Fatal Bounty [[Open]]

[twi]

Kaodran enjoyed exerting himself. It gave him a sense of power, knowing that nothing was beyond his physical limits. Well almost nothing, he mused, eying the distant horizon. The land was dry this time of year, not yet refreshed by the coolness of winter’s melting snow. How deserted it appeared to him, the autumn lushness extending as far as the eye could see. It would be nice to have some more equines around here.
He extended a sooty black foreleg, absently testing just far it could go. Then the next foreleg, as he pranced on muscular hind legs. His midnight mane was long for a stallion’s but coarse, lacking the luster of a typical mare’s. He tossed it experimentally, eyeing his reflection in one of the few pools of water still populating Pratum Montes. Yes, more equines would be nice.
Not for the first time, he wondered what he was doing here, in this land so devoid of equine life. Of course he knew the answer to that, though he wasn’t sure he wanted to admit it to himself. The truth was, he had something of a territorial streak in him. He liked the thought of having his own space, ruled by the one and only Kao. Unless of course, there was nothing in it to rule. He wasn’t a tyrant by any means, unlike the real ruler of the East Lands, but he liked the thought of having his own homeland. Though he had never had the opportunity to test his little belief out, he thought he would make a good ruler.
He cleared a sizeable bush just for the fun of it, giving a little snort of triumph after he had successfully landed. He was a little too caught up in his own elation, imaginary though it was, for as he lipped at a nearby weed, sprouting with bright indigo flowers, he didn’t bother to glance at the interior of the flowers. He never thought to look for the yellow heart-shaped symbol within that universally means death to all would partake of its fatal bounty.
He chewed and swallowed but one leaf of the weed, before doubling over with a terrible gagging sensation in his gut. He tried to retch but it was already down. Already poisoning his system.
“Just one leaf, it was just one leaf,” he repeated to himself, desperately trying to think of what to do. Burning, such burning in his stomach. He spat hard, trying to clear his mouth of the sharp gummy taste that permeated it. He had to find water and fast. Oh where was that little pool he had been peering into only minutes before? His vision blurred and shifted, obscured by splotches of red. Water. Must. Find. Water.

[/color]

[aPPY]

Ramaskith paced the border back and forth, his head low and thinking. Soon this invisible line would be gone and both territories would be his, but how soon? His hooves sunk into the ground with a satisfying crunch, eventually wearing a path down to the dead grasses. He had no idea with the Other even had forces hiding away in his own seclusion; thinking that he probably didn't and that it would be best to strike with surprise and stealth, sneaking up on him in his sleep and slaughtering all that thrived near him. It was a great plan, though he wasn't sure of how well it would play out. Ever since his failure to conquer before, he spent a lot of his time trying to make his actions flawless so that there was no choice but his victory; no other possible outcome. He lusted for the change to muder his enemy by which he still could not remember a name, he wanted to feel his skin break and watch as his life faded from his eyes with the last beat of his heart. Oh, how he wanted that so much.

The Lord's dark thoughts were interrupted by another creature, wandering in his lands. The white, black and red figure paused, his head whipping around to stare at the intruder. He stepped forward slowly, eying the convulsing form. He shook his head twice, making a clicking sound with his tongue as he stood next to the suffering creature. "Don't you know better than to step blindly into a situation?" He asked, tilting his head to the side and looking the stag in the eye. "Perhaps you should be more careful, if you live." He quickly assessed the draft build, his stature almost as tall as his own, but not quite. He was built like a tank, as any horse of draft lineage usually is, think muscles with a lot of power behind him. Rama cocked a brow, trying to decide if the beast would be worth it to help, or if he would be a nuisance and should be disposed of now. He turned back to the creature's face, looking at him and ignoring his violent coughing and spewing. "Where do your allegiances lie?" He demanded, his gaze hard and cold as he waited impatiently for a reply.

