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 Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 7:53 pm
Panth stalked through the forests, north of the Neverlin base he called home. Though he understood and appreciated why his Master punished him the night before, he was furious that he had had a chance to prove his worth and had it slip through his fingers in the form of an elegant pink Kage named Varys. If he continued coming home empty-handed like that, his Master would be happy to replace him. Perhaps with Varys...
The black Kage spit into the grass, leaping over a fallen log and scrambling over stones. He wanted to get away. From Varys, mostly. He was visibly frustrated, no longer a shadow lurking but a beast throwing himself against the small trees and bushes in his way. Saplings snapped underfoot and birds went all aflutter in fear. He had left the "dead" area of the forest, where animals dared not tread, and back where fauna were plentiful. He would bring home a feast to please Master, and find poison to drop into Varys' plate.
He smiled to himself smugly for a moment, unaware if any Kage or humans were around. He had made quite a ruckus, but he was hardly in the frame of mind to be subtle.
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Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 8:32 pm
Careful, cautious, paranoid. Any of these would have been used to great effect to describe this female's state of mind. Her precious son had ventured out on his own a few months back leaving her with her long time companion Indivar. Something strange had overcome her father figure when they had neared this forest, all of the careless ease she had grown accustom to had all but vanished. He'd grown tense, but focused, constantly looking over his shoulder at shadows.
Last night had been the worst of it. With only a warning to stay in the well sunlit areas of the forest, and promise to return within a few days he'd left.
This particular kage didn't do 'alone' to well, as evident from her current state.
She'd spent the rest of the night hidden in a bush, nervously staring out into the forest waiting for something, anything to happen. Sunrise hadn't come fast enough, and when it did it brought her little comfort. As they say, the bigger the light, the bigger the shadows.
She couldn't remain in her bush all day so she had set out at high noon, slinking along belly to the floor. Every sound and shadow only egged her paranoia on more as she desperately tried to find her way out of this forsaken forest that had torn her companion away from her, for whatever his reasons might be.
Then she heard something.
It wasn't just a twig snap or some other random noise. It was a loud cacophany of sounds; branches breaking, leaves rustling, flocks of scattering birds....and whatever it was seemed to be coming her way. Indivar had once said it was the enemies you don't see or hear that you needed to be cautious of....but anything that could barrel through the forest like that without a worry was certainly something to be reckoned with.
And Ardelle wanted absolutely nothing to do with whatever beast was heading her way and fast. She backpedaled quickly, making sure to face the direction it was coming from, and slipped underneath one of the bushes.
She could only hope that whatever it was would just pass right on by.
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Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 8:57 pm
Without his sentry web of magic that surrounded his base's forest, he didn't notice the other Kage hiding in the brush. He continued rampaging, whispering to himself angrily. The smell of deer crossed his snout, and his face whipped towards it, fury in his eyes. He leapt after it like a jackrabbit out of hell, his black form surprising and overpowering a large doe that was at least a hundred feet away. She had been cautiously watching and backing away, only to have her throat torn away and spat back out. He dragged it along, eyes searching. What else can I bring back with me? A pheasant to go along with this fresh venison... or maybe a bear.
And that's when he smelled her.
He dropped the meat from his mouth, blood glistening against his white teeth. "I smell you, little one..." he began, looking about with great interest. Truly, if he was able to bring home both a Kage and a feast, he was certain he'd be able to erase Varys from the picture completely. He'd be in the spotlight yet again. A part of something greater. And if not, adrenaline was already pumping through his system, preparing him for a real fight. "Come, show yourself, I am the shepherd of lost little monsters." He smirked at that line, beginning to pace the perimeter to see what he could find.
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Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 9:22 pm
For a moment a part of her was elated when she saw Panth come barreling through. It wasn't a human, or wildlife, or a monster. It was another Kage like her! Maybe she wouldn't have to be alone after all!
And then that little spark of hope fizzled.
She was no stranger to hunting. She'd done it and she'd watched her father hunt more time than she could count, but never anything like she'd just witnessed. The black Kage had all but flown across the area before his teeth locked on to the doe's throat without a moment's pause. Just like that a life was taken, no hesitation, no remorse. The raw display of speed and power sent a thrill through her. She hadn't eaten since early yesterday morning.
And then the paranoia picked up again. 'I....if he could do that, to that deer...then w...what would he do with me?' The awe was fading away as quickly as it had come, only for panic to set back in. She heard his words a split second later, barely audible at the distance but it was enough to make her blood run cold. With a faint 'eeep' she backpedaled again and in her anxiety snapped a few twigs. 'No no no!" Realizing her error she had but one option, and tore out of the bushes like a bat outta hell.
The chase was on.
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Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 9:48 pm
Panth's eyes locked onto the fleeing Kage, farther off into the distance than he had imagined. He was loathe to leave his catch here, as he may never stumble upon it again-- but he could always find more. Kage were rare. Kage were needed. Varys says the Master wants books... but I know our ranks shrink after every outing. We need this runt. It only took a second or two before his mind was made up, and he bolted after her, his body a swift shadow across the forest. No longer meandering and furious, he was careful and calculated once again. After all, he wouldn't aim to kill the poor thing, just maim her into submission. He fancied himself merciful.
"Sweetling, truly, there's no reason to run," his voice came like cold honey-- sugary, but hard and slow. Unfortunately, she had given him no chance to sweet-talk her and she most likely wouldn't stop for him for an instant. He would hunt her down and make her listen.
His powerful black body swept over the grass, dead branches and logs that would cause smaller Kage to balk. He would capture her easily in his teeth unless she weaved through the underbrush. "Truly! I just want to talk!"
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Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 10:01 pm
She was indeed on the scrawny side, but she was whip-quick if nothing else, much like a rabbit. The comparison summed the situation up quite nicely.
