Fear raced through the mare’s body as she pushed herself through the audience of trees that made up the forest that was once considered her sanctuary. Brown eyes blown wide, Devanira urged her legs to push faster, to take her further lest she become the victim of the monster of her own making. She should have known better. She believed she did know better. But the string that kept her in power had finally snapped and now she found herself powerless to protect herself.
The sound of blood rushed in her eyes as she frantically tried to find an escape. There was no where she could really run that the stallions would not pursue her, or eventually find her. She did not have family she could seek out. Sure, her sister was still around, but she didn’t even know where to begin to look for her since there was such little contact between them. She had no friends, no one she could trust. Devanira was truly alone in one of the worst senses of the word, at least to her.
A part of her, a very quiet part of her, knew that she deserved it. The mare always hated what she was. Something frail. Something that others may think of as having to be protected even though she was born of a walker. Her brother was born with strength and claws. Her sister was born with cunning and teeth. And she…she was something small and dainty. So, she grew to resent herself and grasp at something more. She surrounded herself with those who she believed to be dumber yet had strength. Those she believed she could control. And in the end, they played her. They kept her close to amuse themselves, and now that the game was done there was little use for her.
‘s**t!’, Devanira thought to herself as the sound of claws against dirt grew closer to her.
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Wendigo’s claws dug deep into the ground as adrenaline propelled him forward with a grin. A part of him was disappointed that Quarantine had decided to step out of the hunt, but that just meant more fun for him until Schzoid decided to make his move.
Since meeting the twins Wendigo had grown tolerant, then fond of their company since they seemed to enjoy engaging in the hunt as much as him. There was just something about the adrenaline rush and watching the target try their best to preserve themselves. Beings LOVED to go on and on about the beauty and turmoil of existence, but there was also a beauty to the end of everything. It brings about a hidden appreciation to everything, and the start of something new. At least that is what Wendi liked to belief.
And, well, he will surely appreciate bringing an end to someone he believed to be undeserving of anything. Something about Devanira rubbed him the wrong way. Maybe it was her general attitude towards everything. Maybe it was her need to be something that everyone could see she would never be. Or maybe, just maybe, it was the fact that she was a coward hiding behind the facade of power that was held by others, and Wendigo did not like being used.
It was all part of the game though. Gaze flicking up, the stallion caught sight of Schizoid’s figure flying over in preparation for descent. If Schizoid could not corner her or scare her into stopping, then he would need to be ready to pounce.
With a growl, Wendigo picked up speed to cover the back end. If by fate the kill would not happen tonight then all be damned, he was at the very least going to leave his mark as a warning.
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Her mind didn’t know what would be worse; to be captured by Wendigo or by Schizoid. One would happily tear her apart to have her bones and pelt for decoration. The other, well, Devanira did not know what Schizoid would do to her, but it would not be pretty in the least. Dev had originally thought Schizoid to be someone lesser than and pliable under her hooves, but he had turned out to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. She didn’t understand what he could want from her, but maybe he wanted nothing in the end. She was a toy. Something to amuse him while he had nothing better to do.
Dev’s train of thought was halted a shadow flew overhead. She barely had enough time to skid to a stop as a figure landed in front of her. Red eyes peered into her own, and before she knew it her legs moved to push her towards the curtain of trees to her right. She had to keep running. She had to go…somewhere. Anymore. But, once again, life had other plans. Pain radiated from her hind quarters as, what felt like claws, dug deep to trip her up.
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“Oh, dear Dev Dev Dev. Why are you making this harder on yourself?”
Schizoid slowly approached the shaking figure in the mud with a look of pity. He gently curled his wings close to himself and shook his head while circling the mare. Her eyes expressed everything she would never put into words. Too stubborn. Too foolish. But her knew she was nothing more than a scared little creature.
“You know, my brother and Wendigo here would say we should have ended you sooner. And, you know, maybe it should have, but it was just too interesting watching someone like you grow so….out of touch with yourself. Tell me, Dev dear, why?”
An annoyed growl came from behind and Schizoid shot the harpy a look with a clear message to stay in his lane. He knew Wendi wanted to just start the ‘fun part’ now, but Schiz was not having it. Not yet anyway.
“Run, Dev.”
It was not a suggestion, or a comment. It was a command.
“Run, for now. But always remember, that we will find you, eventually.”
Wendi scuffed in anger behind him, but Schiz simply smiled as he watched the mare scramble to her hooves and take off into the darkness.
