Prove Yourself, Maggot [Pinto/Raphael/Keiv]

[Pyrrhüloxia]

(Skipping ahead because I'm impatient, this is at least a couple months after my "All" thread.)

Today was the day to promote those stallions, Darkness thought bitterly to himself. They already proved quite the fighters, although it must be said, Keiv was still a lazy, eager-to-please suck up of whom Darkness never really cared for. Earlier he had called into the high heavens for his three fighters to show themselves. Out of all of them, and just as he expected, Raphael was an excellent warrior and had a good sense of judgment about his head. Beta was sure to be his new rank. As for Pinto and Keiv, he had set positions for them as well. Smiling to himself, the sable stag waited with abounding patience.

[Pyrrhüloxia]

Ooc: Written. Sorry it's so short.

[pinto]

(Wow... I did a longer post than you? *faints*)

It had been a fair time since their meeting to be told their new positions within the Herd and Pinto had been pleased to see that Darkness appeared a tiny bit more pleased by his attitude and skills. He had strived to stay upon his Master's good side for the sake of staying in the Herd he now knew was his home all along. The morning had finally come and his heart pounded as he answered with immediate 'enthusiasm' and speed to the trilling call of Fear of Darkness. His pure midnight form slipped between the gnarled trunks and misty puddles of frozen air with a moderate canter of a gallop.

With tail swaying and veil of black ribbon folding and wrapping about his arch, Pinto grew closer to the proud scent of Darkness and slowed to a canter. He came within five feet of his Lord and bowed his skull for sharp heartbeat-seconds before righting himself and snorting once, pawing the ground in a way to ready himself. His auds were twitching about but continuously returned in the direction of Darkness.

[zaydus]

In the time that had been spent away from Darkness and the thoughts of Darkness' new herd, seemingly, his new mission.

Raphael knew that his becoming beta was sure after seeing these other nags who were called forth by Darkness. The one called Pinto seemed to be nothing but a flint licker trying to survive, and in doing so, making Raphael look upon him with much disgust to how low this creature would sink to please his master, Darkness. Raphael knew that technically this is what he should probably be doing, but he couldn't bring himself to behave in such a manner.

As for Keiv. Raphael thought of him as a suck up. In a large sense of it all, he was. If confronted he should never have denied it or he would have lied to every single one of those around him, and himself.

Raphael knew all this even before Darkness summoned him and the other two to come. The handsome stallion was sure of himself, he knew he was the one that Darkness could possibly learn to fear, and he wanted it that way. Darkness did not scare him. This brute of a master struck no fear within Raphael's unknown depths.

He arrived in front of the master. Pinto had just finished bowing, and Raphael snickered in his own little way, clearly visible for all to see of course, and nodded his head slightly to the stallion in front of him. Bowing was not something he was going to submit to, no matter how little effort it took, Raphael was not going to do it.

He stood in front of Darkness. His head high, his mane shaken out to cover his muscular neck in a bold fashion. Raphael awaited the brute's words.

[Pyrrhüloxia]

Pinto arrived, bowing his head low to show his utmost loyalty. Yes, Darkness somewhat favored Pinto, he was strong, courageous and an excellent fighter. Though not nearly as good as Raphael, Pinto was an excellent addition to his army, and Darkness did not yet regret claiming the stallion and turning him from a scum-sucking slave to a proud warrior. From his tall perch, Darkness nodded his strong featured face after the pending's own greeting, the line of the red eyed brute's mouth curved lightly into a proud smile.

However, shortly after, Raphael emerged from the surrounding foliage. Proud as ever and disgustingly disrespectful. The brute had been treated like a king during the past few months, only because he was promised the position of beta. Burning vermilion eyes watched the obsidian oldenburg nod a charming head as though he had a right to, or he thought himself Darkness' equal. Bah! His greeting should have been a sweeping, formal bow, and it fiercely angered The Maggot Lord. As hot blood surged through pulsating veins, without any warning hind legs powerfully pushed the master forward till he glided over the ground swift as lightning. Crashing into the oldenburg with his full one ton weight, taking a chunk of his shoulder within dangerously sharp teeth, Fear of Darkness backed away, the hot blood of his soon-to-be beta streamed down from his jaws. From between clenched teeth and standing ready in close vicinity with no fear to the ebony brute, he spoke in haughty tones.

