Adonis stiffened as men suddenly began running all around the camp. There were more people here than he expected. He turned to go back toward his entrance point, but found that soldiers had worked their way back toward that direction already. Stupid...he'd known this was a stupid idea. He made his way past a few more tents before he had to stand idly still, posing as one of their beasts. No one seemed to notice him, and when he had a chance, he moved onward again. He knew where they were; he could feel it in his gut as his racial instincts took over. They were right over....there. He trotted around a large tent and spotted the two humans inside a ring of awnings.
They appeared to be alive, and...oh, god. Adonis forced his legs steady as he approached them, feeling in all respects like he was swimming through blood to get to them. Kratos was covered in gore so thick it made the unicorn faint. Adonis passed him edgily and came beside Neko's battered form. Telanis would not understand what he was looking at right now, but Adonis did. And for all his careful planning, he realized he wasn't going to leave here like he planned. Just great. He lowered his head to see what kind of bindings the girl wore.
Lore: Behind Stone Walls
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Mizuki
Adonis' warm, soft breath startled Neko. She could not see him, and realize that he was only a horse, so she identified him as one of the soldiers... come back to finish the job.
"N-no," her broken protest came hoarse from her lips as she tried to scoot away. "Haven't you broken me enough...?" she cried and grimaced as her bruises stung her more as she moved.
"N-no," her broken protest came hoarse from her lips as she tried to scoot away. "Haven't you broken me enough...?" she cried and grimaced as her bruises stung her more as she moved.
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Soran Nightblade
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Adonis cringed at the despair that arced throguh his frame from Neko's emotions. This was much worse than he'd expected. He couldn't believe he was helping a pair of useless humans, but now that he was stuck here, he might as well finish what he started.
He moved his head slowly behind Neko to avoid scaring her, and bit his teeth into the rope that tied her hands. The stench of blood from her raw wrists was nauseating as he worked through the rope, but it finally snapped loose, dropping Neko's arms suddenly to her sides. It was times like this that he really preferred his human form with arms, but that was not going to work for this situation.
He nickered quietly in her ear and knelt next to her, trying to help her onto his back by tugging what remained of her shirt with his teeth. He had serious doubts about how he was going to get the girl out of here unlesss she perked up, to say nothing of the bleeding mass of a sibling hanging from the post over there. He had no particular interest in the man anyway, so he didn't invest concern in the issue for the time being.
* * * *
Telanis laughed gently in Laya's mind. "I suppose it is soft, though your mane is beautiful as well." He nosed a lock of loose hair back behind her ear. "I keep trying, but i can't sense which direction Neko and Kratos are in. It's beginning to get dark; I believe our best choice is to pick a direction and hope it brings us closer to the others.
He moved his head slowly behind Neko to avoid scaring her, and bit his teeth into the rope that tied her hands. The stench of blood from her raw wrists was nauseating as he worked through the rope, but it finally snapped loose, dropping Neko's arms suddenly to her sides. It was times like this that he really preferred his human form with arms, but that was not going to work for this situation.
He nickered quietly in her ear and knelt next to her, trying to help her onto his back by tugging what remained of her shirt with his teeth. He had serious doubts about how he was going to get the girl out of here unlesss she perked up, to say nothing of the bleeding mass of a sibling hanging from the post over there. He had no particular interest in the man anyway, so he didn't invest concern in the issue for the time being.
* * * *
Telanis laughed gently in Laya's mind. "I suppose it is soft, though your mane is beautiful as well." He nosed a lock of loose hair back behind her ear. "I keep trying, but i can't sense which direction Neko and Kratos are in. It's beginning to get dark; I believe our best choice is to pick a direction and hope it brings us closer to the others.
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Mizuki
Neko's panic stilled for the time being, and she used her freed hands to wrench the blindfold from her face. On her knees now, she stared dumbfounded at the black horse in front of her. As if in a dream, Neko stretched out a hand slowly to touch Adonis' mane, and breathed a sighed of relief.
"I am... dead then..." her eyes misting over, her mind desperately trying to escape her torture. A ghost of a smile appeared on her lips as she stood up in a dream filled, half mad, haze. "I must... get my brother, dear..."
Limping but not giving it notice, Neko went to her bound brother, only seeing herself as taking his soul away from his pain. "Come brother, we'll go to Heaven and see mother again." Deftly Neko untied her brother and he fell into her arms with a grunt of pain. She hushed him and helped him to walk back to Adonis, her angel of death in her escaping mind.
"We can go now..." she said softly.
"I am... dead then..." her eyes misting over, her mind desperately trying to escape her torture. A ghost of a smile appeared on her lips as she stood up in a dream filled, half mad, haze. "I must... get my brother, dear..."
Limping but not giving it notice, Neko went to her bound brother, only seeing herself as taking his soul away from his pain. "Come brother, we'll go to Heaven and see mother again." Deftly Neko untied her brother and he fell into her arms with a grunt of pain. She hushed him and helped him to walk back to Adonis, her angel of death in her escaping mind.
