Mutiny Of One
Shahrivrath had allowed her some time to breathe, to gather herself - first collapsed in his arms, then having crawled to a slight distance, concentrating on her breathing, waiting until the memory of the horrible, gut-wrenching sensation had dimmed enough to allow her to think of something else for a change. She felt as though her stomach was lined with some semblance of a poison, like an uncomfortable strain, the foreboding of something...
As such when Shahrivrath rose from leaning against the gnarled tree, approaching her in fluid motion, she wasn't sure what to feel. A part of her just wanted to flee, to run away from this godawful scene of neverending torment - the other part of her reminded her what she was doing this for. "Shall we continue?" he asks, standing beside her, tailtip lashing lazily.
Kemeneth pushes herself up and to her feet, her shape shuddering. "Yes," she finally croaks. "Let us continue... Master..." She lowers her head then, respectfully and swallows hard.
He reaches his forepaws forward, taking her wrists into his hands in a strange gentle firmness, and pulls her slowly towards the tree. "Hold onto this," he instructs, pushing her palms against the gnarled surface of the tree, whilst pushing her arms outwards in gesture of what he has in mind. His left wing shifts, casting cool shadows across her shape.
Kemeneth shivers a little then does as he says, gripping the tree firmly, even as her eyes drift closed. She swallows hard then, inwardly fighting to calm herself. One antenna twitches but she doesn't move, her wings spreading slightly before folding to her back again.
Shahrivrath stands behind Kemeneth, sliding his right paw under her muzzle and pulling it slightly to the side, so her cheek rather than nose is pressed against the tree. His left hand wipes a droplet of blood from her forehead near the incision, before he rests its palm on her forehead, studying her with scrutiny, trying to judge her level of calm.
Kemeneth quivers a little as the cut in her forehead is brushed before she becomes completely still, her eyes drifting closed. As her cheek is pressed against the tree she whines a note before she is silent again, calming further, her shape relaxing.
And then that claw sinks back past her scales and into that crimson mark, tingling in a most alien manner, feeling like a strange strain of her skull. And once more, it feels as though her bones have chosen to roll around within her shape, grinding uncomfortably, pulling on muscle fibre in a dull, pulsing rhythm.
Kemeneth doesn't move although she whimpers ever so slightly for a second before she is silent. She swallows hard, gritting her teeth and holding herself perfectly still.
Of course, there is still nothing physically moving within her, and her bones are all unscathed - it's merely her nerves straining from the shifting of magic within her. But even though she knows - or assumes - this, the sensation feels too real to be ignored. A ripple of motion seems to cross her spine, ending just below her skull, skin along the perceived motion burning with the fire of strain.
Kemeneth stiffles a groan of almost pain before she falls silent again, struggling to hold herself still. Her breath leaves her in soft pants but she doesn't pull away, remaining as she was told and more or less silent.
A dull ache settles throughout her body, and she feels all too aware of the friction between her bones and the skin around them. Shahrivrath's grip on her skull is unrelenting - his fingers are locked around her muzzle firmly, allowing no budging, fixing it in place.
Kemeneth struggles a little more to hold herself still and almost manages when an uncontrollable shudder runs though her. She whines a note before falling silent, perfectly calm but at the same time holding herself tense.
A sudden sharp pain surfaces from her arms and legs, and before her mind's eye, she sees a fracture growing across the bones of her limbs, as though hoping to split them in two, pushing her well to her threshold of self-controllable pain.
Kemeneth whines in pain, sinking her foreclaws into the wood, tears sliding down her face. She doesn't say anything though even as a shudder runs through her. She swallows back a sob and half opens her eyes.
"Got it," Shahrivrath mutters, the mutter drifting past her ears like a growl. His right paw abruptly lets go of her jaw and pushes against her back between her shoulderblades and wings, pushing her against the tree. The pain ebbs away, making way for a sensation of coldness, as though her bones had had their marrow devoured and had been left hollow.
Kemeneth whines a note then is silent, shuddering as she starts to feel cold and when she is pressed against the tree. Her eyes drift closed again, and tears slip between the closed lids.
Within this hollowness, something begins to shift and curl, as though snakes lived within her and had been disturbed out of their slumber, nuzzling up against the inside of her bones.
Kemeneth swallows hard, but silently, holding herself rigid with a supreme effort and she is glad that at least she isn't crying any more. A shiver runs through her before she is completely still again and silent.
Whatever is shifting leaks from her bones, snaking across them and through her body, agonisingly slowly, making her skin crawl - and finally, it abates, letting her breathe. Shahrivrath slides his paws from her body, panting with exertion, and crouching down to rest a step away, wings draped loosely across the ground, blue eyes dull, antennae both rested against his neck, control removed.
