The silence of the gloomy forest was broken only by a duet of noises, the wail of a pack of wolves and the soft clatter of sun bleached bones as they bounced off one another. Wispy tendrils of miasma lingered along the bases of lofty pines and oaks, and a easy drizzle dripped off of leaves and needles reflecting sanguine skies momentarily in their plummet. Neither the malaise of the over grown grove nor the howling in the distance deterred ebony and ashen hued stag.

He marched on diligently, enjoying the sucking grip of the spongy soil and the baying of the canines. Wolves in the vicinity meant prey which in turn meant new trophies for him to collect. What wonders would he unfold in this ghastly domain? The beast shook his dial, jouncing the bones fastened to his immaculate locks by sinewy vines, bringing forth the ever so welcomed 'click clack click clack'.

The stallion was not stocky yet not thin, and the bravado of youth surrounded him. It was clear he still had some growing up and filling out to do. Muscles were not nearly as large and well formed as they would be in a normal equine his age, but they would develop in due time. Upon his heavy hindquarters lay a predominately gray creature, face and belly marked in white and tail ringed with black. It released a large yawn as it fiddled with the rib fragment attached to the root of his flowing banner. His pale azure eyes stared at the path before him as he wove between the trees lost in thoughts and dreams, paying no attention to the lemur 'pon his back.

"Are we there yet?"

Feminine voice laced with sarcasm and mockery rang through the air breaking the perpetual silence around the stud. It was rare for her to speak aloud, but it was all too common for her to tease him with antics he had pulled as a foal, just as a mother would do to her child. Her white face turned towards the his front, umber eyes shining mischievously.

"No" the curt response was little more then snorted out, thick crown twisted back momentarily to to send an icy glare in the direction of his 'warden' before returning forwards to watch his path.

"Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?"

"What do you think", hint of agitation rose in his voice, the crafty little lemur could tell her ward was already grinding his teeth.

"Are we there NOOOOW?" the last word was stressed heavily and dragged out as long as possible for annoyance purposes of course.

"No, shut up Elysi" disgruntled devil hefted his hinds up in a baby buck, a warning to Elysium to watch her tongue lest she wanted to find herself walking in the mud the rest of the way. The lemur smiled knowingly, oh his buttons were easy to push indeed. She knew just the pick me upper he would need too, but that could wait for another time, if he hadn't noticed the doe in the distance by now he would never catch her.

Smirk curled his lips, slightly revealing stained incisors. Altering his direction Nether laughed,it wasn't happy, nervous, or mad. No it was cold, lifeless, and calculated, the laugh of a killer. That laugh always chilled the femme no matter how many times she heard it.


"You didn't think you could hide that juicy tidbit from me. Did you Elysium?"

Nether shifted into a trot and focused at the task at hand, he began to transform into his lupine form as he travel. Slowly, unlike many he savored the change drew it out to emphasize himself, a true narcissist. Obsidian pelt faded as it grew longer and thicker. Lanky legs shrunk as his pale hooves split, morphing into clawed paws. His skull shrunk and warped, a grotesque display he felt necessary. The bones, his precious trophies, were never forgotten throughout the metamorphosis. No he would not lose one of them, the ones upon his mane were absorbed with it as it shrank into his shortening neck. Those on his tail remained as they were, the hair turning to fur easily.

The little lemur sighed, rolled her brown eyes and twisted around to crawl to his withers. Grasping onto his furry and thickening neck she held on for dear life. Riding a wolf was not nearly as easy as riding a horse, it was... how to say a lot more rough on ones bottom. Annoyed voice rang in the equines mind, clearly bored with him dragging out a process that could be instant if he wished it Well, get on with it.

He inhaled deeply scenting the air then released it in a long drawn out howl. His senses heightened from the transformation easily picked up the trail of the little doe. Taking off at a steady lope, Nether tracked the deer maneuvering through the swampy forest with more ease then before as the mud did not grip at his paws as readily as it had his daggers.He ran on, the trees slowly began to thin out little by little as he rapidly approached his intended prey. When the unsuspecting doe came into his line of site his pace slowed and he crouched low to the ground creeping forwards. Wide ears lay flat against his skull, a small snarl formed on Nether's lips as his tongue darted out and across his muzzle.

