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Curiosity Killed the Cat - Kaenros - 02-06-2021 Freedom was odd even after a year. Not so odd that he disliked it. No. It was odd that he had no one but himself to respond to. Four years of studying, of beatings, of studying some more, had lead him astray of the monastery to... here. Kaenros wasn’t quite sure what or where here was but it didn’t much matter. A place was a place was a place. Another pass through, perhaps? Upon his arrival, the smell of wolves was no where to be found so he was certain this was not the land he had been searching for. In fact, the only scent his mismatched nostrils pulled was the brine of his own salt and sand crusted hide and the warmth of other equines. In all honesty, he couldn’t believe the nerve he had had to think he wanted to wash ashore there if the place was even real. Intelligent or not, in the state he had arrived, he would’ve for sure been eaten. The weather had turned sour in an instant and there was nothing he could do but keep his head above water and pray to the old gods. The sky he had awoken too had been kind, something he assumed to be a still, overcast night. Or evening? Or perhaps even morning. But it seemed the wind had brought back the overburdened clouds that had thrown him off course to begin with in a world that still held light. Overhead, thunder rolled softly in the persistent midnight and he raised his head from the fodder he had been nosing through to draw in another heavy breath. Rain would be coming again soon. The burnished stallion didn’t quite know how much this new territory had gotten in previous days or even earlier this day?, but he wasn’t keen to be caught next to an unfamiliar river. He was sure he had seen a massive tree not too far in the distance when there had been a few scattered strikes of lightning and Kaenros was eager to see what kind of protection it could offer. He picked up his meandering walk, slipping into a smooth lope, and headed in the direction he had last seen the behemoth. edited to fit swp RE: Curiosity Killed the Cat - Dretch - 02-06-2021 DRETCH
@[Kaenros] RE: Curiosity Killed the Cat - Kaenros - 02-06-2021 It didn’t take the leggy stallion long to reach his destination. Or more nearly reach it. The brisk wind carried with it a different smell than the comforting one of equines just a few horse-lengths before he broke the tree-line. This is one he knew as death and volcanic emissions, something he was familiar with sticking together. Kaenros’ curled ears pricked curiously as he continued to huff the air. Perhaps there were geothermic vents under the tree? If he could stay upwind of them he could benefit from the warmed earth while he waited for morning and avoid whatever poor creature had succumbed to the noxious fumes. Long, black limbs pounded effortless against the well worn path beneath him, their master eager to learn of what lay beneath the grand tree. However, that eagerness began to wane when the scent grew fainter despite the wind not shifting in any drastic manner. A sense of nervousness began to set in as Kaenros broke the tree-line and entered into what he could only discern as a barren field. Sparse leaf litter shifted below him as he continued his path and he could not see any trees nearby any longer, cementing his theory. The prickle in his gut grew as he felt eyes watching him but the wind was not in his favor to detect the shape-shifting stranger. All the same, he turned his head to where he sensed the presence and was struck dead in his tracks by the screech that ripped through the already tumultuous night. His small head whipped back around to face the tree, iridescent eyes white walled. The scent from earlier nearly overpowered him now, assaulting his mismatched nostrils as though blown directly into them like hot breath. It took but seconds to get close enough for Kaenros to see anything in the all encompassing darkness. He’d definitely take the talking wolves. His sinewy haunches launched him to the side of the hurtling monstrosity. He threw his head back and caught himself unceremoniously on his thin front legs, rear end sliding on the bare ground just out of reach of the thing’s front legs. The metallic stallion didn’t get a chance to make another leap as one of its many back limbs caught his flank. He let out a scream as it’s claws dug into his greying hindquarters, pain searing through him like fire. Reacting purely on instinct, Kaenros threw his rear legs back and was lucky enough to land on the front quarter of the arachnid-like beast when it turned to latch more of its claws into him. It released him just long enough for him to hurtle forward once again, ducking his head to avoid another hit as it’s frantic wing beats crashed over him. He could hear them scrape the ground once then twice as it gained just enough altitude to avoid another kick, hot on his tail. The bay knew someone else was here, be it predator or prey. With the mere heartbeats it took for his part to play out, Kaenros was sure they were still in the vicinity and sure of where he felt their gaze. If he was going to survive the night, it was them or him. @[Dretch] minor power play allowed in response; the monster can give him minor scratches/cuts/grab hold, dretch is allowed to shove him aside, etc. nothing major. he’s not a fighter but i’d still like him intact XD RE: Curiosity Killed the Cat - Dretch - 02-11-2021 DRETCH