// 393 words

lalala. :B

[/justify][/blockquote][/right]

[twi]

Desperately trying to remember just how much of the weed was enough to be fatal, Kao convulsed in pain. It seemed to be eating into him, consuming his very existence in its fire. So much pain. But was it enough to kill?
Though his agony, a form stepped into his line of vision. Menace seemed to radiate from him, although Kao could barely see him through blurred eye sight. Surprisingly enough, he could still hear quite well. Words, holding no sympathy in their dispassionate coolness forced their way into his consciousness. They were spoken in a low tone but calmly and well enunciated. Why was this stallion berating him?
"Where do your allegiances lie?" That was the stranger’s final sentence before he stood silent, staring down at Kao.
Then he understood, oh yes, he understood. He tried to think, coughing again as he did so.
"I serve...I serve no one."
Wasn't that what allegiance meant? How his head throbbed.
He thrashed once, attempting to face head on, this malign spectator to his misery, one who obviously held no good will for him. The world seemed to tilt, then rise up to meet his face, dragging him back down to its dry embrace. Kao collapsed in a heap.
“You don’t seem,” -another choke- “inclined to help. What do you want…want from me?” Kaodran forced the words from a brittle throat. If only he could find water.

[/color]

[aPPY]

"I serve.. I serve no one." Ramaskith nodded once, turning and walking around the creature. He suddenly fell to the ground and he sneered at the weakness. "You don't seem," he coughed and Ramaskith glared, "Inclined to help. What do you want..want from me?" Rama smiled down at the creature. "I want warriors," he hissed, an evil gleam in his eye. "Perhaps if you were to serve me, I would offer my assistance. Though, if you were to choose to go against me, I may as well just kill you right now." His ears flickered backward and he lowered his head even with the stallion's. "Do you, stranger, plan to rebel against your Lord?" He commanded, glaring at the creature with a harsh intensity.

// 107 (127) words

SHORT. D:

[/justify][/blockquote][/right]

[twi]

Ramaskith's mismatched eyes burned into Kao's. They were cold, so cold, devoid of any of the warmth of kindness. For it was Rama before him, Kao decided, after having experianced firsthand the unfeeling hatred radiating out of the beast. He had not believed the rumors of the demonic-like creature inhabiting the East-lands to be false, but now, as he lay dying upon the ground, Kao believed.
"Perhaps if you were to serve me, I would offer my assistance. Though, if you were to choose to go against me, I may as well just kill you right now."
Now he was lowing his head to Kao's, his voice now ringing with the authority of one who knows the vulnerablity of the other.
"Do you, stranger, plan to rebel against your Lord?"
Kao's first instinct was revulsion at the prospect of serving such a creature. No one had ever held dominion over him and he had never planned for such a thing to happen in his entire life. He was the dominion-taker, the one who had always ruled the little crowds he had been a part of. Could he even consider bending the knee to Rama? Every particle of him screamed no. But self-preservation won out. He would do what he to save his skin. First, however, he had to know just what this Rama was offering him.
"What makes you so sure, oh you who would conquer so readily, that you have anything to offer that would convince me to serve you? Your assistance is nothing to me, nothing Ramaskith."
The words cost him dearly, forcing them out without a hesitation. He refused to appear weak, no matter how he felt. Right now he felt that he was about to die And maybe he was. After he had finished speaking, the dots in his vision increased, swooping in with raking claws of fire.

[/color][/color]

[aPPY]

"What makes you so sure, oh you who would conquer so readily, that you have anything to offer that would convince me to serve you? Your assistance is nothing to me, nothing Ramaskith."

Ramaskith laughed loudly, "Brave words for an equine in such a position." His face fell as he snapped back to look at the bold insect of a living being. "I do believe my assistance is of the utmost importance to your survival, from where I'm standing," he said carelessly, turning to walk away. "Though if you do not wish to accept my assistance, then you are of no use to me, and I fear your life, if you do manage to survive, will be a threat to my own." He kicked at the limp body, solidly hitting his hip. "Do you change your mind, nuisance of mine, or shall I continue with what must be done?"

// 117 (150) words

he isn't in the greatest of moods.
care to join the ranks? XD
sorry for the shortness. :/

[/justify][/blockquote][/right]

[twi]