"You're not beta yet, maggot! And being in pending doesn't make you any higher than a slave! I have been too kind to you, and now I demand the respect deserved! I'm still your better when it comes to fighting, and I'm still your master!" Eighteen hands was enough to make the anger wrought Maggot Lord appear to be standing in the most regal stance he could muster, in truth he neither tried nor cared, not until Raphael obeyed his wishes would he come out from his ready position. This was a side Raphael had yet not seen in his master probably, at least not towards him. It was Fear of Darkness' utterly domineering and dictator side which demanded anything he wanted from anyone.

"Another thing, learn to defend yourself better, even I could have seen that coming." He spoke after a moment, lapping up the blood from crimson stained lipids. Immediately anger died to a low smolder, for a good long while he had been waiting to get that violence out, and Raphael seemed the perfect target, even if he did perhaps snap a little too much. But as long as he behaved, Raphael was still deemed worthy for beta. Glancing at Pinto, he arched one brow before snorting audibly. He almost forgot his speech part. Yet still Keiv was not present! How much longer would they have to wait?!

Abruptly behind the Maggot Lord, a mighty beast blacker than the plumage of a raven broke out from the bushes, snarling viciously and eying the two stags with an intimidating blood lust in his bright amber eyes. However, a sturdy iron chain clasped his muzzle and two long chains dragged behind his amazingly scarred body. One attached to the ankle, the other led smoothly up to the iron color bounding the wolf's neck. Standing a monstrous 42 inches, the snarling beast took his place beside his 'second half', both pools still staring sternly at Pinto and Raphael.

"Ah," Darkness chuckled, glancing down at Heathen King by his feet. "While we wait ever so patiently for our dear lazy friend, Keiv, I suppose this is the time to introduce you both to my friend, Heathen King. A wolf he is, yes, and also soon to be the official herd torturer for those who do not behave. Unfortunately the beast has a tendency to follow me around and it seems my attempts at escaping his presence has ultimately failed." Darkness sighed, seeming to completely forget about the damage he had done to Raphael moments before.

Seeing as the two no longer seemed a threat to the once angry Darkness, King settled down. And while he still kept wary eyes on both horses, he no longer snarled or growled in their presence, merely watched. And so they waited. Especially Darkness who studied Raphael, waiting for a violent reaction if ever one was to ensue.

Status// Complete
Word Count// 751
Notes// I just wrote this for added interest until Image replies with her charrie. xD And I also made sure it was nice and long to make up for my hideous first post. >.o

[pinto]

Raphael, a Buck he knew was not wishing to remain on his level, appeared shortly after himself. Pinto grunted and refrained well from rolling his eyes and grimacing across at the snicker he had received. He would not sink so low as to dignify the teasing with a response. This Brute had been glowing down upon Pinto's loyalty ever since the Herd had heard of his potential position-swap to Beta. He knew of why this arrogant Prince was to be placed so highly; he was a brave fighter and knew how to manipulate and taunt with ease. He was strong and his pomposity aided his strength when in battle... but Pinto saw clearly that Raphael's attitude did not please Darkness, the Maggot Lord of the Eerie Caverns.

It was to be expected, but the speed in which Fear of Darkness launched himself at Raphael was almost supernatural. The ebony Brute snorted in surprise and reared a hoof-height from the ground before backing up with a jump, senses alert and heart pulsating within his chest. He snorted, bending a little in case he too was to be tested, but the sight of the blood trickling down Darkness' chin was one that he somewhat enjoyed. Of course, none of this emotion showed in his features, but the Stallion felt lifted and inspired by his Master's powerful stride and new found confidence in him from the past few weeks.

"While we wait ever so patiently for our dear lazy friend, Keiv, I suppose this is the time to introduce you both to my friend, Heathen King. A wolf he is, yes, and also soon to be the official herd torturer for those who do not behave. Unfortunately the beast has a tendency to follow me around and it seems my attempts at escaping his presence has ultimately failed."