Kemeneth slides down the tree, opening her eyes slowly before flicking a look across to the larger dragon. She opens her mouth to say something, then closes it again, her shape twitching.
Shahrivrath raises his right hand to his muzzle, dragging the back of it across it, resurfacing with a bloody smear across it. He wrinkles his nose, before giving his shoulders a roll. "That'll be all for today," he says, sounding shatteredly worn out. He huffs out a breath, briefly looking as though surprised by that very noise. He gives his muzzle a slight shake as though to expel dizziness. "This will have to suffice for now." And slowly, he rises, steady - but clearly weakened.
Kemeneth nods in understanding and shoves herself to her feet. She chewed on her lower lip then and eyed him, almost worriedly before she looked away; eyeing her own paws. She shivered a little then, staggering slightly as she started to walk. "Okay," she breathed.
After long moments of pausing, Shahrivrath presses his palms against his knees and pushes into rising, straightening himself, wings stretching cautiously. His fingers flex, and he glances across to Kemeneth, a strange sense of confusion flickering in his eyes. A grimace. Then, the shaking of his muzzle, a subtle motion - and he's turning, walking back to where they had come from an odd hour ago, back to the cave, expecting Kemeneth to follow.
Kemeneth looks away then follows Shahrivrath, her head lowered and silent. Dragging a forepaw across her face, she stretched carefully.
The trees close behind them as they leave the clearing, shadows patterned across their scales. The way back seems longer than they'd taken to get here, but perhaps it is the memory of the ache that is making the minutes stretch, as though it were still present, and as though each move were grinding bones against bones.
Kemeneth winces softly but doesn't say a word, limping a little, her breath escaping her in shallow huffs. Her yes are half closed but she is walking reasonably quickly as she follows her Master.
The density of trees abates, and spills them out onto the grassy plane at the foot of the mountain. Shahrivrath spreads his wings, glancing back over his shoulder in brief pause. "Can you fly?" - The cave is a short way up the mountain's fairly steep slope.
Kemeneth stares up towards the cave before she flicks a look to the taller dragon. "I can fly but..." she trails off, lowering her head slightly. "I don't feel I could manage to fly up there." Her shape shudders.
He looks at her, grimacing, taking his time to analyse her state, gaze drifting across her scales. Finally, he nods, turning, the light filtering through the membranes of his skin. Before she's entirely aware of it, he's seized her with both arms, one slung around her shape at the base of her wings' membranes near her hip, other slid around her neck and shoulders - and the stiff breeze of his wings beating whips across her scales; and they rise, if only slowly.
Kemeneth blinks in surprise but doesn't make a sound, although she is plenty shocked. She does blush ever so slightly, but does understand why he's carrying her. She lets her eyes drift fully closed, unaware of a tremor passing through her shape.
The ground distances itself, and to Kemeneth, it's a sensation quite different to flying, her wings folded against herself. It feels like floating - it's quite pleasant. At least, it had that potential - without much warning, her breath is knocked out of her as Shahrivrath curses, claws scrambling to sink into the rock at the mouth of the cave, trajectory having been too low. He snaps his left arm forward, grabbing ahold of the nearest irregularity in the rock, the sound of claws chipping as they scrape across the ground audible, and his right arm seizes Kemeneth by her left upper arm, catching her as she - no longer held by both his arms - begins to slide down the slope.
Kemeneth smiles faintly as she is bourne up to the cave but as her breath is knocked out of her she snarls, albeit not in anger at Shahrivrath, more in surprise. Starting to slide down the slope, she scrabbled with her forepaws before finding herself held up by the larger dragon.
Shahrivrath yips, and their combined weight grinds down further along the slope. He cries out, trying to ignore the pain in his fingers as they find an alternate grip, straining. The offending stone clatters past the edge and arcs neatly across their heads and down onto the grass metres below, soft thud unheard against the noises of struggles. And then, with sudden bout of energy, Shahrivrath pulls himself and his apprentice up, muzzle contorted in a vicious snarl. "You don't inspire me to repeat my offer," he growls, heaving up across the edge. Atiyath, indeed, is awake, struggling against his bonds, returning the snarl.
Kemeneth cringes. "I'm sorry," she whispers before she hears the snarl. She lunges then, up and into the cave, pressing herself against Atiyath's side, clearly glad to see him awake. She doesn't say anything more, her shape shuddering.
Ignoring Kemeneth, Shahrivrath pushes himself from an awkward sideways sprawl onto all fours, wings snapping up once more, blocking the entrance of the cave. His expression is still contorted in snarl, and his eyes glint - then, finally, he rises to a stand. Atiyath glares at him in silence, leant against the wall.
Kemeneth looks over her shoulder at Shahrivrath then backs away from Atiyath, her shape trembling. She doesn't look at anyone now, not even the desprised Kanti. Kanti meanwhile licks her lips and shifts uneasily.
