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Post by danarisky on Feb 9, 2011 5:29:06 GMT -6
Akuma looked out over the river. It was a clear night, the moon full and bright. She looked with her red eyes and surveyed the area. She had chosen a small rock in the middle of the river to ensure enough warning before wolves arrived. 'Well,' she thought, 'enough with the scenery, let's get down to business.'
With that Akuma started howling to attract attention. She was not a member of the Giaku pack but was hoping to join. If anything went wrong, however, she would flee or fight. louder and louder she howled, calling pack members to come.
She then sat down anxiously, preening her wings, ears perked to hear the slightest of sounds. Some-one sneaking up on her would have to go to a lot of effort to not be noticed.
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Post by Aveilthé on Feb 9, 2011 6:23:22 GMT -6
Early that morning, the Empress joined the hunters in the effort to track down a few elephants that crossed their territory. They had entered through the canyons, intent on reaching the river to drink, for there was not any other drinking source for miles around. Lacrimosa took that opportunity to rally a hunt on short notice, but the elephants were mighty beasts and were ready for them. Their skins thick, most magical user's spells bounced off, and tooth and claw attempted to rake deep into their flesh. Indeed it took a small pack of large demon wolves to bring down just one. Just one... only one... for hundreds of starving wolves in Giaku. The Empress, trying not to let her bad mood get the best of her, allowed for the lower ranks to feed on it since they haven't fed for almost a week.
Winter had brought with it an awful famine. Lacrimosa worried for her empire, especially now as she licked a cut on the top of her paw.
Unlike most beastly things that roamed the land, the Empress was as black as rich soil, but that was not the only thing that set her apart. Scales, as blue as the sky in light and deep sapphire in shadow, clinked together like glass down her throat and belly--this signified her Druin heritage. A long, lionlike tail was curled about her form, a sign that she had Mesgonet in her, too. Both of these species should have made Lacrimosa enormous, but she was only five-and-a-half feet tall, making her quite small. Eyes as white as cumulus cloud shone within a young three-year-old face, still clinging on to what little innocence she had left.
Lacrimosa was not terribly far from the treacherous Koukon River. Close enough to hear the rushing water, threatening to sweep an average wolf of of it's paws. Ears taut, she had heard the call of a wolf mingling with the sound of the rushing river, undoubtedly looking to join. It had been a while since anyone called to join...
Lifting herself quickly off the ground, the Empress decided to make a personal appearance to this potential member. She will examine this creature herself, and see if he is worthy to be among their ranks of her noble land. But she will be rough. More members means more mouths to feed, and Giaku was a very large empire.
Stretching out her forepaws and shaking out her dark mane, the young Empress decided that flight was the best way to travel. Thus, her paws burst with blue, fiery light, and she kicked herself off the ground, paws blazing with blue fire as she levitated at first then zoomed off into the canyon. In no time, she found the caller, and saw her to being not male, but female. She landed before her, eyes scrutinizing every inch of this new wolf.
"Welcome," said she, her voice bordering on the lines of friendliness and churlishness--it was not easy to forget the previous hunt, and her paw stung a little.
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Post by danarisky on Feb 10, 2011 3:00:07 GMT -6
Akuma had dozed slightly while she waited. She saw a blur of movement. A voice almost, but not quite friendly spoke. "welcome". The wolf that had landed before her was black with blue scales on her throat and belly and a long, lion-like tail. She wasn't surprised or bothered.
Akuma herself was half hell-hound, although unlike her sister, didn't appear that strange. She had light gray fur with darker gray complicated markings. She had torn dark gray bat wings and a lot of scars from previous fights.
As the wolf spoke, Akuma bowed respectfully.
"Thank-you for the welcome, I am seeking to join your pack and serve the leaders. I know I have not yet earned my place, but I have some magical abilities that may be useful, I am a fairly good fighter and hunter. Would you like to see my first spell?" she said, looking at the Giaku wolf with her red eyes.
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Post by Aveilthé on Feb 10, 2011 11:18:41 GMT -6
"I see." Why else would this wolf be here, unless she was looking for trouble? Lacrimosa bit her tongue. Now was not the time for scathing remarks. After all, she was usually not so bitter. That should be blamed on the famine.