She was far from quiet though, and it was a miracle she could even hear his voice over the sound of snapping branches and the alarm bells going off inside of her head. 'Lies! Don't listen! Keep moving!' No matter how much she wanted to believe the other kage's words, the ingrain paranoia wouldn't even consider such a notion at this point.
Her error came when she chose to look back; to judge the distance between them of course, not because she was actually pondering his pleas, she wouldn't believe a word coming from the vicious shadow! Her demise came in the form of a shallow tree root that was noticed a second to late when her head swiveled back. There was a sharp yelp, followed by the rustling and snapping of branches, and finally nothing as she crashed to the ground dazed and unable to tell her ups from her downs.
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 9:31 pm
Panth seized the opportunity as he closed in on her, his lips curling into a sneer, still stained crimson by his previous catch. He leapt over the tree root and pounced onto the red Kage, tumbling over her and using every ounce of effort to keep her pinned down like a scrambling hare.
"If you had just listened, I wouldn't have to be so harsh with you!" he barked, his black eyes shining with bloodlust. He wanted to bite into her, he truly did-- he craved that warm flesh in his mouth. But he knew his Master had bigger plans for every Kage and the chase would end fruitlessly for him. Growling, he pushed her down harder, his mouth at her ear. "You're going to come home with me, little one."
With his face so close to her body, he could hear her frantic heartbeat and smell the sweat on her skin. He looked down at her, noticing her scared blue eyes and colorful markings. She interested him, at least. Shaking his head, he attempted to clear his mind of distractions. Slowly, he released pressure on her body, still watching her warily.
"And if you bolt again, I will gladly break your legs."
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Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 8:19 pm
Ardelle shrieked as she felt the other kage ontop of her. She was little match for his size and strength, but she scrambled and clawed at the male the best she could but it was pretty much all in vain.
A bit of spark rose up in her and she clung to it. "It's not my fault you look like a demon possessed!" It was easier to fear the unknown. Sure she wouldn't stand a chance against a kage like Panth but he was something tangible, something she could fight and run away from and snarl at. It did wonders for her confidence, if only for the moment.
"It's you and this bedamned forest! I'm all alone because of you!" She snarled back, but her body went limp from exhaustion, the chase and struggle catching up up with her. "He wouldn't have left if we hadn't come here...."
When he finally let up she quickly flipped back onto all fours, crouched defensively. "You almost did before, I wouldn't doubt it." She stood slowly and shakily, wincing at the pain that flared up in various spots from her scuffle.
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Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2011 8:54 am
Panth feigned a hurt look as she spilled her insults over him. "Tch, you have far worse things to fear than me if you're afraid of demons." His breathing slowly returned to normal, taking a moment to shake loose bits of fur from the skirmish. These Kage he found alone, they always had a story. A cute little story before he murdered or kidnapped them. "Aw, your male ran off and left you all alone? Pity, I'd have loved a good duel for the fair maiden's hand."
He nipped at her heels to get her moving. "This way."
As they made their way back to the Neverlin Base, the forest would get quieter and quieter until the only sounds were the cacophony of their foliage-trudging. He would watch her warily, ready to strike if he sensed she was ready to flee again. His mind wandered again as he imagined pinning her down, their warm bodies entangled in violence and lust. His face hardened as he realized he was fantasizing. Whether male or female... it is just another pawn for the Master. Don't get attached.
The air around them would begin to get heavy as they closed in on the Neverlin Base, as if the gravity was twice as strong and the air was tangible.
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Posted: Tue Oct 04, 2011 10:23 pm
Fair maiden she was not, evident by the withering look she sent the male at his words. He didn't understand the situation and he wouldn't be getting any more information out of her. Infact aside from a general hiss when he'd n** at her, she didn't say much of anything.
It was clear the surroundings were starting to get to her again, especially as they proceeded into the forest. It might've been the encroaching darkness and shadows, or the strange pressure that grew as they made their way farther into the strange forest. Whatever it was, clearly had her on edge once again. Every strange sound or sudden shadow had her drawing closer to the male in a bid of safety. He hadn't killed her outright, which meant he wanted her for some reason.
He didn't seem like the kind of guy who'd let someone or thing take something he wanted away, and there was a bit of security in that. She would just have to stay on his good side.
Had she known the thoughts running through his head, she would've chanced the wild.
Instead she would stick around, but she would make sure he was well aware of her displeasure at the situation. "Do we really have to go farther in? It doesn't feel right! What if there are demons or something?"
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Posted: Wed Oct 05, 2011 7:53 pm
"But we're already home," he revealed, as they penetrated the magic bubble-like atmosphere of the Base. The sky was immediately darker, and the forest around them suddenly turned dark and blurry. Magical torches and braziers were lit about the scant village around them. As usual, it was empty-- everyone would be deep underground in their real lairs.
He also knew his Master would be hard at work during this hour of the day, and he wouldn't intrude even if he came bearing a chest of gold coins or a dragon's head. Instead, he peered at the female, figuring he'd have to keep her entertained for a spell. Or.. I can keep myself entertained. He licked his lips, dried blood collecting near the corners of his mouth and his fur matted in spots with it. He was definitely frightening to behold. "Come now, my humble abode awaits. Demon-free, I might add." He trotted along the edge of the forest to a small hut, large enough for a few Kage but far too short for any human. A leather flap became a makeshift door as he pushed the red Kage inside. She'd probably resist at that point, but he was ready to grab her behind the neck with his teeth if she did.
"We've got a while to ourselves..." he murmured, his tail wagging excitedly. "As for you, I have grand plans for you. But for now, I have... other plans." His eyes narrowed, and he would pounce at her. He would be as rough as he had to be, and perhaps even moreso to get what he wanted. He liked that.
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