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 Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2020 7:14 pm
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The blood on his talons had long since dried by the time Amdusias discarded what was left of the carcass, his tiny owl beak scarfing down the last stringy bits of flesh before his stomach became very uncomfortably full. Beside him, a small clay bowl was topped off of the blood, drained before he would allow himself the meal. It wasn't much. Just whatever was circulating inside the rabbit's veins. He had held it over the bowl as an equine, keeping it still while it bled to death. The blood would not flow as well if it was already dead. He had made sure to break its back before beginning, to ensure it couldn't struggle too much and spill any of the precious liquid on the ground. Had it done so, it would have assured a much quicker end, as Amdusias really couldn't stand spillage. Which was quite ironic, when he'd have torn the thing apart in two seconds in a rage and spilled even more blood everywhere. And no meal was complete without the sweet taste of the blood afterwards.
But as he morphed back to that of an equine to easily drink it up, there was a distraction. A noise, as if something was being broken, wood splintering like the snap of a tree. At once, his head was back up and his ears perked forward. Was it some bear or another Skinwalker? No, it didn't smell like either. Or anything predatory, really. Whatever was making the noise, it wasn't aware he was there. Could he get more blood to fill his bowl?
Shifting back to the owl, he flew closer, choosing a high branch to stay clear of whatever it was below, just in case. Soquili were large enough to snap small trees and Walkers weren't the only ones who could be violent or possess claws or paws for slicing. But when he looked down, it was nothing he expected to see. All it was was a little black fox, sprawled out on the ground after the apparent rotting branch gave way under it. If owls could smile, he most certainly would be. Spreading his wings wide, he took to the air, circling once before diving for the little creature, talons aimed straight for it. He had no chance to make the first strike, as it suddenly looked up and, seeing the threat descending for it, took off running into the open. Quickly changing his direction, Amdusias pursued it, the rush of the chase flowing back through his veins. |
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Posted: Sun Jun 13, 2021 3:32 pm
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With the purple charm bouncing around his neck as he trotted around the area, Sarathiel checked and double checked all the traps he had nearby. This was one of many, many areas where he had fitted out a variety of different contraptions, hidden carefully within the foliage, to trick a wandering Purewalker who was in dire need of a charm of their very own. Most traps were a simple thing attached to a string trigger, sending a prepared charm flying towards whatever part of the Walker was facing the direction of it. Once contact was made, it would be impossible to remove. Even cutting around it couldn't dislodge it, as some crazy Walkers had tried a few times before to do. And some thought him crazy for the tiny cuts he'd make in his own flesh, to release his blood all over a few prepared gems. How else was he supposed to get Angeni blood? Or was he expected to just let all these destructive equines run wild in the world? Never! Someone had to try to stop them and he was one of the best candidates to do just that. Not only was he a carrier of the precious Angeni blood needed to activate the charms. But a warhorse on top of it. If any Walkers thought to start something, he was certainly going to finish it.
Sarathiel had reached one of his last traps for the day, when a screech reached his ears. Was that an owl? At this time of the day?
As he stood there, a black shape darted out of the bushes towards him, chasing by a red owl the color of blood. The fox ran for Sarathiel's legs, seeking the shelter of underneath him as the stallion himself reared up to face the oncoming owl headlong. Quite literally. As the owl made to sweep up and over the Angeni, Sarathiel rose up, using the force of his forehead to send the bird flying backwards. The fox, watching from underneath, took this opportunity to quickly escape, easily disappearing back into the bushes.
"Now, now, Amdusias. I thought we learned long ago to pick on animals your own size?" |
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Posted: Mon Jun 14, 2021 7:32 pm
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Prey in his sights, Amdusias flew closer to the fox, his claws open to grab it off the ground. When it turned its head and spotted him, just inches before he could get a good grip on its back. Fur flew as his talons just barely scratched the animal's back and he almost tumbled to the ground, gathering the dirt under his feet instead of the flesh that was now barreling away from him as fast as it could. He gave a screech of annoyance after the fleeing fox, taking quickly back to the air in pursuit of it.
A sound came from the fox, glancing back at him continuing the chase. It sounded of fear, unbridled fear. Excellent. That made the kill feel all the better, when they were terrified. Run as much as you wanted, little fox. I will catch you eventually.
Unfortunately, this proved a bit more difficult than he at first thought it would. The fox weaved between obstacles. It zigged and it zagged around trees. It tried its best to outsmart him. And it very nearly did a few times. Too many times to count did Amdusias have to swerve to avoid smacking face first into a low-hanging branch. But he was getting closer. Bit by bit he was getting closer. Almost got you, little fox.