Sitting back upon her haunches, the Empress arched her neck and narrowed her pale eyes at the newcomer. The hairs on her cranium stood on end for a moment. It was getting colder, she mused, so she shivered as a result. Giving the other all her attention, she said, "You may." Patiently she watched, reserving judgment til the end.
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Post by danarisky on Feb 11, 2011 2:41:14 GMT -6
Akuma started showing the other wolf her first spell. Her pupils vanished leaving her eyes pure red. her coat seemed to ripple as she cast the spell. She had to calculate the spell exactly, allowing for her energy but also making it look impressive. As soon as she had finished casting the spell a huge monster made out of shadows rose out of her and started walking around. It currently looked like a giant wolf, with three heads and a tail made of fire.
"This monster can vary is size and shape and is sustained while I am conscious. It weakens me a lot, but it can be used with tactics to scare an enemy. No spells can make it disappear, but it does no harm to the enemy, except scaring and confusing them," she mumbled concentrating on sustaining the monster. "it currently looks like a giant wolf but," Akuma concentrated even harder,"It now looks like a scorpion zombie with flesh hanging down. I can even make it appear like a small group of soldiers. Of course this is hard work, but for a couple of minutes I could probably make a monster at least a hundred meters tall, but the chance of me becoming unconscious is much higher."
Akuma closed her eyes and ended the spell, weakened even though the spell only lasted a short time, causing the monster to seem to fly away in a hundred thousand bits. She waited to see the wolf's reaction before continuing on to her next spell.
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Post by Aveilthé on Feb 11, 2011 10:19:22 GMT -6
And so Akuma displayed a show of her first spell. Lacrimosa watched with mild interest, but was not impressed. "That's all it does?" came her response. She thought, 'What good is this spell if couldn't harm anything...?' That was her bitter hunger talking. Oh well... she still reserved judgment. Perhaps the class of soldier was ruled out for Akuma. She will need to able to defend herself against other magical attacks in battle, unless her fur had some magical resistance.
She watched the monster transform into a scorpion zombie. "Nice. It takes effort to do that." At least she sounded a little more impressed. It could take an enemy by surprise, anyway, but she still thought that Akuma as a soldier wouldn't work too well. Time will tell; Akuma still needed to show more. "Proceed," she offered, waiting for the next one.
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Post by danarisky on Feb 12, 2011 1:53:31 GMT -6
Akuma was starting to get worried. The other wolf didn't seemed that impressed by her first spell. She decided to skip the second as it would probably result in her death.
"Here is the next spell. However it may be best if you stay away from the bank for this bit." she said.
Akuma cast the third spell. She concentrated even harder this time, knowing that this spell would have to be the most impressive as her second could not be demonstrated against the other wolf. The river around the bank started to steam as the earth grew hotter and hotter. It eventually got hot enough and turned into a pool of lava. Akuma slowly manipulated it into the air, making it form various shapes before putting it back where it was and cooling it down back into rock. She was now clearly severely weakened.
"I could have used it to fling at the enemy or its defenses. It could also have been made to make a moat for defense." she said, trying unsuccessfully to sound just as strong as she had been at the start. "The problem is that I can't show you my final spell. I can describe it however. It's called Anger. It makes my attacks stronger but I only concentrate on one enemy. I am also quite skilled at fighting."
Akuma sat down, panting with exhaustion. She waited for the answer.
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Post by Aveilthé on Feb 12, 2011 11:49:09 GMT -6
Lacrimosa's ears fell back and her wolfish brows lofted, a mite curious. "Very well, then." She did as the newcomer bade, and leaped onto a high rock, a little ways off from Akuma, where she sat back and observed patiently.
She leaned forward, ears taut. Akuma made rock into lava. That was certainly something. And then it was all over. Lacrimosa bunched her feet together like a cat, and slid down the rock with ease.
"Can you stand well? Can you walk well? Come walk with me so we may watch the sun's descent in the horizon, and see the goings-on of my people below." The Empress proceeded forward, and spoke while she walked slowly.
"That was quite a show. Looks like you will need quite a bit of training before I let you go any where, if I let you join at all. You tire far too quickly and if you were in the midst of battle, you would be finished far before you could conjure your attacks. Magic isn't every thing. A Giaku fighter takes pride in her strength as much as her magical abilities. They must be evened out. And as for that lava ability of yours, make sure you have it under control... we don't need an accident in my empire." She flicked an ear, glancing at the other female. "What rank is it that you desire?"