Just as he was getting ready to pounce a faint waif of a breeze ruffled his grey fur, instinctively he raised his snout to the heavens. Inhale. Exhale. His lupine frame froze and stiffened, horses tow of them at least maybe more. The musk was faded, old, but its trail once picked up would still be fairly easy to follow. Vicious growl rose up from his throat and needle pointed teeth were exposed. How dare other horses live on the land he desired for his hunting grounds. The unknowing doe was completely forgotten as the wolf circled around, nose to the ground sniffing as he sought out the trail of the scent.

Rage filled howl pierced the air as he found it, haunches bunched and released as Nether propelled himself forward as a faster pace his crown still held low. Auds remained flattened against his thick head, almost invisible against the thick pelt, oh he was angry so very angry. It drove him farther and farther into his rage to think that a mare and stag could even be on the land he felt perfect for himself, it was unthinkable. He yowled once more, joined in a chorus by the pack living within the forest. He broke free of the grove into a small clearing, shifting instantly back to his natural form. The abrupt transformation would of uprooted the lemur had she not grabbed for his mane as quickly as she did. The stench of the 'intruders' was just as ancient as it was in the confines of the forest, it was just more potent. Clearly they spent most of their time here.

Creamy flints sunk deep into the mud as pillars locked into a sliding stop, bellowing at the top of his lungs Nether released a challenging cry. No reply was received, tossing his dial angrily Nether strained his mind trying to pick up any stray thoughts of any equines and found nothing. Granted it was a new skill and the horses could be guarding their minds against him, he'd have to scare them out then. Harks buried themselves into his tresses as he trotted forwards menacingly, circling the old castle in the center of the clearing. He was a predator, and he was accessing his prey.

The castle practically oozed of the brute, if he was to be found anywhere it would be in there. He circled three more times before coming to a stop in front of the broken doorway. Picking up a train of thought Elysium quickly slide off the back of the lanky stallion while rolling her eyes, she knew what was coming. Duel hued equine exploded upwards in a rear, screeching out another challenge solidifying the soggy earth around him into rock and raising it into the air. Landing to the ground with a muffled thud he then launched the rocks at the castle walls, hoping to spook whoever may be within its confines. Standing still, not so much as a wave of his tassels in a breeze, Nether strained to pick up thoughts but received no response other then the snickering of his companion. Cautiously he approached the entrance, dipping his dial slightly as he entered. The building as a whole wasn't as as bad as it looked from the outside, sure there were a few holes in the roof, those rooms were mold ridden and rotting. But the rest oh those were warm and sheltered, lined with plush carpets and and rich tapestries.

He snorted in disdain, clearly agitated he could not find owner of the offending scent. He rose on his hinds once more, letting lose a scream that reverberated off the walls. If the stallion did not wish to fight, then this land was his now.

"This forest and all within it belong to me now."

The beast within calls for you; Nether
Have you; Finished his challenge
While screaming; 1,530 words
To the; Open sky?
OOC; Done setting up ranks and all that jazz will be fun :3
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The Bone Collector
Nether


Black and white brute was about to scream once more when white hot fire exploded into the parlor, flames racing around the room lighting the torches along the walls before crashing into the fireplace lighting the room. In the wake of the flames bounded a sleek pale blue form, white flares twisted and danced up slender legs lashing out at the air and ice slicked the floor beneath dainty paws. The ivory eyes were a bit unnerving but Nether would never admit to that, glowing with a rage like he'd never seen before. You'd think a girl could just talk but no this one had to shriek at him with overwhelming rage and perhaps just a slight hint of sleepiness, it was like a thousand banshees screaming in his ears. The strangest part of the creature before him though took a little bit for him to notice, it was the tails. Snakes many snakes, poised to strike at him and hissing violently. She screeched again, voice breaking mid sentence as she sent a bolt of electricity charging in his direction, though it missed arching over his back.

What the bolt didn't miss however was the lemur that had followed behind her master as he wandered the halls. She wailed, an agonized feral sounding cry, as it struck. Nether flinched visibly jerking his head back forcefully, though what he felt through their mental link was but a fraction of the pain she endured. Nether tilted his dial towards Elysium momentarily, it took everything he had to not topple over and roll in laughter. Her gray fur was singed black, and her tail OH that tail, the fur was sticking out every which way practically three times its normal width. Snorting out a muffled laugh he shook his skull, regaining his composure and blocking out the very loud mental complaints Elysium was throwing at him.

