The Rook on the Rock // {Open}

[corva]

Corva Luxuriant

Perched on the slate like a raven, Corva Luxuriant surveyed the scene of cruelty. Cries of poor souls pierced her ears, but she scarcely flinched. Only a tinge of fear in her silver eyes betrayed her true emotions. What fate would meet her in this wretched place?

She surveyed her surroundings and considered her situation. This appeared to be some sort of slave market. How had she come here? The memories were hazy— a concussion to the head and some murmurs about how silky her fur was were her last memories. Was she kidnapped? Likely. Her heart sank as her eyes took in the density of the place; it would be impossible to somehow sneak away. Where were her slavers? Did they leave her here, resigning her to her fate?

She drew herself up and narrowed her eyes, attempting to appear regal, but it was difficult. The weariness of the past few hours caught up with her and she sank down pathetically, just like the other unfortunate creatures on the rocks.

{{ OOC: I'd like a tough master for this character, please. I'm a bit of a masochist. }}

[Pyrrhüloxia]

<sub>Fear of Darkness
Flat ^Tone
Heathen King

A heavy sound filled the Wolf Rock. At first it sounded as rain, but the storm clouds darkened only a corner of the sky and no water fell. The sounds grew louder, as though a great beast trod upon the earth's face, beating it down. Some wolves glanced toward the forest in bewilderment, others knew what came and shivered gently before sulking away into the shadows, with or without their slaves. The solemn air was heavy, thick with the oncoming rain. Suddenly the pounding stopped, leaving the vicinity in an eerie silence. Most master wolves seemed to continue their 'shopping', while some slaves still glanced worriedly off into the deepening depths of the forest, where hidden things seemed to lurk.

One curious master, a young heir perhaps, decided to leave his father's side and sniff around the edge of the forest whilst he waited. The young male's nose led him towards the forest's edge where he began to rustle between the bushes. All was perfectly still and silent, but a strange sense of danger held fast over the heads of those unwary.

Suddenly a roar like that of a lion's echoed out and a blood-curdling shriek spilled in from between the tree trunks into Wolf Rock. All eyes turned towards the shrubs where the young heir had stood, right before a streak of black tore out from between them. An enormous brute wolf, 42 inches high with hackles raised to the heavens came barreling out with something in its mouth. He shook it violently and mercilessly, the chains connecting to his neck and hind right ankle clanked noisily, filling all ears. The shrill scream of utter terror continued to rebound from one end of the Rock, to the other, ending in a sea of gurgles and a shower of blood as a corpse was thrown to the earth from the great, obsidian wolf-beast. Another howl shot out from the heir's father as he looked across at his son's mangled body.

Immediately after thrusting the corpse away from him, Heathen King, the mighty black wolf known for his unadulterated, uncontrollable rage, leaped back down upon the boy and continued to ravage the flesh with his blood flecked fangs. Before he was through, a pool of blood stained the earth and the young master was unrecognizable as a gray/red mass on the ground. King's body dripped with his prey's blood, and his yellow eyes glowed fiercely, staring with utmost hatred at everything and everyone. The deep gashes and ghastly scars marring his masculine body where terrifying to look at, almost as terrifying as gazing into his devilish eyes.

The father of the young heir had tears in his eyes and a snarl in his throat, provoking the black devil to attack him. Heathen King would gladly comply. Jumping forward, his bulging muscles sent him forward. Abruptly, the brute-wolf's chains became taut and the ferocity of his momentum caught King and he flew three feet into the air, landing back on his feet, growling and snarling like a rapid monster, gnashing his teeth audibly in the process. He tugged and pulled at the chains, ripping up earth in great amounts. The creature that held this devil was none other than The Maggot Lord. The sinister, onyx draft mix stood eighteen hands high, towering over every wolf and weighing down Heathen King's chains with his one ton weight.