The appearance of the wolf was another shock, but Pinto felt no need to defend at present. He kept his eyes turned toward Darkness and Heathen King. The claws he did not wish to feel against his skin in the near future. The jaws were locked and his snarls were something that Pinto would not forget soon. His pools wandered over the ragged pitch fur of the large, monstrous brute before his gaze slid back to the ruby gaze of Fear of Darkness. How long would Keiv take? He surely was not so ignorant and lazy that he would risk meeting Heathen King for a different reason!

Once again, as the beast settled, the tense attention was turned back to Raphael. Pinto continued to glance at his out of the corner of his eyes now and then, pitch pools catching the dull light now and then and the scar Darkness had bestowed upon his front left thigh, similar to the one he had previously owned on his hind right thigh, shone as a ridge atop his shoulder blade.

[zaydus]

Raphael knew very well what was to happen when the black brute with blood for eyes reared his ugly body. Ugly. Yes, that was the word. Raphael knew this stallion was in such a state of evil, that nothing could remove him of hid hideous body, he had no heart, and if he did, a thick coat of ice surrounded it. Raphael had a heart. And when Darkness bit into his shoulder, it was his heart that kept him from crying out in pain and agony.

The bite had hurt, mainly because a chunk of his shoulder was gone. He made no sound though. Although on the bright side, he smiled slightly to himself, he would not be physically able to bow to this monster, and it would not be his own fault. He knew that Darkness’s rage had been taken out on him, for his actions of not bowing for him. But in his condition, he did not care to start a fight, for he would lose. Darkness seemed like the kind of cheat to go for an already wounded area.

"You're not beta yet, maggot! And being in pending doesn't make you any higher than a slave! I have been too kind to you, and now I demand the respect deserved! I'm still your better when it comes to fighting, and I'm still your master!"

The words echoed in his ears, but really Raph did not care. Maybe Darkness was his better in fighting and was his master. The day would come, when Darkness would make him beta, it had been in the agreement of owning Raph, and Raphael knew that Darkness would one day grow old, and what would happen then was uncertain. Boldly, Raphael stood tall, his full height, almost as tall as Darkness himself, and he said. ”Darkness, as you may recall from our little agreement, I will be beta one day, and have the pick of your mares. I did not bow, you are correct, and that is a lack of respect towards you. But you have yet to do earn respect, all you do is inspire fear in your herd, and they respect you simply out of blind fear. So I say this to you, I will respect you when you deserve my respect.” Raphael was not scared when these words came out from smooth black lips. He feared nor respected Darkness, and he had no intention to respect him until he could do something better than attempt to scare him. Raph could take pain. Raph would take pain.

He stood there, proud, his coat covered in the blood from his wound. It didn’t ache, it felt so good. He was a sadistic stallion, he had to admit that, which was why he relished pain as oppose to fear it. It’s what he knew about himself that no other horse did. It made him smile on the inside as he enjoyed the stinging pain that wracked his shoulder.

[Pyrrhüloxia]

<sub>Smacking hard the tab that barely peeked from the shackles bounding the wolf's jaws together, they unlatched immediately, clanking noisily to the ground. In a heartbeat King already stood just before Raphael, snarling and growling so fierce and so loud, the entire forest would be filled with his screams of rage and anger. Sharp, not dull, black claws swiped at the air repeatedly, with the swiftness of a cat batting its playtoy that would soon be called food. Hackles raised into a prickly mane, only the iron collar around his muscular neck held him back from ripping the ebony stallion's jugulars from his throat. Only Darkness' foot, smashed hard down upon the chain that led to the collar, kept Raphael from a torturous death.

“You speak the words of a hypocrite, worm. There is none here more undeserving of anyone's respect than you. Under no law am I bound to my word, it is you who is the fool here, for one to trust so blindly a horse bearing red eyes. It is you who fell into my trap, and by no means do I intend to keep any word of mine unless a serious change of attitude is presented.” so deep and serious were the words rolling out like stone from the majestic brute's mouth they screamed evil intent.

Wheeling around, King spun and tugged harshly against the chains, inch long canines bared and jaws smacking together with a sharp sound. His hind legs scraped against the ground, kicking up the cold dirt from a frozen earth. Amber eyes shone bright and it was clear this wolf was seething.

