Quote:
For as long as you or your ancestors can remember there has never been a day like this one. Something is sliding ominously across the sun in what should be full daylight. But as the hours pass, the darkness and the horror it brings grows. What’s wrong? Is this some prophecy coming to pass? Is this an omen? Did you or your herd know this was coming or were you caught completely unaware?
Eventually, something blocks out the sun entirely and all the sounds of the little creatures who live on this planet ominously stop. It’s as if the world is collectively holding it’s breath. Will the sun come out again? What are you thinking? Are you afraid?
Tell us what happens during the hours of the first full solar eclipse in memory.
Eventually, something blocks out the sun entirely and all the sounds of the little creatures who live on this planet ominously stop. It’s as if the world is collectively holding it’s breath. Will the sun come out again? What are you thinking? Are you afraid?
Tell us what happens during the hours of the first full solar eclipse in memory.
Warning Trigger: this solo is with an uncharmed shifter. Chaos, violence, cruelty is hinted at. Consider yourself warned.
What idiotic creatures are these, praying to some spirits to lift the darkness, they should be rejoicing inside, like I am.
This was Nerezza's lone thought as she witnessed another foolish attempt by the residents of this land to end the celestial event that was occurring above. Did they not realize that it was a pointless thing to attempt to do? Even as she scoffed at the idea of those foolish residents trying to bring about an abrupt end to the encroaching darkness that was brought on by the dance of the moon and sun did Nerezza look out over her own little altar. The difference between her altar and those that the plant grazers were using was that hers contained offerings to the dark shaman. She wanted this darkness - this coldness to last. It did not hurt to offer a little bit of something that she had recently caught to the one known to all her kind as Oyahusa. The shifter thought back to the lore that she had been privy to overhear one day about how the dark shaman was responsible for her kind populating this world. It was only by being true to her nature that had inspired this sacrificial act.
Looking down at her own hastily erected structure did Nerezza give a deep sigh at the remembrance of terror that her chosen prey had experienced as she had hunted them down. It sadly was not a Soquili but a lone familiar that had caught her eyes in the wee hours of the morning. Now as the sun's light was dimming across the land did the pure shifter change her form to that of her smaller feral form. The altar had been constructed with the driest of woods that she had been able to find and she had placed the carcass of her kill onto the small platform. Without much pomp or circumstance did Nerezza kick over a brazier full of coals from a guileless Kawani native who thought that they were simply dealing with a familiar that needed the item for their bonded Soquili to stay warm in the evenings. No, she was a cunning creature. Watching as the hot coals from the device started to smoulder in the dried wood did Nerezza peer upwards. The darkness that heralded the onset of the briefest periods where day would become night was almost upon the land. In a loud enough voice did she pledge herself to be an acolyte of chaos forever if only the darkness would persist.
"Dark shaman, that brought those of my kind from whence we emerged, hear my impassioned plea: If you have the means, keep this darkness permanent over this land. Those of lesser creatures, those vegetation eaters, do not deserve the warmth that the sun grants them. They should only know darkness, despair and the cold chill that speaks of the Shifter's presence amidst their ranks. I offer this humble sacrifice to you as a means to increase your strength. Imbibe of this fortuitous offering and know that I forever devote myself to you."
Nerezza glanced around before stoking the tiny flames that had appeared at the base of her altar. She wanted nothing but the grandest inferno. Who knew, maybe some witless plant eater would come to enquire about why she was trying to burn something down. Let them come. She would destroy them all happily as a reward for being "brave" or "stupid" enough to approach her domained range.
Even as the fire grew in strength did Nerezza keep an eye on things. Her ambition was to prolong the event above, not to cause a devastating forest fire, although that would be fun to revel in later on. But even as she felt the chill in the air as pure darkness settled around her did she hold her breath with a bated anticipation. This was what she wanted: this permanent darkness. As diurnal creatures settled down, lulled by the false twilight did Nerezza shift back into the form she was most deadly in. Paws were definitely handy but she needed the extra bulk of her equine self for what she wanted to do next. Sneaking away from her burning altar did Nerezza prowl to the edges of the ledge that she had set up everything on. Her gaze tracked the figures of other Soquili down below and she grumbled under her breath even as a few faint stars began to dot the sky. She only had the smallest time period in which to act now. Once more shifting to her leopard form did the shifter descend her ledge in order to blend in amongst the sparse brush that dotted the plain. Her goal was simple, get in while others were distracted and distraught by what was going on above and get out with her newest plaything. Her keen gaze had noticed on many an occasion, the youngest of foals in the herd that had sustained an injury that would keep it from getting away. She only needed to silence the youngster's cries and she'd be away before anyone was the wiser.
It was on this night that all those herd members had forgotten about the injured foal, worried as they were about the growing chill as the darkness plunged over their lands. The foal lay at the very outskirts and Nerezza inwardly crowed at her fortune. This was a fine moment indeed one in which she would be talked about for ages if she could truly pull off this act. Slouching closer to the ground, belly flat against the grasses that threatened to blow her cover did Nerezza close the distance between herself and that which she considered her quarry. The tiny foal was lying in the grasses with limbs akimbo as it once more failed to stand on injured limbs. Slinking ever closer did the shifter pause to check on the status of those that peered upwards before she marked the change in the atmosphere. Tense, worried, snippets of conversation drifted back to her ears making her smug. If only her offering would hold the darkness around much longer than possible. As it was she only expected that her measly sacrifice would maybe give her an additional few minutes of time in which she needed to act.
In what seemed to be the longest seconds of her short existence in these lands did Nerezza come up to within striking distance of her target. Lowering herself closer to the ground did the leopard shifter feel her haunches quivering with pent up energy before she made her move. Her victim's short cry was cut off before it even started as she clamped her mouth over the foal's mouth and nostrils, swallowing any further cries that he made. The struggles of the foal lessened as she maintained her manipulative grip, stealing the breath that was essential for the body to function. Slowly and with agonizing seconds ticking away did the shifter adjust her grip on the foal before beginning to drag her victim away from the safety that the herd would have represented if they had not been distracted. It was perhaps the best gift that she could give the herd. By picking off this injured foal - they could focus on building back better. Sure the loss would be felt, any loss was, but in the meantime this lone, injured thing, would sustain her for the longest time before she would need to hunt again. And for that his sacrifice kept the rest of his herd safe from her claws. A noble sacrifice. Or it would be if she was not discovered too early. She would need to make sure that she could get this foal into her home cave before she could really celebrate a victory for herself. Pausing to note that her victim was finally out cold did Nerezza shift into her large form again. The altar she had constructed continued to burn and she savagely thought about it catching the surrounding area on fire with a hint of glee before she turned and slung the foal's unconscious form onto her back. There was quite a distance to cover and only the barest amount of time to operate in the darkness that still continued to cover the land. Soon the daylight would be back in full swing and if she was discovered before that moment occurred who knew what would be in store for the shifter. It would not be anything pleasant - that was for sure.
With the darkness beginning to recede from the sky above and the creatures that were usually up during the day beginning a chorus of day song once more did Nerezza disappear into the hills that contained her cavern home. It had served her well as a hiding place and once she got her little friend inside - there would be no escape for his injured self to find. She would perhaps play with this one for a while once safely ensconced in a place where the sun would never shine. Darkness was permanent in her cave and for her newest friend - it would be the darkness that he resided in forever long his lifespan would be.
