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Post by seraaches on Mar 2, 2009 23:18:58 GMT -5
Life, as far as he could tell, was unfair. There had been no indication, after all, that the young lady he had so recently 'encountered', had three older borthers. Nor that they were all Face Cards, namely a Jack and two Kings. One on one it wouldn't have been a problem; Eir wasn't the least bit concerned about that part. It was all three together that was an issue. That, at least, was his story. It didn't help that the woman in question was in no state to answer any questions. They still had her head. Eir had her heart though. He hadn't gotten far on her before he was interrupted-- *$&# familial visits-- so the rest of her body was slowly decomposing. Somewhere. He didn't know where or really care, honestly. He was not, however, enjoying this part of the once good meal. Brothers were overrated. The stallion twitched his tail as he paused deep in the heart of the Tulgey Wood and hoped that the weirdness of the region and the fact that they'd been following him for nearly two months would help discourage them from their continued annoyance at him. Maybe annoyance wasn't the correct word. . . |
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Post by The Jenn on Mar 2, 2009 23:34:17 GMT -5
The evening was young and Alphonse hadn't yet found any suitable prey, much to his annoyance. He was quite hungry tonight, since last night's meal hadn't been as filling as it could have been, a few smaller catches to tide him over. He needed something more substantial than a handful of woodland castoffs. Maybe he would happen across a deer? That would be tasty. His flapping wing beats sent strange, muffled sounds into the night, making it seem as though multiple large creatures flew through the air far away. He picked up the scent of something after a moment and diverted course, swooping off to the side and flying higher. After a moment, he looked down at a form far brighter and more noticeable than its surrounding greenery. His eyes were good at picking up shapes in the darkness anyway from years of nocturnal activity and he landed high in the trees above, staring down at this creature with narrowed eyes. Most certainly another Card, and blatantly an Outsider. They were far into the Wood. It was only about half an hour to the vampire's actual house! He silently bared his fangs at the intruduer and waited to see what he would do. |
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Post by seraaches on Mar 3, 2009 16:39:19 GMT -5
The Yarrow male's head came up warily at the sound of heavy wingbeats and his ears cupped forward as he looked skyward to try to pinpoint exactly where it was coming from. It sounded like several large things were aloft but not necessarily anywhere near him. Yet. He bared his teeth and tried to remember if the Cards following him were of the winged type. He thought at least one was.
Who else would have wings then? A quiver of unease twitched down his spine; what if the brothers had found friends? That would definitely be a problem. A serious problem. His ears flattened as he distinctly felt as though he was being watched. His tail lashed from side to side before he rose and silently began to slink through the trees again. He needed to find somewhere to hole up so he could ascertain just how bad his situation had become.
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Post by The Jenn on Mar 4, 2009 1:53:25 GMT -5
From his perch on a high branch, Alphonse watched the intruder twitch and look around, threatening the air around it. He couldn't see its rank from that distance or angle, but it may have been low enough for one of his abilities to work. It certainly looked large and filling, like it would make a good meal. He'd never tried something with hooves before. His father seemed to like eating things that used to have hooves, from the way the wolf attacked a fresh steak when they managed to obtain one.
It was moving away, though! He would follow it and perhaps act. Launching himself from the branch, he flapped high above, readying an ability to see if it would work. After a moment's concentration, he released the spell that would knock any Card under the rank of Ten unconscious for half an hour. He didn't need to do anything but see them for the spell to work.
And... nothing! He hissed in frustration. This was a powerful one? That wasn't what he wanted! Not at all!
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Post by seraaches on Mar 4, 2009 19:16:02 GMT -5
As far as he could tell, the Jack of Hearts was still heading deeper into Tulgey Woods. This was hardly his first foray into the strange and creepy place and he doubted it would be his last. Still, the residents here tended to be even further off than his own family, which, if one paused to consider, was really very strange indeed.
That didn't really matter, however, since he would be very careful to avoid any further witnesses to his deeds. Years of practice lent him a skill at moving through even this new territory almost entirely soundlessly-- he needed speed just a hair more than stealth, so he was moving at a quick, stealthy trot that made it incredibly difficult to be absolutely silent, though he was pretty good at that as well.
The stallion craned his head as he saw the faint signs of passage through the brush. Was this some type of road then? Making certain to stay off in the brush, Eir began to shadow the path to find out where it might lead.