“Look here, Raphael, King was tortured by his father since he was just a pup. Look at those scars! They match my own and go beyond what any normal wolf could handle. If you think yourself my equal, you are wrong in every sense, why? King is strong, stronger than his father was who ruled over him just as I rule over you. I released King, and he killed his father. And now look at him, look at how much good it did him to be free from under his father's heel. Being sarcastic of course, King is now my slave, and always will be. He is doomed to live a life in a tiny stone room, fed nothing but the remains of my own meals and given the dirty work of torturing my less 'nice' herd members. Doomed to wear iron bands of metal which restrict him and weigh him down. Doomed to a life of stupidity and false lies. If you think yourself my better and wish myself dead, perhaps one day you will get that chance, and then you will only be reverted back into a slave to live a life of torture under the influence of a heartless master who will always treat you as scum 'til the day you die. Or it can all end here, all you have to do is follow me with respect, whether it be meant or not. It's your decision; life and second in command, or shadows and near death in the halls of pain. Choose wisely, for you only get one chance, and I do not wish to place wise Pinto as beta over the foolish Raphael.” that last bit was obviously just taunting sarcasm, of course at the moment Pinto seemed a wiser choice; this Raphael was getting under his skin, and that was a dangerous thing to do.

Thinking to himself, Darkness could not help but laugh within his mind. The oldenburg just thought so much of himself. What a waste of a stallion. It wouldn't surprise Darkness if Raphael was planning an assassination after he became beta, it seemed like something a stag this foolish would do. Bah! It mattered little, even if he was somehow miraculously slaughtered by this brute, he had two heirs to take over, and they would no doubt take over. Especially that Marion Twilight, a conniving little creature she was, just like her old man. With brains too, she looked to be up to something, always disappearing, never around. Perhaps Darkness had ignored her too much when she was just a small foal. Cringing in displeasure, Darkness nearly side-stepped to release the raging wolf, catching himself just in time as a link slipped from under his hoof. Replacing the steady weight upon the chain, Darkness waited impatiently for a reply. His insides were squirming violently and he just wanted to kill this beast and be over with it.</sub>

Ooc: Hey Zay, I was wondering, how would Raphael like to join Marion's army? Well, she's starting one soon and it's sort of a rebellion. Marion is against slavery and she's building up an army that is against everyone for slavery, especially Darkness I think, not sure though. I'd have to speak with Deja Vu, but I thought Raphael might wanna join her army just for revenge or something.

[zaydus]

Under no law am I bound to my word, it is you who is the fool here, for one to trust so blindly a horse bearing red eyes.

The handsome stallion chuckled lightly. He was getting underneath Darkness’s skin, and going quite deeply as well. Those words gave him a sort of, humor to these tense moments. With a great shake of his mane he addressed the other stallion.

If I am a fool to have trusted you, you are a fool to have thought there are laws to bound one to one’s words. In saying those words, venomous sir, Raphael paused and pawed his powerful flint into the ground, lifting up the clay, You are telling not just I, but all the slaves owned by all the other masters, be they more or less powerful, are therefore not bound to their masters. After all, I believe that at Auction Rock, everything is based upon word, and word alone. I am not bound to you as you are not bound to me. Raphael was sure of his words, as sure as he was of the breeze that flicked through his mane.

Raphael stood his ground, this stallion had yet to earn his respect. And as they looked into each other’s eyes, it was obvious to Raph that Darkness was thinking quite deeply.

Ooc: Sure!

[pinto]

Th sadistic Buck now trickling blood from his shoulder merely smiled and remained put. Pinto had earned a scar from Darkness, but was not so sadistic. He felt emotion and pain but was able to control his fear and expression of pain. The scar now sat quietly as if it never existed, as if it were trying to hide in the shadow of his pitch canvas.

He took a strong step back as the wolf snarled and racked at the chains that held it to Darkness' side. What a tortured soul must feel like to hold within your chest, Pinto did not know, but he certainly did not wish to meet him and find out. Once again, Raphael was his irritating, casual self and decided to speak back to the Lord after his long, deep and dark speech about Heathen King. How the name suited it so well; it almost seemed to be a zombie or dark spirit clasped by the chains and bound to the earth form.