Out of nowhere, something hard slammed into him. A few moments ago, he'd been clear to fly over this brown shaped, leafless bush, not realizing in his tunnel-vision that this "bush" was actually another Soquili until it retaliated. Doing summersaults in the air, Amdusias landed hard on the ground with his wings outstretched, the point of one horn driven into the ground. Bushes didn't....
Oh. Oh, hell, no! Forget the fox. He was going to tear Sarathiel into as many tiny little pieces as he could. Finally!
Pulling his horn out, the blood red owl stood up, giving a screech and flapping his wings.
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Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2021 7:55 pm
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Sarathiel was not impressed. He was never impressed by the show these Skinwalkers always tried to put on before they attacked. As if they thought he was going to turn back and run, tail tucked between his legs. Did they never get a good look at him? Was he not impressive to behold, covered in muscles as he was? He was taller than most stallions he had met and stronger, he'd wager. But of course he was. He did this sort of thing for a living. Tangling with the most dangerous of Soquili on almost a regular basis.
And he'd have it no other way. This was pure excitement that he couldn't get from anything else in life.
Lowering his head, he blew out of both nostrils, giving Amdusias a cocky grin which enraged the Owlwalker even more than his mere presence had done already. Amdusias and he, they had a feud as old as either stallion. Perhaps even older. Amdusias was the enemy of all Angeni, not just Sarathiel in particular. The owl's rage had started with the first encounter, the first charming. Done before either had been born. And would continue after both were gone.
The owl charged at him, talons outstretched for whatever flesh he could reach. Coming straight on at the Angenicorn was of course not going to work, when Sarathiel was still staring him straight in the eyes. He easily moved to the side and out of the way, cantering out of reach in case Amdusias decided to quickly pivot in the air to reach him.
"Really? You didn't think that one would work, did you?" He tutted, clicking his tongue as the Walker gave another screech of anger and dived at him once more.
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Posted: Sun Dec 19, 2021 3:31 pm
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Amdusias faltered in the air, his head a little dizzy from the impact with the ground. But he wasn't about to give up. He wasn't about to call it quits first and fly away to lick his wounds. Or at the very least, if it came to that, he would ensure Sarathiel would have just as many to lick as he did.
He dived, claws outstretched towards the bay stallion's neck, trying to ignore the slight shakiness to his vision. Sarathiel side-stepped, just a little bit, just plenty enough for it to be meant as an insult. Amdusias was far from his fresh days, when he would have made plenty of mistakes on his own. His moves were more refined, his experience in all the fights he'd had up until now giving him insight on what to do.
All that went out the window when he dealt with Sarathiel. It no longer mattered what his experience was or even if his head had been fine. All the rage he felt inside him wanted to come bursting out in a spray of Angeni blood.
Amdusias could hear the other stallion tutting at him, again, and it enraged him more. He made another dive at him, missing once more. Sarathiel wasn't even fighting back, clearly seeing there was no need to. Amdusias almost fell from the air.
"Would you like me to give you time to change back?" Sarathiel laughed, not threatened in the least. He never was. Nothing Amdusias tried to do could startle or scare him. "Or would you like a quick break?" The Owlwalker's response was another screech and dive, the rage burning within him making it difficult to reason.
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Posted: Fri Feb 11, 2022 3:36 pm
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By this time, Sarathiel had had enough of the game. He had other things to be doing today, he couldn't spend more time on this owl. Such as hunting down that fox that had escaped the Walker just moments before. He wanted to make sure it wasn't hurt. Animals of that size were good at hiding their injuries, just so predators didn't take them for the easy meal they were. Maybe next time they met, Amdusias would be more able to focus on the fight, so he could have some real fun. Taunting and side-stepping was not the Angeni's idea of a good time.
Stomping down with a hoof, more dramatically than he needed to, Sarathiel conjured up the shield to stop the owl's attack. The claws banged against it. Amdusias, who had expected to clamp onto flesh, instead found a smooth surface in his way. His feet bounced off and he struggled in the air, eventually falling down in a heap of feathers at the stallion's feet.
"Was fantastic and all to see you, but I really must be on my way." With a playful nod of his head, Sarathiel turned and quickly disappeared into the woods, being sure to weave around the trees to make it more difficult to be followed. By the time the Owlwalker was steadier on his feet, screeching in anger, the Angeni was trotting down a stream, covering his scent in the flowing waters. He knew once Amdusias was on his feet, he'd be up in the air, looking for him. He made sure to never stop moving, always going in the direction of the fox, trying to follow her scent just as he was trying to cover his own.
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