"We can go now..." she said softly.
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Soran Nightblade
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Adonis wasn't sure what to make of Neko's actions. He didn't understand where she was getting all this strength from, but it was a good thing she was. He stood up and circled next to them dizzily, offering his back. It would be a miracle if he managed to carry them out of here without being paralyzed by their blood. His blood was rushing in his ears already, and his legs didn't want to move. He whinnied at them hurriedly, hoping they'd get on so they could get out.
Around the corner of one of the tents, a soldier noticed the prisoners up on their feet and cried out "The prisoners are escaping!"
Around the corner of one of the tents, a soldier noticed the prisoners up on their feet and cried out "The prisoners are escaping!"
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Mizuki
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Adonis glanced back at Neko uncertainly, but couldn't agree more. When he first moved to run, his legs dipped dangerously sideways, but he managed to get going without unseating his mounts. Once he was running, it made things a little easier as the wind dulled the effects of the blood. He was about half way out of the village when they met their first wave of real interference; a group of three soldiers who dove out at them from the side with scimitars.
Adonis skidded and managed to redirect sideways, running as fast as he could laden with two humans on his back, but it wasn't fast enough to really outrun them. He felt a sharp sting on his rear thigh as he ran for all he was worth out of the camp with the small group of soldiers still chasing from behind. Even on foot, they were easily keeping up with Adonis's pace. The unicorn dug for a little more strength.
Adonis skidded and managed to redirect sideways, running as fast as he could laden with two humans on his back, but it wasn't fast enough to really outrun them. He felt a sharp sting on his rear thigh as he ran for all he was worth out of the camp with the small group of soldiers still chasing from behind. Even on foot, they were easily keeping up with Adonis's pace. The unicorn dug for a little more strength.
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Mizuki
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Emora Deen
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Laya nodded, though a bit sad to move. She had almost fallen a sleep for a moment there. "I guess we should keep moving..." She used the tree to help her stand up and started walking, beconing Telanis to follow. "Maybe we should keep going straight?" she asked, her hair falling in front of her face as she stumbled. She pushed it back, yawning slightly.
"We'll need to stop eventually. It will get to dark to walk. We could get hurt," she said and looked around. "Though there is nothing to build a fire with... no flint. Not to mention if they are looking for us we do not need to make a beacon for them to find us by..."
"We'll need to stop eventually. It will get to dark to walk. We could get hurt," she said and looked around. "Though there is nothing to build a fire with... no flint. Not to mention if they are looking for us we do not need to make a beacon for them to find us by..."
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Soran Nightblade
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Adonis's ears twitched back at Neko as he ran for their lives. And suddenly he had that last ounce of energy he needed. He slowly began pulling ahead of their pursuers. It was hard to put much distance between them when any antics or sudden turns might unseat his riders, or simply throw him over sideways off balance. He panted with effort, sweat foaming on his neck.
One of the men chasing them took his sword and threw it like a spear at the fleeing horse. Adonis tripped as the blade struck him in the hip and hit bone. He grunted and nearly fell over; this was the time to do something desperate. He spun an about-face on his attackers, skidding to a halt, and lowered his head, a low magical chant filling the air. Blue-black magic began swirling around their enemies, and then suddenly wrapped around them tight. The weapons fell instantly to the ground as the men began gagging and choking for breath.
While his curse did its work, Adonis turned left and made his escape at a slow lope that allowed him to favor his wounded leg. The black magic made his whole body ache, as usual, but it had served its purpose. He didn't break pace for another ten minutes, when he was fairly sure he'd made it off their trail.
There, he knelt sloppily to the ground and unloaded the two wounded humans onto the forest floor. He looked over his wounds, which would take several hours to heal, and then examined Neko. He nudged the girl gently, wondering if she could see him there and if she even recognized him. He wished he could separate her from Kratos so he could see to her without the overpowering stench of blood, but now that the adrenaline was fading and they were out of danger, the strength in his legs was draining out like pudding. He shook his head and struggled stiffly away to a safer location about 20 feet from the humans. He had to recover enough to get his head straight again before he could hope to care for the humans.
Care for the humans..... what the hell was he doing?
One of the men chasing them took his sword and threw it like a spear at the fleeing horse. Adonis tripped as the blade struck him in the hip and hit bone. He grunted and nearly fell over; this was the time to do something desperate. He spun an about-face on his attackers, skidding to a halt, and lowered his head, a low magical chant filling the air. Blue-black magic began swirling around their enemies, and then suddenly wrapped around them tight. The weapons fell instantly to the ground as the men began gagging and choking for breath.
While his curse did its work, Adonis turned left and made his escape at a slow lope that allowed him to favor his wounded leg. The black magic made his whole body ache, as usual, but it had served its purpose. He didn't break pace for another ten minutes, when he was fairly sure he'd made it off their trail.
