Timestamp: 25th of Winter 508AV
Location: Outskirts of Zeltiva.
OOCLol, this is bad k. :<
 The wolves, my love, will come
Taking us home where dust once was a man
There was a chilling wind shrouding the city of Zeltiva when a scraggily looking man approached the kelvic Serena with haste. There was a frightened look in his eye, akin to that of a paralyzed beast in the face of death. Sunken sockets and skin like leather, he was old and spoke with a voice that resembled the growl of a grizzled wolf. “You must take your pack and leave, Serena. They are becoming restless and their drunken binges will lead to bloodshed soon.”
The raven haired Kelvic looked over her kin with skepticism, her brows furrowed at his words. “They mean us no harm, Rae. They know that Zeltiva’s prisons are ruthless, they would not risk their freedom for a simple misunderstanding…” She desperately clung to her own words, to the hope that this night would not be her last, for she had left her daughter in the care of the other members as she traversed the streets of city. It, indeed, had been a misunderstanding, for the sailors had merely spotted a pair of stray dogs making off with the meat of the marketplace during a bout of notorious food shortages that often plagued the city. They had been tipsy, and could not identify the dog from a wolf, and had accused the pack of thievery. Still, Serena and the others stood their ground and denied the accusations. They would not be kicked from their home or imprisoned when they were innocent. This had angered the drunken sailors, and tonight was their time for retribution.
The wind that buffeted the citizens of Zeltiva during that night brought with it the heavy scent of liquor, something Serena could not deny. They were coming, and for whatever reason, she was far too frightened to find out. She looked into the normally wise, blue eyes of Rae, seeing the fear that struck his soul to the core. “Where are the others?”
“Near the city gates.”
“Do they mean to run?”
“…..No.”
Serena stared intently at the old man, so much so that the fear seemed to melt from him as well as prevented any from arising within her. “Then we must stand our ground with our kin, Rae. It is how it should be.” The wizened Kelvic replied with a stern nod, and together they raced through the streets of Zeltiva towards the waiting pack.
Is there life before death?
Do we long too much and never let it in?
The day had gone as any other in the young Mao’s life. She had played amongst the youth of her family much to the annoyance of the elder Kelvics. She was as any other of her kind, excited for her first year of her time on Mizahar; a coming of age to go about looking for a master or a bond mate to serve with a bright smile and a warm sentiment. Her mother had been strolling through the crowded marketplace of the city in search of suitable supplies, food and other useful materials for her travels.
‘You must be sure never to go a day without food in your pack. Plan ahead, Mao, this is important. Survival is important no matter what.’
Mao had listened with rapt attention to her mother’s words, for she looked up to her as an idol to someday become. Strong, beautiful and full of life, her mother seemed to the young Kelvic to fear nothing, and would face death head on with a defiant stance. Serena had spoken of Mao’s father in the same light, dutiful, loyal and his love for his child undiminished. But tonight spoke of bloodshed and oncoming horrors and torment that would wreak havoc on her life. She felt the chill of the wind strike her back as she looked up from her packing. The others about her also paused in whatever it was they were doing and stared toward the clearing of people near the gates. Serena had pushed and shoved her way through, and once she caught sight of her daughter, she grabbed her arm, the pack she held and pulled her outside of the city and into the haven of the mountains that loomed overhead.
“Mother, where are we going?” Cried Mao, “We are leaving the others?”
Her daughters words brought a sudden flood of tears to her eyes, but Serena did not turn to answer her questions. She wiped the wetness from her cheeks as her eyes scanned for a suitable location to stop and explain the situation in earnest. Once she had tugged her daughter down amongst large, formidable boulders, she spoke, her voice nearly a tremble. “You must leave now, little one. You must follow the road and keep to it, you understand? You will come to cities, stick to them, they will offer protection. Do not travel the wilderness at night and always make shelter. I have placed necessities in your bag, Mao. This is your time, you must go now, and do not look back!” When Serena was finished knotting the leather knapsack up and securing it on Mao’s shoulder, she touched her daughters face softly, and her expression became gentle, loving, and a smile graced her lips to alleviate the fear that had tormented her earlier. “I love you, my child, and your father does as well.”
“But mother… No, I want to stay here with you!” The young Kelvic could sense the traces of doubt in her mother’s voice. She held onto her hand for several minutes, and all was quiet until Serena stood and turned her back to Mao.