Or it can all end here, all you have to do is follow me with respect, whether it be meant or not. It's your decision; life and second in command, or shadows and near death in the halls of pain. Choose wisely, for you only get one chance, and I do not wish to place wise Pinto as beta over the foolish Raphael.”

Pinto knew this was merely a jest of sarcastic fury, but a small swell of pride could then be found in his chest as the fact of being called 'wise; by Darkness was proof that he had done his job well and that his Master now believed him more worthy of a position in his Herd. This increased his love of the territory.

You are telling not just I, but all the slaves owned by all the other masters, be they more or less powerful, are therefore not bound to their masters. After all, I believe that at Auction Rock, everything is based upon word, and word alone. I am not bound to you as you are not bound to me.

The Stallion bit his tongue. 'It is more honourable to hold a word more closely than an action; actions speak louder, but words are easier to let slip. Holding a word is stronger than breaking it' he frowned slightly outwardly and pawed quietly at the ground as he watched and waited to see Darkness' response to such an arrogant and disrespectful comment. Words were what held people together, kept faith amongst followers and expressed views, wishes and true desires; if a word could not be trusted then they would have to go by body-language and that is, more often than not, even harder to define between emotions.

The staring match between his Lord and his leading lout continued. Hot breath formed sparkling clouds as it left his nares, the entire clearing standing still, silent and holding its breath in waiting to see how the higher would treat the lower.

[»Ιmαgε]

KIEV
_{It seems I've fallen. . .}

<sup>Stehen Sie mein Sohn auf. Treffen Sie Ihre neue Zukunft. Breiten Sie Ihre Flügel aus und fliegen Sie zu neuen Höhen, die Ihren befürchteten Namen ins entgegengesetzte kratzen. Folgen Sie dem Pfad, den ich und Sie gesetzt habe, werden sein mein perfektes Bildnis.

The chanting of a forgotten, once known voice riddled in Kiev's cranium, the words strange and foreign. Who was this beast that spoke the extensive words and poems? Standing in a plain, grassed meadow, Kiev let the words his mind spoke fall short of speaking when the mysterious vocals rose yet again.

"Get up, Kiev. Your new master awaits."

Bright. Light. The thoughts were abrupt as the stallion opened his optics wide, the glow of the afternoon sun blazing high above and roasting his golden colored coat. For a moment the baron simply gazed around, trying to remember where he had last been as cargo, dragged off, his mind whirling to vaguely remember who his master was. Darkness. That was the name. The black brute who had actually held a sized fight against him and evened up. Kiev's large stature was due entirely to his regal bloodlines, though the rather royal brujo ignored his kin, instead turning to dreams of fantasy items. It was his life, sleeping. And once again he would suffer for his peace of rest.

Dark hooves reached forward as the stallion tried to right himself. His movements were bumpy; lifting such a barrel of a weight skyward was no easy task. Still, once on his feet, Kiev was a magnificent looking stud; his pure brawn slipped appealingly across his chest and sculpted quarters. His face was charming, the shape clearly divine and chiseled. Although every soul has a downer, and for Kiev that was his personality. Plain as the sky is blue, Kiev had no second, intriguiging element to him. He was, all in all, boring. At least to outside viewers. What made him act as such, you ask? Kiev was raised in a herd that trained the males to protect, kicking them out about the age of three as to not rival the current harem lead. Kiev had once been a colt with the power and brains of a three year old--always plotting and sceaming to wiggle his way out of the lastest trouble he and his "band" had gotten into. He'd been popular with the opposite sex, and he had frequently had a love life. Evenything had been great.

Still, greatness has an ending in every story. Kiev's herd was overtaken by an invasive herd that had just started wiping out the others. When the new stallion booted out all males except his previous own, Kiev and some others were kept, as colts in that day were useful for trading alliances. Kiev was sold off to another group soon after his best friend, Arba, was beaten to death. Struck by the extreme conditions of hunger and water his newly adopted herd gave him, Kiev was eventually stripped of his spirit, broken by a slave trainer that had wandered around the area for some time. Since then the kid had never been the same. It didn't seem apparent to anyone around him that the baron was suffering--and for a good while he wasn't. He acted differnt though; recoiled, alone, soft spoken. His ideas didn't catch and expand as they use too, they only played the world around him into a fake world. Hence, dreaming, was his only escape.

