Postby DangoDaikazoku » Fri Feb 18, 2011 8:27 pm
She shivered in fear. Her bat-like wings fluttered like leaves in the wind. The red eyes of the tribe stared back at her. Their sharpened fangs and claws glistened in the night, glittering like stars. In reality they were the blood stained weapons of death. They hadn’t always been that way, she remembered. What had become of her tribe? Why couldn’t they go back to eating insects and fruit? She disliked the savage way of eating prey. Couldn’t they remember when they were once preyed upon, when they were tiny? She didn’t want to surrender. She didn’t want to give in. She didn’t want to hunt.
She turned her gaze upwards, into the blood red eyes of Scurge, their leader. The branches he hung from stretched out, ready for her to claws to dig in to its bark. The leaves swayed gently, coaxing her to join the rest of her tribe. Scurge smiled wickedly down at her. A large scar streaked from his left eye, across his warped face, and down along his neck.
“Come child, join us. You shall not be disappointed,” he said, scar rippling with every word. A malevolent glint entered his eyes, those eyes that had infected the tribe. Her gaze wandered around the circle that trapped her. She only saw the eyes of Scurge, reflected in everyone, but her. Her eyes were still blue. But not for long if Scurge got his way.
“No,” she squeaked, “I-ah, I will not lose herself in The Hunt!”
“Ah, you are so confused her young one. We have not lost part of ourselves, but found a new one, a stronger one,” he reasoned. Her parents beside him nodded with approval. Their eyes glowed with an expression that reflected Scurge. Never again shall they look upon me with love, she thought.
“You have lost the very part of yourself that makes you a creature of The Soul! I shall never forget. I shall never renounce that part of me! No matter how much power I gain! Will it not be for nothing?” she protested. She saw a guard shift uncomfortably. His eyes flickered momentarily. She took her chance, her only chance, and tore towards the gap. Leaves crunched underfoot and flew up behind her into the face of the dropping warriors.
Her eyes locked with the guard. He had once been a kind and gentle being. She saw his eyes, confused and shocked. Suddenly his expression changed to hatred as Scurge shouted, “CAPTURE HER!”
The warriors behind her crashed through the undergrowth and glided around low lying tree branches. Her heart pounded as the guard charged and slashed her. His claw dug coldly across her left front leg, tearing it open. Blood poured and a heat wave hit her with the full force of a forest fire.
“You cannot avoid The Hunt forever, there is no escape!” laughed Scurge.
“There must be a way,” she gasped. The Hunt slashed deeper and deeper. Like an inside-out volcano the fiery pain flowed into her body, engulfing her in a red, blinding rage. I must escape, this must not happen, I can’t let it happen! She cried silently.
Oh, but can’t you, it would be so easy. All you have to do is give up, a voice whispered. No, she gasped, no. She spread her wings and flapped. She knew she had to fly. She had to get away from the approaching warriors. The voice, the hateful, conniving voice began again, Your parents would love you. You would be her little princess, ruler of the entire forest. I could do that. Give you all of the forest, even all of the world if it pleases you. I can give you anything. No, no, I can’t. I mustn’t. I shouldn’t, she deliberated.
But you could…answered the voice. Slowly the sound of the warriors faded. They smelled the blood on her. They knew she wouldn’t make it far. Soon she would give in to that lovely voice and come back willingly. Why give chase and put out so much futile effort. Her wings beat ever more slowly as she argued with the voice in her head. They drooped and her paws hit the ground. The pain didn’t hurt anymore; it was dull, almost non-existent.
Is it possible that all this time I was wrong? I would be a good leader, better than Scurge, better than anyone, She mused as she continued forward.
All you must do, her child, is, only for a short time… hissed the voice
What? What must I do? Anything for you…
Rage, Hate, and Kill.
At these words she snapped back to reality. Never, never in a thousand years would she do such things. These were the mindless sins only for creatures of The Hunt. I am a creature of The Soul, never a creature of The Hunt! She ran from her life, her tribe, and her suffering, but a flame burned inside. It slowly, painfully slowly, was eating away at her heart. It muttered, to her subconscious mind, things of The Hunt, With time, without faith I shall tear you apart, her little princess. I shall eat you up until all you will be is Rage, Hate, and Kill.
Thank You For Your Time,
DangoDaikazoku