The night was young as Vesperus flew west, cascading fog along the treetops below him creating a white hazy ground in which he could dip to and from at his whim. It was a calm night, a chilled night, and one that he could appreciate. As a hum escaped through his lips the moon continued to rise, the glow ricocheting from the fog below to back into the sky, Vesperus was in a good mood. Did he have any idea of where he was going? Not really, but that was okay. Time didn’t matter to him much at all. Nobody was requiring his presence. Nobody had asked him to meet them anywhere. He was but a free bird to do what he pleased when he pleased. It was a nice feeling to be honest. As he dipped below the fog line, and into the leaves and branches below, Vesperus came to a halt in a small clearing with a freshwater pond to regroup and maybe settle down for the night. Walking over to the pond and dipping his muzzle into the water Vesperus drank deeply, ears swiveling to ensure that he could act should the need arise. A rustle up ahead caught his attention, but it was so faint he didn’t pay it much mind. However, when that same noise happened again, and this time closer than before, that made him pause. Lifting his head, ears perked forward and alert, Vesperus scanned the tree line, looking for whatever, or whoever was getting closer. Just as quickly as the noise came it died down again, but this time the stallion was as curious as he was cautious. Nighttime was normally when the shifters came out to play, and nobody had time for that nightmare of a scenario, especially him.
As he was about to turn and take off again, the rustling came back tenfold, louder, and this time the leaves were shaking with it. And in a moment of pause, a burst of grey and purple came tumbling out and towards him. Vesperus flew back in surprise, barely getting out of the way in time for the mass of what looked to be another soquili came into view. They were much different than him despite similar leather wings and horns. This particular creature had feathers as well. A hippogryph perhaps? As they came to a halt in front of him Vesperus couldn’t help but blink and stay silent, realizing that this wasn’t just a hippogryph, the serpentine tail also giving it away, and a mixed breed like him. And also a mare.
“Are you okay?”
---
Run!Run!
Run!
Drakara was panting heavily as she flew as fast as was feasibly possible. Fear painted upon her face driving her forward, the heat of the shadow following not far behind her mocking her for her escape attempt. She had to get away. Get away from the demon, away from the one who hurt her. Away from the one who destroyed everything she had held dear and now held her captive. At least, until now. She had escaped, but not cleanly, and now she was paying the price for it. Drakara just hoped that she could use the fog to her advantage. So far, it was working.
Run!
Run!
Run!
She dipped below the tree line and fog to try and shake her pursuer, refusing to touch the ground in fear of leaving claw like prints in the mud below. Anything could be used against her. Anything WOULD be used against her. It was all up for grabs and they would take it without remorse. Drakara was petrified and in her haste she began to become negligent of not looking behind her. The guttural fear so deep in her soul it was crushing. Get away, get away, get away! With a swerve she nearly got toppled out of the air from a thick tree limb, but luckily not enough to ground her. But it gave away her location. Bright, glowing red eyes popped open not far behind her, and Drakara nearly screamed. And in doing so, started to become sloppy in her flying.
It didn’t take long for another tree limb, this time one much larger, to come crashing into her chest, flipping her into a spiral out of the air and onto the ground. She tumbled for what seemed like eons until she came to a halt in a small clearing next to a pond. Dizzy and very disoriented, Drakara shook her head and tried to get up as fast as possible, however, in doing so only made her dizziness worse.
“Are you okay?”
The words turned her to stone. She was no longer alone. But it wasn’t her torturer. It was someone else. Someone else in the same path as her own. Someone else in the same path that would lead them to be captured like her. Looking up at what she realized was vivid green stallion words bubbled into her throat. He had to get away and get away fast, less he perish.
“Run!”
The stallion looked at her with confusion laced upon his brow, “I’m sorry?”
“Run you fool! Before she catches you!”
But he didn’t run like he should have. Like she should have. Spirits, she should have just ignored him and kept going as soon as she was up. But she didn’t, and now they were going to pay the price if they.didn’t.move!
“Aww, Drakara. My sweet little runaway. What did you bring me for dinner tonight? He looks ravishing.”
---
Tiamat couldn’t help but watch in utter glee as Drakara attempted to flee from her this very night. It was cold, and foggy, with a sliver of a moon present so its glow barely lit up the night sky above them. For what it was worth, she had to give Drakara credit for trying. Not that it was enough. The hippo’suti of shadow thrived in the darkness. It was an extension of herself and therefore, Drakara’s measly attempt at escaping her were futile. She really shouldn’t play with her food, but Tiamat couldn’t help it really. Fear had way of making the meet juicer and more tender. Not that she had the thought of actually eating Drakara tonight. Oh no. That wouldn’t come until later after the younger mare had fulfilled her purpose. So until then, Tiamat would continue to play all the possible games to break the mare down until she was nothing but a puppet on puppet strings. Tilting her head to side, deciding that Drakara had enough of a lead that wouldn’t make this game end so soon, Tiamat took off after her, almost looking lazy as she did so in her glide. Pursuing someone was an art form, and one that she reveled in. Her pace only picked up slightly as Drakara attempted to fly below and into the trees to escape her, the sounds she continued to make giving Tiamat the confirmation of where she was.
“Come here my little darling one,” she whispered into the night wind, knowing full well that Drakara could see her glowing red eyes when she looked back despite not hearing her.
The crash of Drakara hitting the trees made Tiamat chuckle loudly. Oh bless her sorry soul, the spirits were not with her captive this night. Or any night prior or in the future. Tiamat landed just outside Drakara’s vision. But oh? What was this? Drakara was no longer alone which alit Tiamat’s soul with amusement. Someone new to play with. And a stallion no less! Perfection.
“Aww, Drakara. My sweet little runaway. What did you bring me for dinner tonight? He looks ravishing.”
As she stepped into the clearing, she watched as Drakara fell head over heals to get away from her, scampering backwards as quickly as possible until she hit the body of the unknown stallion.
“Tiamat….please,” Drakara pleaded, “don’t eat him.”
A deep laugh echo’d through the clearing and Tiamat rose her head to look at the green stallion before her. Yes. He would made a good pawn too. And then she’d eat him.
“Hmm, perhaps you’re right little asmodian. I should wait to eat him until later. Until then…”
Vesperus had little time to dodge her as Tiamat lunged at him.
