Post by amaya on Aug 28, 2015 1:22:21 GMT -5
The night was quite, the soft sounds of crickets and the sigh of rustling underbrush as night animals went about their business the only sounds.
Above the canopy the moon peeked around the drifting the veil of clouds, a silent watcher of all the in the dark.
From the tree line two narrow slits of amber peered out, eyes glowing, flashing and filled with hate, their gaze trained on a house atop the lakeside cliff.
A low hiss escaped the beasts mouth, an acknowledgement for the shadow shrouded figure beside her to move.
Metal clicked dully together as the figure moved briefly into a beam of moonlight, matte black metal moving silent and swift through the trees, the dull gleam of brass on spikes the only indicator of the intruders presence.
The distance between the house's front door and the tree line was short, few of these creatures feeling the need to truly separate themselves from the wild.
Beneath the helm of her armour Eris's face twists into a mad grin, this beast, beauty as she is, will soon learn how to be civilized.
All knights require a steed, and you have found the perfect candidate.
It's the low creak of the door that first alerts you to danger, the sound so loud in the other wise silent house.
Shifting you lift yourself from the bed, small platforms of light sparking into existence between your hooves and the floor to muffle the clop of your walk.
Reaching the door you move to pull it open and investigate only for it to fly open, a small white streak rushing towards your face.
Stumbling back your focus is lost as you smack the thing off course, the light holding you above the floor vanishing into sparks, your hooves meet the wood of the floor with a sudden crack that echoes through the house.
Hissing in pain you cradle your hand, four long gashes dripping blood from your palm where flesh had met claw.
Face flashing anger you turn to see what has invaded your home, the blur having resolved itself into a small red dragon, the white of its face and glow of it's eyes prominent, sparks falling from it's mouth in the tell tale build of a fire blast.
Glaring back a flick of your hand has the thing caught in a bubble of pale blue translucent light, drawing it closer you examine the thing, realizing it not to be a dragon as first assumed but a gryphon, that even as you watched released the fireball into the sphere.
It's as the last licks of fire disperse that the symbol burned into the runts flesh reveals itself and your blood runs cold.
'Puppeteers' your mind whispers.
Blue light floods the room as your psychic blast slams everything not nailed down into the walls, destroying indiscriminately, the sound of metal clattering against the wall and floor giving away the measure as necessary.
Spinning you snarl at the sight of yet another being in your home, undoubtedly the puppeteer, this one clad in armour with a sword in hand and shield scattered on the floor, Furious you grab them in your mental hold and fling them through the wall.
Leaping after them you drag the sphere out behind you, intending to land on top of the bastard and crush bones to dust.
A crater forms beneath your hooves from the force of your hooves smacking into the dirt, the puppeteer having rolled aside before you could make contact and slashing at you with the blade, a long gash opening on your withers before you can fully dodge.
Flinging yourself back towards your opponent you move encase your hands in sharp blue light and draw back to stab.
Once again the ground craters as you miss, managing to dodge before the sword can repeat a cut you jump back to analyse the situation.
You don’t get the chance as the puppeteer rushes you, sword held across the chest and over the shoulder for a powerful slash.
A bang like a gong echoes over the water as the blow is absorbed into a shield, dropping the defence quickly you slash out twice in rapid succession, slamming blows into helm and pauldron, metal denting and cracking.
A sudden burning sensation around your right wrist has you rearing back with a roar, the same burning erupting along your left foreleg.
Gathering distance you shoot a glance down at your wrist to see silver cuffs gleaming along the curve of your joint, the burn already turning the flesh around it red and inflamed, you don’t need to look to know your leg is being affected in the same way.
Frustrated you shoot another glance out at the lake, considering the possibilities of fleeing into the water, snarling you bolt and dive for safety.
Two days you've been running.
You've barely stopped to rest in that time, every time you do it seems the puppeteer, Eris, catches up and tries to catch you again.
Sides heaving you collapse against the rocky cave wall, you have no idea where you are but you're fairly certain this isn't cult territory anymore which meaning there's no back up coming.
The faint rushing ring in your ears isn't loud enough to cover up the deliberately loud clang of footsteps on stone as your pursuer once again catches up.
Screaming your rage you fling your hand out, a shockwave of psychic power slamming into the walls and ground, giving you time to get to your feet.
The sword once again comes for your side and you kick out with exhausted legs, metal barely bending as you deflect the blow, energy draining and body flagging as another wave of pain from the silver bands rushes you.
You're legs go out from underneath you and your unconscious before your head hits the ground.
"ugh..."
The first thing you register is the pain as you open your eyes, vision fuzzy and head screaming, fire pulsing up from every limb, a concentrated band of pain around your throat.
The room around you is dark and poorly lit, walls of stone surrounding you giving no indication if you're above or below ground.
The movement of your hand is halted half way to your temple, the simple act of turning your head to check why costing almost all your willpower.
The site of your wrist, red and bleeding and bound in silver chains sends the memories of the last few days roaring back into your brain, adrenaline crushing the pain in your system, jerking you upright to strain against the bonds that tether you kneeling to the floor, throat, tail and each limb bound.
"Finally awake, good."
Snapping your head around you see the puppeteer -Eris- sitting on a wooden chair, her beast laying across her lap.
Her helmet sits on the table, revealing black hair pinned tight against her head, olive skin and dark hazel eyes staring at you with terrifying intensity.
"Now" Eris purred, rising from the chair with her beast, "You can see your position, you can keep resisting or bow, don't worry I'll treat you oh so perfectly." she sighs hand cradling your cheek, thumb brushing away crusted blood.
Panic sears your mind and you slam out a barrier sending her sprawling away across the floor.
"No?! Still resisting then! fine!" she snarls "you'll break, you can't hold that barrier forever and I'm prepared to wait."
You gasp desperately watching her return to her seat, the gryphon returning to her side.
You'll hold this barrier till you're free or dead, the only other choice is inconceivable.