The silver-laced azure steps towards Atiyath with a frightening pace fueled by anger - and his right forepaw snaps out, and lashes across Atiyath's muzzle, the sheer force of impact causing Atiyath's bound shape to crash to the floor. "Lesson one: That was a ridiculously stupid idea," he snarls, viciously, own muzzle close to Atiyath's.
Kemeneth cringes, burying her face in her forepaws but hissing at Kanti as the other dragoness tried to comfort her. She remained silent though, curling up in a tight ball, shuddering a little.
He locks his right paw around Atiyath's antennae, and yanks his head back, exposing his neck, arching his spine. "For the sake of your sister who likely does not want to see you die, tell me now what you were thinking," he snarls, nostrils flaring, muscles rippling. Atiyath merely whimpers, overwhelmed by the fury.
Kemeneth whimpers then, lowering her head further, shuddering even harder. She still doesn't say anything though, curling tighter in ball of green and black scales.
The thumb of his left forepaw sinks into Atiyath's skin with a sickening pop, causing the young dragon to cry out in pain, tail lashing violently against the cavern wall, bruising itself in the process. Shahrivrath snarls, before suddenly letting go and falling back onto all fours, elbows and knees nearly folding. He breathes audibly, leant across Atiyath's shape. "Kanti," he summons her, voice strained. "I need something to eat. See if you can find an animal, or berries."
Kemeneth shudders and curls tighter as her brother screams.
Kanti nods and jumps to her feet, immediately leaving to go and hunt. Scrabbling down the hillside she almost falls and when she reaches the botom she immediately starts to look for food.
Atiyath bleeds from the puncture in his jaw - the blood wells with every pulse of his heart. It looks far worse a wound than it is - but it
Kemeneth looks up then and half crawls over to her brother and nuzzles him gently, without that she says anything.
The Hzataalar Kaea looks astonishingly vulnerable, as though the fabled physical strength wanted to leave him. If Atiyath weren't tied down, and banded together with Kemeneth, the two could probably effortlessly reap his life - but he hardly seems bothered. He pulls himself across the floor, clearly concentrating, before letting himself sag at a slight distance, turned so he can see the two Srians. His wings are sloppily folded on his back.
Kemeneth nuzzles Atiyath very gently before curling tighter against his side, staring across at the taller dragon. She doesn't say anything before she she lowers her gaze, her shape trembling. She licks at her lips then and looks over her brother's shape but doesn't try and release him.
Atiyath's shoulders have rolled inwards, the young dragon hinting a curl in on himself, still in numb shock. Watching the larger dragon with a frightful glint lacing his eyes, he whispers - too confused for telepathy - to Kemeneth: "Where are we? Where are the others? Did we get separated?"
Kemeneth whimpers then, tears starting to flow down her face, completely unchecked. "They... died... - there is only us..." She shudders then and lowers her head, muttering incoherently. It sounds like she's cursing herself as her eyes drift closed then and she buries her face in her forepaws, crying silently but hard.
Atiyath snaps his gaze to his sister and stares, incredulously. "What ill befell them?" he asks, looking horrified, and a nervous glance drifting briefly across to his captor reveals he has a hunch at the very least. His antennae curl downward in confusion and sadness, eyes wide.
Kemeneth sobs. "He did," she whispers, pointing at Shahrivrath. She shudders then, falling silent, unable to say anything else. Mentally, she is still shattered by the fact but she actually holds no ill will towards anyone but herself.
Shahrivrath, meanwhile, shifts subtly, well aware of the words being exchanged, despite the hushed tone. He's neither a fool nor deaf - and the cavern they reside in has excellect acoustic properties, keeping each word's clarity. "They brought it upon themselves," he adds in idle explanation - there is no haste to it, it is not an attempt at defence, merely an observation.
Kemeneth shudders but doesn't say anything, sobbing even harder, almost inconsolable. Pressing against her brother's side, she struggles to calm down, inwardly fearing that he will hate her too.
Atiyath's shoulders twitch inward, and bound claws push against the rocky floor. Gaze fixed in fascination, hatred and horror at the azure, he absent-mindedly nuzzles his sister's neck. If he's thinking anything of her freedom and lack of help, then he's not showing it - or perhaps he's given it no thought. Coherence returns to him to the point of telepathy - a focussed thought reaches Kemeneth, perfectly isolated, pleading: ~Free me and I will kill the one to return with nutrients for him - then we can get rid of the threat, and go home.~
Kemeneth shivers a little then actually smirks mentally. ~Kill that little beast? With pleasure...~ She flicks a look to Shahrivrath then and shivers, eyeing her brother before she exhales slowly, her forepaws resting on his bound wrists, claws slightly digging into the bindings.
