05-21-2020, 08:02 PM
GHAUL
And ye shall overthrow their altars, and break their pillars, and burn their groves with fire
Yadigar flexes his wings and does his best to flap them hard enough to take flight. He learned to glide from heights, but the muscles have not developed the mass necessary to lift off just yet. Ghaul admires him with a smile across his scarred lips until an unfamiliar scent crosses his nostrils. He lifts his head, small ears swiveling forward as he sniffs at the air. No, this is quite familiar. A low growl forms down in his chest that causes Gar to visibly wilt in fear. The elder gives a short chittering command and then he slinks forward with his son close behind.
The boy opens his mouth to speak but he shuts it just as quickly when Ghaul hisses back to him. They leave similar claw marks in the sand, one beside the other, as they track the stench dirtying their home. When the sand gives way to pebbles, the two drakes each tuck their wings tight to their backs with their heads lowered. This is the boy’s first real hunt, he realizes with his heart in his throat. Whatever has angered his father this greatly must be some awful thing.
Her voice calls out and Yadigar pauses. His head lifts and his ears stand at attention.
A quick snarl from his father brings him trailing obediently along.
When they find her, her daughter hasn’t even taken her first steps. The younger drake gives a soft whimper of fear as he watches the strange woman and the newborn curled beside her. Ghaul knows the scent of blood from his own birth, but Yadigar had to learn it by losing his eye.
“Father, I think she needs help,” he says softly as he curls himself against the elder’s side. The stars across their faces glimmer wickedly in the shade of the overhang, the child’s eyes wide in fear as his father bears his teeth.
“Yadigar, prodigal son, your mother wants this woman dead. Take her by the throat and bite straight through,” he says before placing a kiss to the child’s brow. But he shrinks back as he shakes his head, weeping softly in terror at even the idea of it. Another growl thunders from Ghaul’s chest and he grips the base of the boy’s wing between his teeth, dragging him forward while he howls in pain. Yadigar thrashes and pleads, begging his father to set him free, but the cries ring out unanswered. With a toss of his head, Ghaul sends the boy stumbling toward Cress.
“Your scales are soft still, my child, and I will crush your throat too,” he warns, stepping closer so he looms over them all with his wings spread wide.
More shaking sobs rack through Yadigar as he turns to Cress mournfully. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry,” he whispers between gasps as he edges closer. All the while, Ghaul watches as a grin smears across his glimmering face. “I’ll make it quick. I’ll keep her safe,” he promises when he lowers his head to hers. He presses his forehead to Cress’s cheek as tears run down both their faces now. Then, quick as he can manages, his opens his jaws wide and aims for the warmest part of her throat. He bites straight through, just as his father commanded, and he does not release her until he’s certain she is gone.
Ghaul finally turns his head and considers the newborn girl observing the entire ordeal.
“Frenzy. Yadigar, this is your sister. You promised to keep her safe, so she is your ward for the rest of your days. Bring her to your mother and tell her it is done,” he declares as he continues to smile. He turns and leaves them then, with the boy shaking and crying as he lifts his head to stare at the girl.
The boy opens his mouth to speak but he shuts it just as quickly when Ghaul hisses back to him. They leave similar claw marks in the sand, one beside the other, as they track the stench dirtying their home. When the sand gives way to pebbles, the two drakes each tuck their wings tight to their backs with their heads lowered. This is the boy’s first real hunt, he realizes with his heart in his throat. Whatever has angered his father this greatly must be some awful thing.
Her voice calls out and Yadigar pauses. His head lifts and his ears stand at attention.
A quick snarl from his father brings him trailing obediently along.
When they find her, her daughter hasn’t even taken her first steps. The younger drake gives a soft whimper of fear as he watches the strange woman and the newborn curled beside her. Ghaul knows the scent of blood from his own birth, but Yadigar had to learn it by losing his eye.
“Father, I think she needs help,” he says softly as he curls himself against the elder’s side. The stars across their faces glimmer wickedly in the shade of the overhang, the child’s eyes wide in fear as his father bears his teeth.
“Yadigar, prodigal son, your mother wants this woman dead. Take her by the throat and bite straight through,” he says before placing a kiss to the child’s brow. But he shrinks back as he shakes his head, weeping softly in terror at even the idea of it. Another growl thunders from Ghaul’s chest and he grips the base of the boy’s wing between his teeth, dragging him forward while he howls in pain. Yadigar thrashes and pleads, begging his father to set him free, but the cries ring out unanswered. With a toss of his head, Ghaul sends the boy stumbling toward Cress.
“Your scales are soft still, my child, and I will crush your throat too,” he warns, stepping closer so he looms over them all with his wings spread wide.
More shaking sobs rack through Yadigar as he turns to Cress mournfully. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry,” he whispers between gasps as he edges closer. All the while, Ghaul watches as a grin smears across his glimmering face. “I’ll make it quick. I’ll keep her safe,” he promises when he lowers his head to hers. He presses his forehead to Cress’s cheek as tears run down both their faces now. Then, quick as he can manages, his opens his jaws wide and aims for the warmest part of her throat. He bites straight through, just as his father commanded, and he does not release her until he’s certain she is gone.
Ghaul finally turns his head and considers the newborn girl observing the entire ordeal.
“Frenzy. Yadigar, this is your sister. You promised to keep her safe, so she is your ward for the rest of your days. Bring her to your mother and tell her it is done,” he declares as he continues to smile. He turns and leaves them then, with the boy shaking and crying as he lifts his head to stare at the girl.