Crimson eyes scanned the scene, landing indifferently upon the bloody heap King had created. Fear of Darkness (a.k.a. The Maggot Lord and Hyzynmordis), stood before a cowardly throng of quivering masters, his majestic coat marred with scars more hideous than Heathen King's, and he snorted quite loudly. From behind him another equine escaped the woods into the Rock. A much smaller equine, just as black as his father with devilish red eyes, except slimmer and less of an intimidating figure. Flat Tone strode in behind his father, Fear of Darkness, with a head lowered and a fresh wound on his left shoulder. It bled profusely.

"You horrid creature! Setting your pet after my son! Look what you've done!" the father to the bloody mass on the ground howled. His eyes were pink from crying and he bared his fangs at Fear of Darkness. Not at Heathen King though, for as everyone knew by now, King was practically stupid like the animals of old and knew not how to communicate intelligently. By this time, King even began frothing at the mouth as he continued fighting the sturdy chains.

A corrupt laugh churned forth like the rumble of thunder. The Maggot Lord was quite amused at "his pet's" destruction. Rarely did he let King off his leash to kill or maim innocents, and this time it was purely accident. "You are mislead, fool wolf, twas not I that freed this beast into the Rock." his grumbling laugh grew once more into the tremulous sound it was. His voice was like that of many rolling boulders, deep and dangerous.

The father wolf started forward but was held back by two guards and Heathen King's lethal fangs. "You heartless b*st*rd!" he shouted above King's amazingly deafening sea of snarls, howls, growls and roar/snarls which only he seemed able to do. Darkness merely chuckled at this as well, pawing the ground then speaking.
"Calm yourself, King!" he commanded in a demanding voice. Heathen King hesitated, his upper half held in the air while back legs pushed forward with much might and strength. When the opposite wolf was led away, he sat himself down, licking his chops and glaring malevolently at each being that passed by. Things would not settle down for a while after the incident, everyone seemed to be watching their backs or speaking privately with each other. The Maggot Lord simply strode off the chains and with his sweeping stride, shopped around. Close by his side was Flat Tone, looking horribly ashamed.

"Now, Tone, I have demanded innumerable times you collect slaves outside the Auction Rock. I assume you have been disobeying me by the stench that emanates off of each wolf and/or equine you bring back. I am rather familiar with it you know?" Darkness spoke to his son as though he were just about ready to punish the colt.

"Forgive me, father." Tone whispered sullenly.

"Hmm, no. Forgiveness is not an option, but you may redeem yourself, maybe."

Tone raised his head, ears perked forward slightly. His glazed over, crimson eyes watched his father, his liquid movement was silent as a ghost's and he scrutinized every wolf slave they passed.

"I want you to hand select the prettiest, brightest, strongest fae wolf of the lot in Auction Rock. Your pick will define how well you actually calculate power and other attributes. It will also tell me how useful our newest wolf herd members are or have the potential to be. So get going, it may be life or death for you." Darkness snorted, turning away to head back towards Heathen King who sat with hairs bristled all over. His fine black pelt was scarce over his muscular frame, and Tone feared the beast much.

The sable hued colt held fear in his eyes, vision whirled as he hastily studied and examined each slave wolf. Some where weak and small, others large and obviously powerful. But none, not females anyway, were strong, beautiful and bright, or so it seemed. Moments flew by, Tone heard an irritated cough from his father and he nigh ran into (or over) an unwary master wolf who scurried away fast as lightning. Flat Tone was having a difficult time, until he just happened to stop and glance all around the frozen terrain. Vermilion eyes caught moon-like silver ones, staring from across the distance. Tone was very uneasy, but slunk closer to this female wolf, sitting alone on the barren ground.

He felt awfully rude, standing just before her, examining her from every angle. She was a brilliant, rich black-blue. Ravens seemed to flock overhead in the barren trees and cry down at him and her. There were many crows and ravens back at Eerie Caverns, personally Tone disliked them, as they were bothersome in his homeland. Unafraid of the horses as they were.

"U-um... excuse me.. miss." he stammered out, ears flattened and nervously kneading his hooves into the hard, chilled ground. "Could I possibly know your name? And maybe a bit of b-background? Please?" Tone honestly could have fainted. This rather big wolf was only twelve inches below King, although Tone couldn't accurately say that, he did know she was shorter yet still large enough to cause fatal damage.