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Post by danarisky on Feb 12, 2011 18:58:55 GMT -6
Akuma walked with the other female wolf. She was still very nervous, knowing that the further she went into the pack-lands, the less her chance of escape if something went wrong.
"I understand. I just couldn't show you my fighting skills," Akuma said, trying to be patient, "If I am able to join I will start with the rank of novus, but will begin training for other ranks. I wish to prove my worth to the Giaku pack. I would settle with the rank you gave me, as long as it is not slave." she replied, already recovering from the magic she had cast earlier.
She followed the other female, observing everything around her. She could not afford to be careless.
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Post by Aveilthé on Feb 12, 2011 19:40:42 GMT -6
"You seem certain that you will do well here. And you say you'll settle with any rank I give you... are you implying that you are good at everything?" She smirked lightheartedly. "I only asked you that so that I could determine where to put you. You can be a Novus if you want to, technically you already are, but... if you are ready now I could set you up with a Magister as his Discipulus. But I do not feel that you are ready to be on your own yet."
Taking a moment to look at the horizon, she watched the last few minutes of Valo's great eye lowering over the distant canyon. The thick clouds were splashed with golds and oranges. It was like a painting.
"We are under a famine, and I am worried about letting you join. Catching game is not as easy as it used to be. We are a very cold place in the winter, and many animals do not wander through here until the beginning of spring... you will be one more mouth to feed, and we already have many starvings wolves." She sounded grave when she said this. Only her second year as Empress, and already her people were suffering under her rule.
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Post by danarisky on Feb 13, 2011 4:07:28 GMT -6
Akuma thought about what the other wolf had said.
"I know for sure I am am not good at everything. Perhaps being a Discipulus will help me learn. I should indeed like that." she replied. She heard the rest of what the wolf was saying and looked downcast. "Perhaps I could help feed the nation by becoming a Discipulus to a Venator? I have lived by myself for quite some time, so I may be of some use."
Akuma too turned towards the sun. She knew that a place like this would require a lot of effort and knowledge. Well, she thought, at least i don't have to run it.
She turned back to the other wolf again waiting to see what would happen. It was all out of her paws now.
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Post by Aveilthé on Feb 13, 2011 12:15:14 GMT -6
"Sounds ideal," replied she, halting suddenly. She looked upon Akuma long and hard, those pale eyes impassive at first. Then they softened and the Empress gave a swift nod of her head, as if coming up with some unknown conclusion.
"What is your name?"
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Post by danarisky on Feb 14, 2011 4:54:30 GMT -6
Akuma halted too. She was happily surprised.
"I am Akuma, hell-hound/wolf hybrid. I am very pleased to be accepted. Thank you for your generosity. May I ask the name of you, generous one?" she replied, ecstatic that she could join. It meant company, more than she'd ever had.
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Post by Aveilthé on Feb 16, 2011 8:41:45 GMT -6
"Hang on, now. Lets not be too hasty." The Empress's eyes glittered in amusement at Akuma's hopefulness. All of these little outbursts seem to have given Lacri some energy. Giving a hint of a smile, she said, "I haven't accepted you yet. There's a few more things I wanted to ask you, Akuma. I suppose I ought to tell you my name first... I am Lacrimosa, the Empress of my vast empire." She allowed a little pause. "Why is it that you want to join Giaku?"
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Post by danarisky on Feb 17, 2011 5:16:42 GMT -6
Akuma's heart fell as she heard that she still was not accepted. On hearing that the other wolf was an empress, she bowed.
"The reason I wish to join is to feel a part of a group, to aid it's causes and because I agree with the idea of an empire and living like the Giaku pack does." Akuma said, knowing that she had not said all of her reasons. Some of them were not a good idea to say out loud.
"And now I'm guessing you want to know more about me, your highness." she said, unsure of how to address an empress, "Well, I was raised by my mother and father, who were lone wolves, or at least my mother was. That was until she found out my dad was a hell-hound. She had been told many horrible stories about them by her mother and father. To keep things short, she abandoned me, i lived with my father until he died, raised my sister properly, only to be rejected and ended up here." she paused for a second to remember what she had said. Akuma realized that she had told the story so often that she didn't have to think about it.
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