There, he knelt sloppily to the ground and unloaded the two wounded humans onto the forest floor. He looked over his wounds, which would take several hours to heal, and then examined Neko. He nudged the girl gently, wondering if she could see him there and if she even recognized him. He wished he could separate her from Kratos so he could see to her without the overpowering stench of blood, but now that the adrenaline was fading and they were out of danger, the strength in his legs was draining out like pudding. He shook his head and struggled stiffly away to a safer location about 20 feet from the humans. He had to recover enough to get his head straight again before he could hope to care for the humans.
Care for the humans..... what the hell was he doing?
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Mizuki
Recognizing that they were out of danger, Neko saw to placing her brother in a more comfortable position, her mind switching back to thinking they were dead.
"You shouldn't feel pain anymore..." she said, her brow furrowing in confusion for in her current mind-set she did not understand why Kratos would be in pain if he was dead. Getting up, Neko went to Adonis, the Angel of death to her. "Why does he still hurt?" she asked with tears in her eyes. She did not see that the horse was wounded in the darkness.
"You shouldn't feel pain anymore..." she said, her brow furrowing in confusion for in her current mind-set she did not understand why Kratos would be in pain if he was dead. Getting up, Neko went to Adonis, the Angel of death to her. "Why does he still hurt?" she asked with tears in her eyes. She did not see that the horse was wounded in the darkness.
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Soran Nightblade
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"The same reason that YOU still hurt," Adonis muttered weakly, too tired to conceal his voice for the time being.
* * * *
Telanis knew that Laya was right. It was getting dark, but it felt like they had to try something. "Ok, let us go straight," he said, leading them a few yards forward, and then froze.
A low demonic growl emerged from the branches above them.
* * * *
Telanis knew that Laya was right. It was getting dark, but it felt like they had to try something. "Ok, let us go straight," he said, leading them a few yards forward, and then froze.
A low demonic growl emerged from the branches above them.
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Emora Deen
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Laya froze, slightly shifting closer to Telanis. She glanced to the side out of the corner of her eye. Her heart began to thud faster and faster in her chest. She turned her head ever so slowly, turning around and looking up towards the branches, swallowing hard as she did so. Afraid mostly of what she would find.
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Mizuki
Oddly, the voice was familiar to Neko, but... well...
"But... you're..." She trailed off, somewhere in her consciousness she was deciding something but even she didn't know what. Kneeling without saying anything else, Neko placed her hands gently on Adonis' body and began to gently feel for the wounds he had spoken of to her.
Feet away, Kratos groaned back to consciousness and gingerly sat up with his world swimming.
"But... you're..." She trailed off, somewhere in her consciousness she was deciding something but even she didn't know what. Kneeling without saying anything else, Neko placed her hands gently on Adonis' body and began to gently feel for the wounds he had spoken of to her.
Feet away, Kratos groaned back to consciousness and gingerly sat up with his world swimming.
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Soran Nightblade
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Adonis felt a spike of annoyance as Neko's hands found one of his gashes. "I'm fine, I meant you," he said, taking a controlled step back from her. He glanced over at her brother, who was making a lovely mess on the forest floor and driving the unicorn's senses to all distraction. It was hard to think. Unfortunately, Adonis had forsaken his healing gift when he accepted the power of the black stone on his forehead. He could put Kratos out of his misery, but there was little to be done for his wounds except conventional medicine. Until they got them both cleaned off, there was little he could do. Where to find water...
* * *
Telanis urged Laya back behind him, slowly retreating as the growling grew louder. Sounds of more things crashing through the trees in the distance told them this creature was not alone, whatever it was. Telanis was confused; normally, no natural creature would attack a unicorn or those under its protection. It was a code, or an instinct that even the demons understood. But anything was possible... "Who is there that dares threaten my kind?" Telanis's voice rose sternly through the forest.
Finally, a large, apelike creature with coarse black fur and two horns rising from its head leapt down out of the tree, straight at them. Telanis lurched sideways as the animal landed right where he'd been standing and spun towards him, enormous teeth that seemed too big for its mouth bared.
Telanis blinked in wary confusion. The look on its face was ferocious - and scared. More things were still crashing toward them from the forest behind him.
* * *
Telanis urged Laya back behind him, slowly retreating as the growling grew louder. Sounds of more things crashing through the trees in the distance told them this creature was not alone, whatever it was. Telanis was confused; normally, no natural creature would attack a unicorn or those under its protection. It was a code, or an instinct that even the demons understood. But anything was possible... "Who is there that dares threaten my kind?" Telanis's voice rose sternly through the forest.
Finally, a large, apelike creature with coarse black fur and two horns rising from its head leapt down out of the tree, straight at them. Telanis lurched sideways as the animal landed right where he'd been standing and spun towards him, enormous teeth that seemed too big for its mouth bared.
Telanis blinked in wary confusion. The look on its face was ferocious - and scared. More things were still crashing toward them from the forest behind him.