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Post by The Jenn on Mar 4, 2009 19:46:06 GMT -5
Now the creature had found the faint footpath to the little collection of homes that made up his village! Alphonse's eyes dilated and he hissed again, hunching his shoulders and concentrating on a different ability. For all that he was a Five, he had a few more than your average low-ranking Card to take advantage of, and this high above the equine creature he could cast it without fear of immediate retribution. He flapped a short ways ahead and landed, hunching even further and staring balefully at the bright Card before sending the spell on its way.
Once a week, he is now capable of causing the blood in an opponent's veins to drop in temperature. They will slowly be forced to hunch as their upper bodies get colder and colder. They will be forced to shake a bit with chill and their eyes will fog a bit. The effects will last for up to a full minute. He may especially enjoy the pre-chilled flavor in the summer.
There - the intruder could deal with that! Then maybe he could swoop in for a taste, if he moved quickly and managed to land on the equine's back. Not being able to knock it unconscious made things much more difficult. He would almost certainly face some sort of retribution, magical or physical. If he could sink his ridiculously long fangs into the horse's neck first, though, it and the chill may distract him enough...
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Post by seraaches on Mar 4, 2009 20:08:10 GMT -5
Amazingly, he didn't immediately notice the strange change in temperature. In fact, he didn't notice the change, actually, until his body began to shiver as though of its own accord. He blinked because he couldn't see clearly, but it took a few of them before he realized that he couldn't see clearly.
His heart rate began to pick up as adrenaline surged through his body. He didn't know that this was a magical attack, per say, because it could be the freakin' Woods. His ears flattened, but even with all of his training and even the rush he was experiencing now couldn't stop the fact that he was shivering constantly or that the world looked foggy.
This had never happened before, however, despite all of the other places he'd explored in the Woods. So he began to 'stumble' off, away from the path and deeper into the woods, not quite willing to collapse, but certainly able to play lame duck.
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Post by The Jenn on Mar 4, 2009 20:16:58 GMT -5
Lame duck was all that Alphonse had been waiting for! The equine took a little longer to succumb than he'd expected, but that was probably because of its rank being higher than a Ten. At least this ability wasn't so restricted and affected anyone, even his Mommy when he'd accidentally used it on her. Only once, though, and never again. He'd felt horrible. And his butt had hurt after his father got hold of him.
His wings tucked flat to his sides as he dove straight towards the colorful horse, moving as quickly and quietly as he could. With no flapping until the last-second desperate backwing and impact, he didn't have the telltale sound of his fur tufts against the air, just the sudden surprise! of an attack.
If his aim was true, he would slam into the equine's back, possibly knocking him to the ground, dig in his hind feet, and stick his fangs directly into the colorful neck. That... would hurt. But he was hungry!
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Post by seraaches on Mar 4, 2009 21:03:47 GMT -5
Eir 'stumbled' again, still hoping to draw out wotever it was that had caused the strange effect. He was about to give up the charade, actually, though his body was still shaking with the chill-- was it beginning to wear off? Surely if it had been another Card it would have done something by-- there was the sudden snap of flared wings. It was a sound he knew and recognized by virtue of his youngest brother and the sheer hatred Se held for him. Which was fine, because it was shared.
Eir ducked his head, his body dropping to the ground because Se was always trying tackle him-- thus gaining access to Eir's throat to preferably rip out-- and that apparently wasn't what his current adversary was attempting, because the weight dropped down onto his back, aiding his fall to the ground and then there were FANGS SUNK INTO THE BACK OF HIS NECK.
The stallion saw red. He was NO ONE's prey! With a shrill of absolute rage, the Yarrow went into a bucking spree that would make any rodeo bronc proud.
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Post by The Jenn on Mar 4, 2009 21:14:20 GMT -5
Alphonse knew a moment's glee as his tactic worked and his descent helped the horse slide to the ground, and then he had about two seconds to enjoy his quick slurp before- holy hells! What in all the Wood was this creature made of, to taste that good?! He'd never tasted anything like this in his entire life!
And then he was being wildly pitched forward and backward, only the grip of his wings and back talons holding him in place long enough to unwillingly pull his fangs out of the delicious beast in shock. Talk about a fight! He was jerked and pitched before being flung back several feet, flapping frantically to turn himself over and keep his wings free from the landing. It just barely worked. Then he had to get out of the way of those flying hooves! At least he'd been granted a short distance by the throw. He attempted to take off again.
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