less than unsettling. Before Xanthos could even figure out what to say next, or form a plan of escape, there was a rustling in the tall grasses and then suddenly, standing before him, appeared a cougar. He was menacing with his long, sharpened teeth, and it was his sudden appearance that let Xanthos know there was no escape.

Pulling his eyes away from the lanky feline, his attention was directed back to the eerie brindle mare as she spoke. Only seconds later did a deep rumbling echo through the skies, and up above them, dark, murky clouds began to gather in mass. The storm was happening all too quickly, faster than he was sure possible. There was no doubt that Histe was the one controlling it. But... what was she planning?

Swallowing the rather impressive lump that had formed in his throat, Xanthos summoned what courage he had left and stood his ground. It was unlikely that he could outrun the storm, and near impossible that he might outrun Merikh, who was built for chasing down and killing prey. "Is it a fight you want?" He asked then, daring to meet those ominously pale eyes. It certainly wasn't what he wanted, but it was all he could think to ask when running wasn't an option. "If not... Then let me leave."

ooc - Awful post ;_; I'm sorry!

BEFORE I DIE

Credits

Sybil Posts: N/A
Unregistered
:: :: ::
#6

Sybil was sprawled in the grass beneath a massive oak glaring intently at a jackdaw that was vigilantly perched upon a nearby rock. Her leonine tail smacked at the insects that harassed her and pounded the earth relentlessly, though she was barely conscious of this action. Mutely she pondered her previous interactions with the jaguar in the Threshold and grinned wondering where the cat had gone off too after her departure. Or for that matter what had become of the stallion she’d left the beast with. The grisly images that danced in her mind allowed for a childish giggle to be emitted from her maw. Though that was soon stifled when the realization that she’d possibly missed a damn good show hit her. Snorting she let her audits fall back against her skull as her thoughts returned to the present and she once again observed the plumed vermin. After quite a few minutes of silence and building irritation at how little attention the bird was paying to her Sybil began to hiss.

“Psssst….pssssssssssssst!”

Gradually her tone grew louder until the fowl finally tilted its crania and watched her reluctantly. Keeping a very stern facial expression Sybil stared back at it gruffly.

“What the hell are you looking at?”

Accusation coated her words as Sybil snarled at the jackdaw. Quickly the bird turned the other way and took flight eager to get away from the putrid figure in the shadows. Once the miniscule creature was gone a smile twisted Sybil’s ugly mug and she abruptly erupted into a fit of laughter. Rolling over, Sybil drew her slender appendages underneath her filthy mold hued cadaver and heaved herself from the soil still very much in hysterics as she tried to gain balance. However her mirth was cut short when the scent of blood glided its way into her nares. Hastily she quieted herself and stared around with serpentine chasms searching for either the gnarled corpse or the predator, but she found neither. It was voices that caught her interest instead, a male and a females yet she couldn’t quite make out their words. When the sky began to obscure Sybil became even more curious as she looked at the firmament with suspicion and intrigue for this was no act of nature but another malicious force.

Whirling around Sybil saw in the distance two horses conversing beneath a tree, one obviously a unicorn and the other seemed to be your standard equine. Sybil resembled neither, though many classified her as an equine and supposedly she was, for she was the owner of a long leonine extension but lacked the decoration of a horn to complete the ensemble. Yet with her absence of a mane and her icy reptilian pools she had an almost snake like appearance which was why, in her homeland, it was believed she was not of equine heritage at all but that her equine dam, Mary, had fornicated with the Ladon, the serpent God, making her an abomination and bring on her banishment along with her mother. Then dear Mary took it upon herself to abandon the atrocious child as well, but who could really blame her? Definitely not Sybil, however that could be because she seriously couldn’t give a fuck.

Dropping her dome Sybil began to slink towards the pair, her tassel flicking like a hunting feline’s as she eyed them ravenously. It was only the tail end of their dialog that she was able to hear but the dread in the male’s voice was pleasing to Sybil causing the grin to propagate once more. Softly Sybil began to chuckle and as she drew closer her snickers grew more raucous, her laugh akin to that of a maniacal hyena, until she was in their midst, her demonic pools darting from the brute to the wretch that stood before him. Sybil’s gaze fell instantly on the mare’s claret stained jaws then down to her gore covered limbs. Reverting back to the wench’s face Sybil locked eyes with her, a feeling welling up in her stomach that she’d never felt before. Who was this homicidal beauty? Sybil was keen to find out but decided to put that endeavor on the back burner for the time being and join the festivities at hand. Glancing for but a second at the cougar Sybil slid into the gap between the two keeping her head low as her lanterns fell back on the craven stallion.

“Scared boy?”

Her tenor was eerie as another vociferous crash of thunder echoed through the meadow. Moving to stand nearer to the brindled jezebel Sybil licked her lips before letting her kissers’ part to release her unnerving voice into the air again.

“Sybil thinks the stallion is all bark and no bite!”

At the last word Sybil lunged forward, taking a snap at the behemoth before quickly pulling back and resorting to her cackles. Sybil’s fanged incisors revealed themselves at last, each one as sharp and long as the next and ready to rip flesh. Oh this poor stallion, what on earth had he gotten himself into?

{ ooc: Sorry that took so long }

image credits

Histe Posts: 99
Deceased
Mare :: Equine :: 15.1 :: 5 Buff: NOVICE
Merikh :: Cougar :: Paralyze ali
#7


HISTE</style>
your breathing sounds like the sickest
music playing backwards in my head
</style>



Blood caked lips cracked into another smile, showing equally blood stained teeth. "A fight." Histe purred raspily as she began to circle the stallion once more. "I don't think you've got much fight in you, stallion." She replied. "You're all flight." A growl from Merikh rumbled and was barely audible over the thunder, but it was enough to show that the cougar agreed with his bonded.

Fight? The idea was laughable.

Histe inhaled deeply and chuckled hoarsely. "I can smell your fear." She taunted. "Delicious." Thunder crashed once more and lightning lit up the sky. The first droplets of rain began to fall, sizzling as they hit the ground and Histe's back. Her skin and muscles twitched against the sting, but in the end her bloody grin only grew wider.

That is until another mare crashed the party.

Her ears laced back against her head and her pale eyes narrowed on the new mare. "And just who are you?" She demanded gruffly.

"Does it matter who she is?"

"No one asked you, mother." Histe shot back at the voice of her mother.

"Don't talk back to me, child. Kill them both."

The striped mare's tail began to twitch back and forth once more as she argued with herself, but she was left grinning once more. "Mother says to kill you both." She announced as Merikh began to close in on Xanthos.




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