Kiev's pillars rose into a trot, his nares blowing puffs of invisable fire as the cold air exhaled from his breath. It was chilly out today, the fine weather was surely gone now. Hooves moved over the broken and fallen branches easily and a few neighs of impatient voices whispered over the air. Kiev's pace increased as he couold glance to view the mob of horses--Darkness looked a little ticked and Kiev almost knew his first introduction wouldn't go well. But another thought plagued the brte's mind besides his distraught master. The dream. The stalli couldn't get the words that had been recite almost lovingly to him. But what did it mean? Racking his brain as his dimonds came upon the scene of horses, Kiev gave a slight, respective headdip, unsure of what Darkness himself would prefer. Kiev saw him as the bowing type, but his sore joints wouldn't permit such a thing right now. Speaking gently as to not upset anyone, Kiev spoke to the gathered.

"M'lord, I ask your forgiveness for my tardy. I. . .Well I fell asleep, Sire. It won't happen again."

Kiev braced himself for a vicious retort of a response, his mind knowing that keeping a promise such as not sleeping was impossible for one such as himself. Still, he felt obligated to show his loyalty in some way and made a half-bow, his boa leaning farther down to make up for his stiff-leggedness. Stepping back, Kiev was braced for a bomb.

Choco optics surveyed Darkness, his orbs coming to rest on the stallion's face. It was shaped closely to Kiev's although it held a darker-than-night coloring opposed to his honey draping. That was it! The voice. It had been his father. . .</sup>

_again.

ooc- I am SO sorry for not catching up sooner. Somehow I didn't see this. 0__o

Translation- "Get up my son. Meet your new future. Spread your wings and fly to new heights, scratching your feared name into the opposed. Follow the path I have set and you shall be my perfect image."

[Pyrrhüloxia]

<sub>Darkness' ears were quick to pin themselves against his poll. Lifting his left piston high, King flung his body forward, tearing at Raphael faster than light. The midnight hued wolf tossed his body to and fro, side to side with teeth clacking against flesh. His job was to maim, not kill. And such was King's ferocity, his face was lathered with the blood of his enemy in no time. Amusement entered Darkness' evil gaze as the wolf did his job. Suddenly his eyes fell upon the just arrived Kiev. His shallow bow and polite words offended Darkness none, and in the current situation, neither was he offended by the fact his 'fighter' had fallen into a slumber. For you see, his attention was pretty much preoccupied with his current victim.

Nodding a respectful head Kiev's direction, The Maggot Lord snorted quite noisily. Heathen King tore himself away from Raphael, standing a good two yards from the black brute, chest heaving and growling incredibly loud. King wanted more, but his second half, his intelligent half, called him away. Soon the wolf returned to his dark angel's side, fiery eyes now upon Kiev.

Chuckling deep in his own throat, Darkness replied to Raphael's stupidity. "Your idea and my idea of 'law' is very much different, I see. In my homeland, words mean nothing. Law and order is kept by violence and threats under the law of five kings, not petty words or pathetic promises. To break any law in my homeland is to sentence yourself to death, I have been merciful towards you. Although, while I did intend on giving you a position you would no doubt have not of earned in my old territory, you have failed miserably at complying to my demands, and I have no more patience for you or your nonchalant and snide remarks. So now your only options have dwindled down to slave or death. Pinto!" The Maggot Lord's eyes darted towards the silent as stone figure who watched and studied the ongoing battle of words. His form and mass was more worthy of beta than the bloodied heap of waste piled before his own stately form. "You shall take place as beta, Pinto. Seeing as dear Raphael here couldn't hold his own with such a position anyway."

A smirk vaguely crossed his face, barely noticeable as he twisted his neck to regard Raphael again. His demonic side was definitely showing in all it's black glory. As though a dark sun where casting rays of gloom in the tiny clearing. Darkness was obviously enjoying himself now, the stag's bloodied form reminded him much of the mares in his father's herd when he would beat them senseless. Or his victims in The Pit after a gruesome battle to the death. Such wonderful days those had been. In fact, thinking back on them, Darkness' heart yearned to return to those days. His willpower waned as the torturer in Fear of Darkness began to emerge. Nevertheless, control must be maintained. To reveal that utterly despicable side to two quite loyal light-coats could ultimately ruin him if he wasn't careful.