Shifting his stance Nether stood square, holding his crown high one aud twitched with curiosity as he stared down his muzzle at the strange fox-like creature arching a mental eyebrow. Smirking he took note of the quivering lip, was she upset, scared perhaps, or maybe even bordering on crying. Moving slow and deliberately he started to circle her, skirting the tail end making sure to keep his distance from the reptiles.

"How dare I? What does it matter to a fox like you?" he sneered, voice little more then a growl "Would you prefer a pathetic piece of trash taking these lands instead?" He cackled, lashing his tail once rattling the bones as if to tell of his hunting capabilities. "Besides, the brute that resided here as clearly forsaken his duties, as such its a free for all foxxy"

Elysium, angered both by the shock and the fact Nether wasn't listening to her complaints or her requests for retribution took matters into her own hands. Picking up a nearby rock, well a pebble really but it was a rock to her, she amble forwards stopping a few feet away from the pale kitsune and tossed it, aiming for her face. "Just WHO do you think is going to clean this mess up!" The lemur screeched as she pointed at her very charred tail "It takes forever to get it just right." She grabbed a second pebble and hurled it as well before retreating rapidly, clambering up to the duel colored equine's back mumbling many inappropriate phrases all the way. Once safely on his back and balanced she started licking her tail, drawing it through her comb teeth sputtering every now and then to get the taste of burnt fur out of her mouth.

Nether grinned wickedly, stained pearls glinting in the fire light, not having expected that type of reaction out of his usually level headed proxy. Reaching out with his mind he located and loose rock in the room and focused on them, ready to heave them at a moments notice if the beast before him decided to try anything else, which she might from the looks he was getting.

Wanting to test that theory he reached out for her mind with caution, one can never be too careful of strange creatures, seeking out a thought a memory anything really to give him an idea of who the feminine beast was. What he grabbed a hold of was a name connected to a few images, an astounding and utterly attractive black mare with mystifying swirls beneath cool orbs, a white snake, and then the creature fuming with rage before him. Then something so much more and so terrifying even though it was just two little words attached to the name and images; Medusa, immortal, Goddess. The shock of this revelation caused the duel hued stag to lose his focus breaking the temporary link with the young Goddess's mind. Nether's lower jaw would of dropped to the floor had it not been firmly connected to his thick (in more ways then one) skull, he stumbled backwards orbs rolling up into their sockets in genuine fright for the first time in his short lifespan. The lemur picked up on his fear, yet made no attempt to repent for her pebbling of the immortal, after all she had done nothing but walk into the room rolling her eyes at her master's exuberance and did not deserve the shock she received.

The beast within calls for you; Nether
Have you; Finished his challenge
While screaming; 883 words
To the; Open sky?
OOC; Done! Medusa got Elysi mad! *giggles at the lemur*
ActionSpeechElysiumSpeech

The Bone Collector
Nether


Of course the narcissistic brute was too busy with his own self concern once he found out just who was standing before him to have noticed the small fox cringe and shudder as his mind came in contact with hers, invading her privacy for a few brief moments. Soon his emotions ran wild, her emotion bending sending them rising and falling in waves that proved anything but natural to even him, Nether would not let this female get the better of him or he would never live himself down. Little lemur ignored the ever changing emotions of her master as she feverishly worked on repairing the damage done to her coat, what went on between him and the kitsune was none of her concern as it was she'd rather be elsewhere, which wouldn't be happening any time soon as the large cube struck her gray form from behind. Frozen in place instantly with no time to react the proxy fell from equine's back landing on the ground with a clatter, it would be a while before she'd thaw out but that would give her plenty of time to chill out. Still reeling from overwhelming emotional roller coaster and shock Nether shook his skull, he needed to get in control of himself again, fast. Inhale. Exhale. Stag brought his breathing under control first, inhaling and exhaling in slow and deep breathes. Creamy daggers found their place, and held the brute still seeking out the soothing comfort the earth always provided him.

