It had not been an enjoyable journey but, it was one Akel needed to take. After finally finding true love again and feeling secure..he wanted to heal further old wounds.
So he’d set off with Jezebel to seek out one of the many old battlefields. To pay his respects to the lives lost and perhaps ask forgiveness..for all the innocent blood he & the other kalona’s had spilled.
The land before them stretched far and wide..the once desolate landscape had started to regrow. The earth was reclaiming this battlefield one day at a time. Stepping reverently, Akeldama tried to avoid any obvious graves or bones twisted amongst the wild growing plants. It was out of respect that he avoided them..a respect he’d had to learn the hard way. Nightmares of killing still haunted the stallion but, with the help of the one he loved it was getting more manageable. “Come Jezebel. We must find their graves and pay our proper respects..” the she wolf seemed just as solemn..her paws seeming to hardly press down upon the ground for fear of crushing a bone. Her only response was a small nodding jerk of her head, her blue eyes keeping watch for danger as Akel searched. It might have been a few years since the war but, he recalled it as if it were yesterday. The proud kalona warriors trying to ‘cleanse’ the land. Slashing knives, horns slamming together..blood curdling screams echoing. As if in a trance the stallion wandered deeper..touching forgotten weapons rusted with age..murmuring soft words of apology. Sorrow weighed him down. It felt as if someone or something had tied rocks all over his body. Sinking him deeper into the violent past memories..he could taste the blood in the air.
Jezebel sharply nipping his leg helped a touch, his mouth twisting into a faint smile. Within the center was where the worst of the memories would come forth. Where they’d lash out like a wild animal at him..even stepping there sent a shudder up his spine. Wings flaring uncomfortably the stallion kept pushing forward, his brother had been slain on this very battlefield. Unlike Akeldama’s first love, whom he’d seen die tragically..he had not been witness to his older brother’s demise. Many that had survived this fight swore he had been killed within the center of the fight. However as Akeldama stepped there he did not see his brother’s weapon..nor did he spot the familiar blood red feathers that he adorned himself with in battle. Of course time could have gotten rid of these things. It was the distinct lack of bones..of kalona bones. The lack of his brothers horns. Frowning Akeldama carefully examined around the site, uneasy when he still spotted no signs that his brother’s body laid there. Surely they both hadn’t managed to survive the war? A spot of bright red drew his attention, hooves moving less carefully now in his haste to get closer. Jezebel felt a twinge of anxiety..because there on the graves of fallen kalona laid tons of red feathers. Fresh. Plucked and scattered within the last day, there was no mistaking the scent of Akeldama’s family members. “He lives..” Voice low Akel stalked to pick up a single red feather. Most would be overjoyed to learn their family, their kin were alive & well. He was not like most soquili. No. Memories flickered to the surface. Of rolling in the bloodied dirt alongside his older brother, oh how he had wanted to grow up to be like him. He remembered vividly how desperately he’d fought to earn just a shred of his brother's respect. Affection did not exist in their family. Only respect.
They’d both been raised to be vicious purist killers. Warriors without a single c***k in their armor. Ready to die in the name of kalona superiority. Then Akeldama had failed them, he’d fallen in love with a fellow warrior. He’d allowed himself to show emotions and even now he was unrecognizable.
Letting the feather drop his blue eyes took another glance around. There in the dirt. A small smattering of large hoof prints, his brother had never been a small fellow. Jezebel likewise took note of the hoof prints and without any prompting she hurried to sniff them. Pointing further into the forest..a small trail of red feathers and massive prints led the way. “Proceed carefully. If he’s out there and alive he won’t hesitate to kill us. If he ambushes us. Go find Conall. Protect him, promise me Jez.” Tone dark & serious he waited for the wolf to agree. “Fine but don’t get yourself killed!” Nodding Akeldama made his way along the feathery path, wondering where Cadogan had gotten so many of them. Hopefully he hadn’t killed a lot of birds or plucked some poor winged pony bald but, he wouldn’t put it past his brother. He had been a general in the kalona war, high in the ranks and known for showing no mercy. None were safe from his wrath. He wore his scars like a badge of honor and always got back up..even when heavily injured. Where others had bowed to the non kalona warriors he had supposedly been struck down by a fearsome unicorn with mighty powers. That’s the story Akeldama & his own fellow warriors had been told by the scant survivors of this particular fight. Keeping steady on the pathway he narrowly slipped past a few obvious traps. Sharp broken bones buried in the pathway facing up..a scattering of rocks meant to trip him up. Lastly a large pit hastily hidden by branches & leaf litter. Rearing back Akel gave a snort, voice loud and carrying purposefully as he felt eyes on him. “Pathetic. Father had us doing obstacles ten times more dangerous than these as foals fresh out of the basket! You’ve lost your touch..brother.” Ears flickering Akel narrowly avoided a thrown dagger, grunting when it thunked into the tree he’d been standing near. It was a matching blade. Just as sharp as the one he carried. “See? The Cadogan I know would have already killed me..or at the very least he wouldn’t be toying with me from the shadows. Show yourself!” When there wasn’t a single sound to alert him to the other males potential movement Akeldama quickly moved to a more secure spot. It proved to be a dumb mistake as a few sharp stones whizzed through the air. Wincing when one grazed his foreleg he taunted his brother again, who else would be so conniving? “Back to foal hood games I see!! Why are you doing this?” Standing safely behind a few thicker trees his already thudding heart seemed about ready to leap from his chest. ‘You always did prefer to use your words..You’re no brother of mine! Disgraceful. Not only did you fail to protect your first mate but, now you dare taint our family! You dare become entangled with a useless little runt of a stallion?!’
He knew about Conall. That meant his brother had not only been alive but, he’d been watching and maybe even stalking them. Would he harm the miniature stallion? What about dear sweet Cinnamon? The adorable little familiar..he could not stand the idea of either of them being harmed.
Feeling sick to his stomach Akel made a sharp whistling sound, pleased when Jezebel’s swift paws could be heard. Then she was gone..off to guard the one he loved. “My love is none of your concern. Don’t you see that the way we were raised was toxic? Made to believe we are the superior race..we all bleed the same brother.”
More rocks were hurled in his direction but they thumped harmlessly into the trees. “You saw how fearlessly they all fought against us!! We were defeated. It’s time to move on..please. We will always be family..let me see you, just once.” Tone pleading Akel dared to glance around the tree trunk when he heard hoof steps. There stood one of the most fearsome warriors Akeldama had ever known. More scarred than he remembered. His eyes however remained the same..cold..calculating..unfeeling.
‘There. You have seen me. Our brotherhood ends at this moment. From today onwards you are my enemy Akeldama. Nothing more..’ It was torture to watch the only blood family he had left walk away but he knew better than to pursue the older stallion. Perhaps a year ago he might have chased his sibling down, begged to travel with him..to continue to live with hatred in his heart. However a lot had changed for Akel. There was so much he wanted to do, there were so many lives he wished to protect. It was with this in mind that he rushed off towards home..to warn his beloved & make sure all was well. His new found family was worth fighting for. Even if it meant he’d be fighting Cadogan. “I’m sorry brother..maybe one day you’ll stop living in the past.”
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