Stepping down upon the chains keeping King, who eyed all with furious rage, the obsidian beast tossed his head up high. Raphael was sure to be angry, and if not, perhaps another lesson could be given. My was Heathen King useful! Of course, getting in on the action himself was also just as enjoyable.
"Now unless you wish to fight me for the rank of beta, I believe you have a short amount of time left within these lands. Seeing as I don't intend on letting slaves wander my territory unharmed."
Darkness' lips curled into a devilish smile. He meant every word. From the day he set his new ranks and new rules, it was set that slaves are only beating tools until death. Almost like home.</sub>

Ooc:
Zay: Sorry about the wolf attack, but I have to stay within character and if Darkness were real he wouldn't hold back. In RL I'm not violent so I wanted to apologize in case I hit you wrong. >.<

Also, I think this is a good time for Raphael to decide to leave or something so he can join with Mari. I'll talk some more with Deja and see about finding a good way for the two to meet. n.n

Image: It's okay, Image n.n btw, I loved your post!

[pinto]

The one that arrived fairly late after the beginning of the meeting was Kiev. He did not appear outwardly scared or fearful of Darkness' reaction to his tardiness. He nodded a small greeting to the Buck as he knew that Fear of Darkness was currently busy with a torture and his malicious side would soon be satisfied or controlled after a short duration. It was quite... enjoyable to allow Darkness his swings and 'tantrums', it inspired Pinto to strive to do his best.

His eyes did not wander or flee from the sight of seeing the wolf dig its claws deep into Raphael's flesh, tearing at his fibres and tissues causing more ruby life-water to flood the ground about his hooves. Pinto had seen blood and harm before, though something inside of his squirmed; he would not disobey enough to merit such a treatment. He was, as some might say, arrogant about his appearance in the tiniest of ways, but his main reason was staying upon his Master's good-list so as to remain in his home for a long time to come. He had seen Darkness' most trusted had obviously stayed for quite some time.

Although, while I did intend on giving you a position you would no doubt have not of earned in my old territory, you have failed miserably at complying to my demands, and I have no more patience for you or your nonchalant and snide remarks. So now your only options have dwindled down to slave or death. Pinto!"

Pinto was caught imagining the once homelands of Fear of Darkness; the images that played about his frontal lobe were ones that, strangely, he enjoyed. There was something to be said about that, but his attention was sharply snapped back to Darkness as his name was spoken. He bowed his head and stood forward a pace or two, ears stiffened forward to catch every last breath pouring from the Lord of darkness and decay. By now, Heathen King had been ordered to relent and stood eagerly by Darkness' side, blood staining his pelt and the ground under it. Raphael was not a pretty sight; blood, gashes and bare flesh and muscle. Pinto still did not shy away from the sight, but vowed never to end up in it himself if he could help it; the mood swings of Darkness could be hard to gauge, but he was getting used to them at least.

"You shall take place as beta, Pinto. Seeing as dear Raphael here couldn't hold his own with such a position anyway."

A brief shocked expression appeared upon his features but it was replaced with disciplined gratefulness, "Thank you m'lord; I shall do my best." he bowed his skull deeply again, tassel still but veil sweeping a bow with his arch and cranium. Ebony pools wandered over to Raphael. Pinto knew not what was going to happen to him, but was not surprised to see that one, he did not care all that much, and two, Darkness in all his greatness was about to state Raphael's choices.

"Now unless you wish to fight me for the rank of beta, I believe you have a short amount of time left within these lands. Seeing as I don't intend on letting slaves wander my territory unharmed."

Pinto fully turned his skull in Raph's direction to watch his decision making in progress. If it were up to Pinto, he would not dare risk a battle against Darkness; he was an amount larger than himself and obviously a more skilled fighter and leader with Heathen King continuously at his side to aid him. The two together would not be a welcomed feeling.

[Pyrrhüloxia]

Helloooo?? Where's everyone gone? T.T

[pinto]

(I'm still here but... not sure about the others I haven't seen many people online at all.)