The chuckle is wry, dark. "Don't underestimate me." He didn't have to say more - everything was implied with that one sentence. 'I heard that,' and 'I can kill you, first.' It causes Atiyath to succumb to silent whimpers, feeling naked beneath the piercing gaze.
Kemeneth backs away, trembling hard, shaking her head and trying to think straight. She doesn't look anywhere now but her feet, feeling like she's betraying both her brother and Shahrivrath. She opens her mouth and whimpers: "I..." she trailed off, shuddering.
It begs the question - what can one do against such a seemingly omnipresent and - as Kemeneth knows - omnipotent creature such as Shahrivrath? He seems like some vengeful god - and to Atiyath, who has never seen the full extend of Srian magic, revealing even a fraction of the Hzataalar's power is frightening. He feebly raises both paws to his jaw, wiping away the blood from the incision, it beginning to burn from dust and grime, eliciting quiet tears.
Kemeneth whines a note and presses herself against her brother, licking gently at the spot for a second before she scratches at her leg, almost furiously, a hiss slipping from her.
The Hzatalaar grimaces. He ought to repeat his offer, but he was far too annoyed with these petty creatures. He felt disappointed in Kemeneth - but he didn't blame her. To him, she was still merely an animal, and as such, prone to make rash, irrational decisions. He couldn't afford wasting energy on anger right now, anyway.
Kemeneth shifts uneasily, flicking a look up at Shahrivrath without that she says anything before she hauls herself to her fet and moves towards the cave entrance. She sits herself down in the opening then and buries her face in her forepaws. She doesn't cry again though she is just feeling so confused and not wanting to upset anyone. Least of the Hzatalaar.
A kingdom for sleep. Shifting irritatedly, he tries to stay awake, strained scrutiny of the Srians not helping matters, the monotonous image barely keeping his mind at bay. He lets his gaze drift through the cavern and to its mouth, hoping for Kanti - hoping for food, and, consequently, energy.
Kanti returns then, Kemeneth disgruntledly shifting aside and moving to sprawl back beside Atiyath. Kanti smiles very faintly and as she kneels beside Shahrivrath, she holds her paws - almost overflowing with berries - out to him. "Eat... please..." she almost purrs.
The Hzataalar regards the berries almost carefully, as though wanting to analyse each any every one, a strange, expression-less hesitance. Finally, he inclines his head in passing thanks, and claims a couple of berries by gingerly locking his teeth around some. It's deceptively peaceful.
Kanti smiles and lets her eyes drift closed, the lithe scavenger relaxing. She doesn't lower her hands though, not wanting to drop the fragile berries. Kemeneth doesn't say anything, not move from where she is lying all scrunched up against Atiyath, her muzzle resting scant millimeters away from his bindings.
Atiyath, meanwhile, has settled back down, partly onto his side, regarding Shahrivrath at an angle, the outlines of his eyes trembling, softest moan surfacing at seeing the captor feed. ~Why?~ he asks his sister, referring to Shahrivrath's attack on their family, and the subsequent slaughter of loved ones.
Kemeneth shivers then and replies, ~They... didn't accept his offer...~ her mental voice shudders. She flicks a look up to Shahrivrath then, silent, before looking away again. ~So he killed them...~ Tears start to slide down her face again and she squirms a little, not looking up at her brother, mentally aching.
~Offer?~ Atiyath's gaze drifts back to his kin, pain twitching in the lower corner of his left eye. His forepaws are pressed against his bleeding jaw, trying to make the sting at least predictable.
Kemeneth nods silently, her shape shuddering. ~Yes... he... offered to...~ she pauses, thinking of the wording, eyeing Shahrivrath as she did so. ~To make them... pure...~ She trails off and eyes her forepaws, trembling hard, muttering softly but incoherently.
Atiyath is silent, uncomprehending - so much so that asking even a question about the subject matter eludes him. What could that possibly mean? Make them pure? It reeked of arrogance, but he was unable to feel offended, not knowing details.
Meanwhile, the Hzataalar finishes the berries, tongue snaking across the palms of Kanti's paws, cleaning them of residual juice in what Terrans might consider feline behaviour.
Kanti giggles slightly then retracts her hands, purr-rumbling softly before she edges away a little.
Kemeneth shivers somewhat. ~He meant that he wanted to take away the deformities...~ she trailed off, shuddering and not looking anywhere even as her eyes closed so she couldn't look anywhere. Tears seeped between her eyelids.
If Atiyath wanted to respond, he's cut short by a hideous wincing, his arms and torso tensing, knuckles of his paws pushing into the wound at his jaw, trying to focus the pain and stop it from drifting in seemingly aimless patterns.
Kemeneth whines a note and looks up at Shahrivrath almost pleadingly, before she pushes herself up to sit before she gently licks at the wound, purring soothingly. Her right forepaw, though, scratches at her leg again and hard.