“No child, you must run far and hard. I will not have you here to suffer!” Serena had not the heart to look into her daughter’s eyes; to see the pain, the longing to be amongst her kind and the loving pack. But this was not an event she wanted her to witness or experience. Regardless, Mao continued to beg to no avail, for her mother stood firm in her decision to force her to flee. Without another word, she had propelled herself forward on strong legs towards the other members of the pack, who stood on the outskirts of Zeltiva to confront the drunken sailors and mercenaries. All the while, Mao had watched her return, but her mind was in a deep and stressing argument with itself. She yearned to be amongst her pack, but the will of her mother was far more important. Still, she climbed atop the craggy rock that had been her temporary shelter for several minutes and watched in curiosity the mingling group of sailors and Kelvics below. As soon as a fists made contact with heads did Mao realize that this was no innocent set up. She watched with rising horror as her fellow kin were kicked, pounded and beaten by angry, drunken men spewing insults and obscenities into the cruel wind. Paralyzed with fear and shock, it dawned on her that her mother had sent her up here to avoid the cruel fate that befell their family. Guards had arrived not 10 minutes later but it had been too late, and many if not all of the kelvics were beaten to submission or killed, including Serena. Mao did not linger long enough to witness what happened after the event, for she fled with her belongings, into the wilds and away from the crushing realization.
For the rest I have to say to you
I will dream like the God
And suffer like all the dead children
Silence. It was Mao’s companion on the long days and nights spent traveling painstakingly slow along the roads. She did not wish to hear the voices of people, of nature or to feel comfort or warmth. Her mind was in a state of shock over the events that transpired not a few days earlier. The only known solace she felt had been destroyed by human hands, and to think that she was on a journey to seek a human partner? The thought forced the tears from her eyes as her body curled up under the shade of a large tree. There was a darkness growing in her heart, a darkness that would ultimately swallow her whole. It had kept itself unknown when she was amongst her loving family, but after the horrors she witnessed it was more than happy to create a void in her soul to suck the kindness, the empathy, the mercy from her very being. She retained the same body of an innocent, heartfelt girl, but the shadow was stirring within, nourished by her growing hatred.
This was her defense against the outer world. This was the revenge that she would seek for the untimely death of all she held dear. The kind, bubbly Mao was thrown underneath the weight of rage, and yet others would never be able to notice. When she passed by unwary travelers, she did not speak to them, and they did not speak to her. She spent the days as if a mute amongst civilization, merely an observer to the treachery that befell others by the hands of the very race that would destroy her. Weeks and months would pass, traveling the lands, watching, searching, and for what? She was not sure.
Then on the a fateful night in the Wildlands, a new hobby would be born.
Light the fire, feast
Chase the ghost, give in
Take the road less traveled by
Leave the city of fools
Turn every poet loose
A calming breeze tickled the Kelvic’s cheeks as she settled against the rough surface of a tree. She had managed to build a fire, large enough to keep her warm, but small enough so as not to catch fire to anything in the vicinity. It was a quiet night, as per usual, and Mao had taken to counting pebbles at her feet and arranging them into the image of animals she often saw on her travels. This usually took her mind off more pressing matters, and the fury that was still growing deep in her heart. But her activity would soon be cut short, as the sound of crackling leaves and twigs alerted her to the presence of a stranger. She looked up, annoyed if anything else but the feeling invisible in her expression, which remained blank. There was a strong scent of liquor in the air as the man approached, haggard and stumbling, nearly tripping into the fire that blazed in front of her.
“What do you want? I have no beer here.” She stated, with neither hostility nor anger. However slight undercurrents of annoyance were present. The man only chuckled, and stepped closer, an action that forced Mao to slide further away.
“I’mm only here ta keep ya company, pretty lady.” Again he took another step toward her, and Mao found herself standing, her eyes narrowing with the sudden rise of hostility brewing deep in her mind.
“Stay away from me.”
“Awww, don’t be like tha', jus' com’ere..” One more step.
“I’m warning you, stay away.”
“Now, now, wha' have ya got ta fear?”
In her pause to argue over the possibilities of what to do with this man, she hadn’t noticed him grab her arm and pull her to his chest. Protests escaped her lips as she fought against him, landing punches to his arms, scratches to his chest and kicks to his shin. Still he held onto her, even striking her several times to subdue her. Tossed to the ground, she scrambled to escape only to be pulled back by her leg and pinned to the floor. She screamed and shoved, and when his lips touched her skin and his hands tore open her clothes her mind fell behind the protective barrier of her increased animosity. The shadow that had thrived in her heart was granted passage, and the man soon found himself with a vicious and furious panther with a mindset to kill. Blood splattered on the surface of everything in the little encampment as Mao tore at the man’s face, chest and arms. She clamped on his skull and shook him with the deep hatred that fueled her.
No more! She screamed in her mind. No more will I suffer! It is now YOUR turn! I will not stand idly and wait for death, your blood is now my sustenance.
When there was nothing left of the intruder but the sickening entrails and large pieces of meat, Mao let out a bloodcurdling roar. But when the heat of the kill had passed, she reverted back to her human body, naked, and covered in blood as if newly born. And it came to be that she was. Trembling hands were raised and inspected, dripping with the hot liquid that covered her in her entirety. She enjoyed the sensation, the smell, the taste of it, as if that was what she had been put on Mizahar to do from the beginning. There was a glint in her eye as she laughed into the quiet night.
Mao, the bloodthirsty Kelvic had come alive to wreak havoc on the vile. |
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by Mao on June 8th, 2010, 2:29 am 