Moonlight spilled through a gap in the ceiling, bathing the ice goddess in pale light accenting her transformation. He thought he had his shape shifting down to an art, but she made him look as clumsy as a child playing with clay. Her shift was a metamorphosis, a master piece, beautiful in every way as tendrils of mist swirled up her form. Once pale celestial fox soon became a delicate ebony filly with striking aqua eyes that could pierce one's very being, thick mane spilling down both sides of her slender neck. Staring, Nether heard the snake before he saw the white reptile slither up to the goddess, shudders running down his spine, serpents of all sizes always disgusted him, to make matters worse the thing wound it's way up a delicate pillar then entwined it's long body in silken locks. Duel colored body tensed at the words the she hissed to the dark filly, eating his proxy? As agitating as Elysium could be he did not know what he would do without the lemur. Clearly a brief exchange of thoughts went on between the two as the snake eventually freed herself and slid to a corner transforming into a smug looking feline. Her contempt rang through the air bright as day, it was clear she preferred him and Elysium die.

Medusa took a step back a breeze whipping her mane into a dance, Nether could feel her looking him over judging every inch of his body like he was nothing more then a piece of meat, not that he minded the once over only fed his ego who wouldn't stare after all the care he had Elysium put into managing his tassels and pelt. He puffed his chest out in attempt to make his lanky coltish form seem larger then it really was, one always needs to make an ever lasting impression of one's looks. He stared back unblinking, her azure pools were alluring he could see how one could lose them self inside them, auds flicked forward as the filly finally broke the silence popping her lips. The sound bounced off the walls echoing in the halls even as she spoke, her tone no longer shrill and ear piercing yet the anger and malice still ran deep, her lashes fluttered augmenting the flash of hatred inside their confines, while drawing him farther into their depths. Thoughts of snakes ran through his mind when she spoke of beauty, how could anyone find a creature with snake tails beautiful in the first place? He preferred her true from by far over the others, as it radiated beauty off every inch(not to mention was snake free for now at least).

Nether remained silent icy orbs watching her constrained and coordinated movements as the ice princess approached him ever so slowly, he would let her finish speaking before he answered not wanting to provoke the goddess any farther then he already had. If she'd not been frozen the lemur probably would of piped up with a mental 'that's a first' right about now while rolling her eyes slowly exaggerating the motion to emphasize the expression's overwhelming sarcasm. Banner twitched slightly, clinking together a couple of bleached bones then fell still as the maiden's voice dropped to a low whisper, giving him the ultimatum 'love me or die'. Did she really expect and want him to fall over and profess undying love? And Elysi thought he had issues. Dial swiveled left then right as Medusa circled him, not wanting to let the goddess out of his sight even as ice formed beneath his flints, creeping up his leg with chilly fingers holding him in his place.

"What makes you think I'm any worse then the other trash?" he smirked, cocky as ever after adjusting to being the fact he was in the presence of a goddess "At least I'm not a wannabe that chases after anything remotely female, all wishy washy falling head over hooves for the first pair of pretty eyes I see, and then the next and the next. I'd rather die then be a light pretending to be a dark." Sarcasm laced his lyrics, disdain for many other males of his alliance evident both in tone, the quick flash of anger in his eyes, and the harks pressed once more against his poll. Pausing he lost himself in thought, how could he give an emotion he was pretty sure he had not felt once in his life and couldn't possibly begin to fathom now? Stag eyed the femme, judging her reaction to his previous statements before continuing on. "Your beauty rivals my own and my respect you do have, that goddess is a task within itself." His voice wavered the sentence hard for him to say. Admitting one was as lovely as he and deserved his respect was not something the brute had seen himself doing in his lifetime. "If it pleases you, my body and loyalty are yours but I cannot give what I do not have. If it is this love you desire you are better off seeking it from a pansy with a heart." The word love was spoken in such a way that it seemed dirty and unclean, Nether fell silent steeling himself for whatever Medusa would set loose upon him.

The beast within calls for you; Nether
Have you; Started his challenge
While screaming; 1131 words
To the; Open sky?
OOC; Done. Nether doesn't understand what love is, so his respect and loyalty are the closest she'll get until he learns how to love someone other then himself(perhaps a plot going on there XD). At least he admitted he thinks she's pretty =D
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