The solid thump of hoof hitting flesh made Kao recoil even before he realized that it was his own hip that he been punished in such a manner.
His teeth clenched in an effort to stifle the groan that tried to force its way out. He only half succeeded, only a sort of choking sound emanating forth. What did Rama do that for?
"Do you change your mind, nuisance of mine, or shall I continue with what must be done?"
Kao did not bother to raise his head; he was too weak for that, but chose to let his words muffle themselves against the ground he lay upon.
"If I die, I die, whether I die pledged as your vassal or no." Here he paused to fight against the increasing nausea before continuing, "You offer me a choice between assistance or death at your own hooves, yet Fate will have its own way. Whether you chose to kill me or not, I am destined to be delivered into its arms shortly. What can you do, oh great Rama, to save me? If your words of proffered assistance are empty promises, then it matters not whether you chose to kill. You may help me if you will, if you can and we will go from there."
Kao was a prudent equine, yet the fever spreading throughout his body was driving all caution away, replacing it with the poison's own recklessness. Kao knew what he was saying and he controlled the words emanating forth, yet they were colored by the sickness spreading through his veins. He no longer cared to be circumspect or prudent in his words. He simply spoke the truth and it barely matter to him whether he lived or died because of them.

[/color]

[aPPY]

"If I die, I die, whether I die pledged as your vassal or no. You offer me a choice between assistance or death at your own hooves, yet Fate will have its own way. Whether you chose to kill me or not, I am destined to be delivered into its arms shortly. What can you do, oh great Rama, to save me? If your words of proffered assistance are empty promises, then it matters not whether you chose to kill. You may help me if you will, if you can and we will go from there."

Ramaskith laughed, an edge to the sound. He then stopped suddenly, striking out at the equine. "You have a sharp tongue, insolent stranger," he growled, not enjoying the way he was speaking to him. "Though if you must know, I do have two healing equines at my disposal, as well as the water your throat is so desperately crying for. Though, you see, you will not gain access to these recources without my consent, and you are wearing my tolerance very, very thin. We wouldn't want that, would we? Or do you very much wish to die?" He circled the creature once again, eyiing him angrily. He didn't want to dispose of what seemed like a willing warrior; although not particularly keen on serving the Lord. He could bend the draft to his will, he believed, but if he was set against him, there would be no other choice than to waste such a precious life. He snorted, glaring at the large draft sprawled on the ground. Would he join the army, or would Rama have to dispose of his disrespectful soul? He didn't have much time to waste pondering the thought, or even discovering whether or not he was truly loyal to the cause. The war plans would be set in motion in just a few short weeks, when the Other slumbered lazily deep in his home. Could he trust this creature not to turn against him? He wasn't sure.

// idk words

lalala

[/justify][/blockquote][/right]

[twi]

Words, words, nothing but empty, meaningless words entering his brain, each distinct syllable just another ring of pain. They melded together in his ears, a malicious string of nonsensical hisses from the stallion standing over him, now just a blurred figure silhouetted against the sky.
But no, he had to listen, had to hear what Rama was offering him. It might be his last chance for survival. Desperately, he tried to piece together what he had heard. Only two words made their way to the surface; healing...water
Kao was past caring who it was that offered the assistance. It just did not matter. All that mattered was his burning throat, his brains feeling like they would shatter in a million pieces at the slightest provocation. But Kao was a cunning horse. Even through his agony, his shrewd mind still worked desperately to turn the situation to his own benefit. If given the chance, he had the potential to be a brilliant tactician. Think, Kao, think. Fight the darkness spiraling in and live. Think.
"Alright." His voice was a dry croak. "Whatever you ask of me. I'll do it."
He had sealed his fate.

[aPPY]

"Alright. Whatever you ask of me, I'll do it."

Ramaskith smiled down at the struggling creature, standing a bit taller, twisting around and squinting at the area around them. Vondur appeared beside him, lazily stretching before trotting forward; his large paws skimming across the ground and his ethereal body hardly visible against the blanketed white floor. Ramaskith snorted in approval and turned back to the subject on the ground. Vondur would find either Sona or Whiskey and bring them here to offer their assistance. He did hope that he brought the stag back with him, for Sona would be more inclined to kill the poor creature for his weakness rather than help him.
"Do you have any fighting exprience, mon ami?" He asked, digging for information as to the significance this life would have on his ability to win the war. Also, a way to fill the silence while they waited for a healer to arrive. Though, without much time having passed, a dark figure appeared in the distance, making his way towards them. The lion patronus casually trotting in front of him. He roared at the bay equine, vanishing from view as he had done what was asked of him. Ramaskith waited patiently for the horse to arrive and take care of the task at hand. He turned back to the fading creature on the ground. "Oh look, here comes your help now." He smiled, a little evil twitch of his lips.

// [lazy] words

bleh.
now paddeh must post.

[/justify][/blockquote][/right]