Who knew how she would take to him, or the incident that wolves still whispered about half an hour later.

Status// Complete
Word Count// 1503
Notes// I like your wolf, lol. Hope you don't mind my violent post, I had muse and it sort of just... came out?</sub>

['Sanura]

FLIGHT

^{A bright, fast form raced over the earth as she kept up with the three dark forms, thundering through the forest. She had no need to see them the sounds they made sounded as if a whole herd of horses were running through the forest. She raced up a dead tree, now long fallen and jumped light and easy many times the length of her body. Finally beige paws found black ground and they landed as if Flight was made of air. Screams attracted the wolf's attention as she made her way through the surrounding woods of auction rock. She had just been there a few days ago, but now thanks to Flat Tone she was free. She had decided she wouldn't leave his side. Even though the pretty little wolfess held a great grudge against all equines, Flat Tone got to her in a way she could not understand. So she merely obeyed her instincts, hence the reason she was following a crazed wolf, a crazed horse, and a poor depressed, son. Stepping out from the confines of the woods she saw the bloody mess that must have been at one time another wolf. Flight looked at the mangled pulp then at the monster who was responsible, her eyes conveying disdain. She was not afraid of the wolf. She knew she could outsmart, outrun, and outmaneuver him any day. She would never fight him directly, but she still held no fear. Ignoring the large equine who spoke to Flat Tone she watched as the down trodden male looked about auction rock despondently. She walked forward carefully avoiding the gaze of Darkness and his manic wolf. She threaded her way through Tone's legs and followed him like a ray of light. She smiled kindly at all the wolves who stared at her. The all knew her and loved her. She was the darling of slaves everywhere, the one who could make masters cry, the one who always put on a jolly show every time she was dragged back to the wretched joyless place. Finally Flat Tone stopped and stared at a particular wolf, she was much larger than Flight. Making her way from under Tone's belly Flight smiled kindly at the wolfess, and waited for her to reply to Tone's stuttering question. Flight tilted her head to look up at him and she patted his hoof, trying to give him the assurance he would need.}

For;; N/A.
Word Count;; 435.
Muse Level;; Okay.
Comments;; Hey do you guys mind if Flight joins in? If not I'll delete my post, I totally understand. She won't get in the way, I promise. -puppy dog eyes-

[corva]

Corva Luxuriant

Corva surveyed the scene unblinking, not out of calm but rather out of pure shock. She was appalled by the scene of horror which had just occurred before her— she was aware that the ravens of her homeland frightened some beasts, but they were a peaceful lot and only ate the meat of those creatures who had passed. She looked to them for solace, and found that they had retreated. Yet there they remained, her silent sentinels, and her heart beat more calmly. What was this place where such insane cruelty could occur so spontaneously? she thought, her notions flitting about like butterflies in a gale. Though her brain flew like a panicked falcon, her outward countenance did not show it. She remained as if carved from obsidian, her fur shiny black from the heavy rain. She observed the wolves around her. The wolf which had committed the murder appeared odd in some way. Perhaps it was his lack of speech, or the radiance of pure barabric id in his eyes, or perhaps it was his quick, savage movements. Curious indeed.

A young horse approached her, his rich brown hide slicked with rain. He appeared quite miserable, and Corva instantly pitied him, but a thought like lightning broke into her pity. This was not a place where it was given freely. His stammering caught her ears, and she observed his nervous behavior— it imbued her spirit with more confidence. "My name is Corva Luxuriant. I am the Princess of the Ravens," she said. "I have basked in the sunlight of three summers and endured the sheer cold of three winters. Who are you?"

It was odd, she thought, that the equine addressed her as "miss." Wasn't she in a slave position? Why wasn't he being dominant? He was flat out frightened. It couldn't have been the ravens— there were less than a dozen and they remained silent and far away. It certainly wasn't her. Her fur was pressed down by the rain, and her pose was subservient and pathetic as she was far too broken-spirited to pull herself up. What a confusing place this was, she mused. She hoped the ravens wouldn't leave her, though there were definitely fewer than there had been before the scene of violence. Her confidence left her, as she saw another black form flit away into the lightening clouds.

