Do You Fear the Dark? [Challenge]

[Pyrrhüloxia]

<sub>The shadows of this place were grim indeed, filled to the brim with the aura of sinister spirits. Dusk churned under the still pines, an ominous fog blanketed the uneven land. Not a sound could be heard, choked out was it by the heavy air of grim deeds and terrible humidity. The canopy of trees overhead hindered not his passage into this forsaken place. Forsaken and nearly devoid of anything other than a few mares and one stallion, a stallion begging for death by ruling such a wonderfully dark place as this. For how can one hailing from such shadowed lines resist claiming a land so far from light? A land that has fallen from grace, much like the stud who perused the bank of a low stream, gurgling softly its path over the moist, fertile land. Though not perfect nor as twisted as other lands he had known, The Maggot Lord was satisfied simply by how all things dark seemed to gather here, writhing about as living things. Even crows and ravens screeched out their love for such a beautifully wretched kingdom.

Massive hooves pounded into the ground, threatening to every creature who heard the dull thump and leaving clear craters of a half moon crescent behind. Cut out from his surroundings, the insidious being, Fear of Darkness, strode easily over the terrain. Such a rich obsidian is his satin smooth, scarred pelt that not even midnight on a new moon can match his shady demeanor and onyx coat. And this day, he planned a reckoning. Once already did Darkness somehow manage to whisk away a lovely mare from Volatile's grasp, and no sooner was he prepared to challenge again the beast to a battle. A confrontation between two ferocious creatures, one spawning from the fiery bowels of hell itself, the other... heh, a greedy wannabe with naught but the pleasures of a mare on his mind. Any true leader would have realized that pleasure is not life, neither is killing unfortunately, but keen intelligence matched with an unsurpassed prowess is how you lead. Like a dictator with a firm grasp on his people surrounded by all the minds of the wise men. That was Darkness, and he felt that Volatile was a weak leader, not worthy of such a prize as Cinnabar. No... Darkness would claim this land, and turn it into a land fraught with the sufferings of others. A torturous place where the condemned would be governed by a certain someone he just happened to chance upon one day; and suffer cruel fates by the fangs of his blood thirsty slave... yes, Heathen King.

Padding smoothly over the rocky terrain, King drifted solemnly by his master's side. His thoughts were hazy and none too clear. The ebony wolf, standing 42 inches and packed to the core with his trained muscle and violent habits knew not why his second half had led them to this lonely place. Nor did he care. Muzzled by the tight, locked shackle over his muzzle, a single tap on the concealed release lever by a strong hoof such as Darkness' would release the devil and all his fury. By this time King had been taught that when his muzzle was loosed from these unbearable chains, he was given leave to rip apart any (if not all) living creatures around. Obeying his second half, his intelligent half, King would return when everything lay dead, or his master held him back by the free hanging chains dragging burdensomely behind his great and fierce mass. One led to his hind paw, the other collared his throat. To the untrained eye, Heathen King looked to be a beaten slave. How wrong they were.

But today was not King's turn to fight. It was not his time to dine on supple horse flesh. Darkness' only reason for bringing the monster along was just the fact, he couldn't seem to get rid of him. No matter where he trod, King trailed close beside him. Standing abreast his darkly second half with a loyalty never to be shattered.

Gleaming crimson eyes scanned the ahead landscape. Velvety nostrils flared, expanding wide, taking in the scents of Cinnabar, then gently contracting back into place; similar to the constant heave of his muscular sides. And as he brought an imminent feeling of forebode to the area, so did every living creature about vanish behind the walls of impenetrable darkness webbing between the trunks of trees and leaves of heavy foliage. Now was the time. A smirk caught Darkness' lips as he halted before a flat topped boulder, slick with moisture yet dry enough that his talons, being excellent of traction, could securely fasten themselves to its surface without much trouble at all.

Heaving both hind pistons forward, digging them deep into the ground behind his forelimbs, the dashing yet intimidating equine lord flew into the air, landing unusually elegantly atop the mammoth rock's solid top. Grinning maniacally, the rippling muscles within The Maggot Lord's back contracted greatly to pull his upper half high into the atmosphere where he let loose his shrill call of challenge. Rising high then ending in a low, flat tone, his sensitive ears caught the sound of birds flocking away in a flurry of sable feathers. And below his mass, King growled gutturally at the sound of flapping wings. Hackles raised and his nose crinkled, teeth bared to the sky. Darkness landed back down with a sharp sound reverberating from dagger against stone, yet not a chip marred the surface of his silver/black weapons.

'This time our battle wont be cut short!' Darkness thought wildly within his head. Never had he lost a battle, and he was confident this meeting would be no different than any of the previous. Darkness would strewn Volatiles innards over the tainted, cracked soil of the Blitzkrieg. He intended the battle to be bloody and quick. Glimpsing down at King, the wolf seemed to be growling intensely at a group of leafy bushes. Darkness had not hid his presence this time, he expected the dappled king to already know of his presence. Impatiently Darkness waited, itching for a fight with this beast who thought himself so tough and unbeatable.

For// Lugubrious
Word Count// 1034
Post Type// Challenge
Terms// Land
Notes// Umm... wanna fight? =3</sub>

[Lugubrious]

Darkness already has a land, doesn't he?

Umm well if I do this challenge, can we have no time limits? I've been so busy with homework.

[Pyrrhüloxia]

Sure^^ I'm just eager to battle, lol. And the land might possibly go to someone else if he wins.