@[Kaenros] RE: Curiosity Killed the Cat - Kaenros - 02-12-2021 Any other lone predator would’ve taken that kick and retreated. They wouldn’t have risked a second or third that could’ve maimed or killed them. But this thing? It wasn’t any other predator. Despite bashing into branches with the tips of its leathery wings and a chase that would surely lead it into thicker terrain, it kept coming. Kaenros just hoped that the rough light path it was taking would hold it back long enough for him to pawn it off on the other creature in the field. His adrenaline fueled daze was interrupted by a soft hissing and grunting coming from ahead. It didn’t last long but was enough to give him a better point of reference as to where he needed to head. Just as black limbs began their slightly altered path, Kaenros launched from a sprint to another gear he didn’t know he had. He had caught sight of the cat-shaped thing just before it disappeared beneath the monster and was certain it was the reason the disgusting thing hadn’t backed off from difficult prey. Why would it when it had back up that he had lead it straight to? Stretching his head out even farther, he barely saw where the cat had launched itself and let out a half-whinny, half-snort of surprise. The stench that emanated from the wounds punctured in the arachnid beast was even worse than its body odor. Kaenros couldn’t believe the scene behind him, nor the feminine laughter now coming from the hell-born sight, but also couldn’t stop to take it in. He could just barely make out the cat between furious, teetering leather wings as the monster refused to give up on its pursuit of him despite its new passenger. The tree line couldn’t be too much farther now. He’d be able to slip away from this whole nightmare and break back to the shore. The queen of Palamov herself wasn’t worth this. ”Oi!” what? Kaenros turned his head to try to get a better look at whichever one of the predators had spoken. His iridescent eye flickering from the shaggy furred hell creature now rocking frantically to its smaller, feline rider clinging to its segmented back. That’s when the voice came again, the tone light and words almost playful. His shock kept him from fully comprehending exactly what was being asked of him but they weren’t truly meant for him anyways. The absolute, whole body numbness was overtaken completely by a chill that soaked into his bones when the pair suddenly disappeared from his limited view. Ears pricked to the sound of claws sliding through leaf litter, he planted his forelegs, tucked his head, and began to lash out in another wild kick. He wasn’t keen on letting it close enough to hook its claws in again. When he made contact, he let loose a half-squeal, half-snort. His target was much closer than he had prepared for. Just barely beginning to stretch his limbs out to land a blow, the weight that crashed into his hocks was lithe and firmly bound in thin fur and muscle, not even half the size of the beast. It was there for a brief moment before black capped limbs flung it back the way it had come. Kaenros landed heavily in the firm earth and pushed his long frame forward once again in another leap away from the scrambling noises and heavy panting behind him. Even if he had looked back now to confirm what had been caught in his kick, he wouldn’t have been able to make out the cat-turned-horse currently facing the still raging monster. It was only when the world grew still did his small hooves come to an uneasy stand, quite a few yards now from the pair of combatants. Finally the world was lit again. The cat was gone and there stood a very confused looking beast. With its limp wings and almost lost expression flickering across too many eyes to count in the brief second of light, it almost looked pitiful covered in thick, oozing secretions that matted its black fur. He figured that had been the source of the new foulness in the air and the result of the now vanished cat’s claws. Kaenros’ limbs scream to run. To get away from the thing. But he couldn’t move until he knew where the other predator had gone. Though it didn’t seem interested in him, that chance was still there. With the next flash of lightning, he didn’t have to make that decision. From just above the hell-beast, a massive hairless creature had appeared. The now pitiful thing stood no chance. It’s last action had been to let out a sick, wet gurgle from its pulverized lungs trapped beneath the immense heft of the entity dropped above it. Still just out of range to view the stranger’s newest transformation, it was her voice and laughter that lead him to abandon his worry about the cat. The cat-giant that could also apparently turn invisible, had stuck her neck out to save him. Or perhaps just wallow in the remains of her kill. The wet sucking noises and rancid, sulfuric stench coming from the direction of the massacre painted a vivid enough picture for him, one he was thankful was at least mostly swallowed by the darkness as he very cautiously approached the now-horse(which was not surprising at this point in the ordeal). His brain, still fighting with his instincts to flee, took a bit longer than expected to formulate words. At least his tumultuous mind gave his body time to close the gap. Kaenros was sure to stop just outside of the splatter. With how the thing reeked, it’s bodily fluids could be corrosive or carry pathogens he wasn’t keen on catching. Head low to give one of the leathery wings a cautionary huff, he finally found his voice. "Are you alright?" was the best he could come up with. His tone was uncertain though there was genuine concern there. She had just been through quite the ordeal even though she looked wholly intact despite being batted around by wings and then his own legs. The multi-hued stallion’s wounds, all but forgotten with the adrenaline still pumping in his veins, were the only source of copper blood he could scent but she was rolling about in the remains of her kill. Beyond the all encompassing dark, the viscera clinging to the young mare’s well built frame made it hard to distinguish much of her dark features. Having allowed a few seconds to pass for her answer, he raised his delicate head back up to rest high above his narrow shoulders. With a soft dip of it, Kaenros spoke again with gratitude coloring his rich voice. "I must thank you for saving me," polite words stinging his throat on the way out. He was going to pawn this creature off on her to save his own hide while she had killed it for the both of them. Was it guilt that was eating away at the pit of his stomach or embarrassment that he was too weak to hold his own. The fresh gouges near his right hip had begun to make their presence known as his body began to calm, giving him something else to focus on. Nevertheless, he had to know more about how she had done it. ”You’re a shifter, correct? I’ve never seen either the cat or the hairless beast you turned into..." Iridescent eyes growing curious, he continued on with a curt jerk of his head towards the absolute mess of inky flesh, bone, and thick, black fur, "Nor that thing." @[Dretch] RE: Curiosity Killed the Cat - Dretch - 02-15-2021 DRETCH
@[Kaenros] |