Her thoughts returned to earth, and she narrowed her eyes when she saw another wolf present. She had appeared swiftly, fairylike, quick but deliberate in her movements. She didn't appear to belong in the cruel atmosphere of the rocks at all, and was friendly towards the horse, who was visibly emboldened by her presence. Even stranger was the fact that she had smiled at Corva. Smiling at a slave? What unorthodox behavior was this? Some kindness would be welcome, certainly, but she wasn't expecting it and she surely would not count on it. She remained impassive, her face a façade of paperthin pretension; how long it would, she did not know. Her spirit and heart were broken inside, but she wouldn't show it one bit.

Words // 527
Comments // Flight is welcome, of course. No worries about the violence; it was definitely very interesting!

[Pyrrhüloxia]

<sub>Tone listened quietly, finding comfort in Flight's company. When she patted his hoof he exhaled slowly, signaling some stress relief. He was especially concerned about how this black female wolf would take to them, she was somewhat polite which felt great. Clearing his throat and nervously glancing down at Flight, he replied quickly.

"Erm, my name is Flat Tone, son of... him." Tone twisted his neck around, gesturing towards Darkness with his muzzle. Darkness watched them, but his eyes were not on his son or the chosen female wolf, they were on the white being standing close to Tone's legs. Perhaps he had not seen her following them? Tone quickly turned away, feeling his heart give a slight jump. Darkness was speaking and Heathen King jumped at his words, standing and growling loudly.

"Um, well, Corva," Tone bowed slightly, taking a step back. "This is Flight and... uh, would you mind following me- us?" Tone felt faint, he had such terrible conversational skills! First he wasn't sure how to introduce himself, then he wasn't sure if he should introduce Flight and now he was confused how to politely get her to follow him for inspection by his father. Gar, life seemed to be falling into... well, darkness, for Tone. He could feel his anguish ridden heart race and his countenance dropped.

Status// Complete
Word Count// 217
Notes// I replied to like... three other posts before this, so my muse is rather low, sorry for the terrible and terribly short post! >.<</sub>

[corva]

OOC: Am I supposed to wait for Flight to reply before posting my own? Somehow I feel like that's good RP etiquette, but I'm not sure.

['Sanura]

FLIGHT

<sup>Flight patted Flat Tone's hoof again and then slipped out from under him. She went and sat in front of the slave Flat Tone was trying to acquire for his father. She smiled reassuringly at the larger wolf and then spoke,

Hello, I'm Flight, like Flat Tone said. What he is trying to say is he needs you to follow him to his father.

And in a hushed tone that only the two wolves could hear,

Be careful around his father and that wolf there. I'm sure you've noticed that they aren't all that nice. If you show respect then you should be fine, but no one ever knows with Darkness.

Flight spoke of all this cheerfully so that if anyone would happen to hear they would disregard the words. She waited for Corva to get up and follow after Flat Tone. If anymore violence should happen Flight knew she would most likely be safe. What Corva did would help Corva. Dancing away from the large black female, Flight made her way back to Flat Tone and took her place underneath him.</sup>

(ooc. Thanks for waiting Corva, lol. ^^ Sorry for museless post...back is on fire....)

[corva]

Corva Luxuriant

Corva was surprised by Flight's words, as the miserable horse did not seem too dangerous, but the horrific act which she had witnessed earlier was a testament to Flight's warning. Flat Tone continued to be polite to her, which was puzzling. She expected she had no choice but to follow the two. She steeled herself against meeting the fearful him of whom they spoke and tried to make herself appear more presentable, shaking her saturated fur to fluff it up a bit, swishing her tail and straightening her ears. When she was confident of her appearance, she picked herself up and pausing for a moment, followed Flat Tone down the rocky outcrop, with an inaudible sigh. She nodded to Flight, as a token of her gratitude— warnings and smatterings of kindness were clearly a scarce commodity in this melancholy place. Respect was the last thing she wished to show these slavers, but caution was prudent.

Words // 157
Comments // Ehhh it's okay. Same here.