Not Alone

[Daybreak]

[glow=blue,2,300]Rigel napped peacefully on a solid bed of rock. Her head was tilted to the left with her silver hair draped over her face and her hands resting on her lap. Everything was quiet. Suddenly she shot upright and left out a piercing scream that echoed beyond the cave. “Nightmares” she said with disgust as she shook her head as to remove them from her mind. She moved slowly forward and thought about her horrid dream. The dark dreams seamed to be increasing in intensity but she often paid no attention, except, this one seamed to wound her soul. [/glow]

[glow=red,2,300]Soldiers marched into a village at dusk with all intensions of lighting the night with their torches. Nothing seemed more ruthless than the looks of these men in uniform. Their faces shined with the light they possessed in their hands, only to ruin the lives of the sleeping villagers. In front of them the village looked peaceful and pathetic. No one to guard against the attack that awaited them, no one to protect the women and children and no one trained well enough to get away. All hope was gone.[/glow]

[glow=blue,2,300]As Rigel thought her dream through she swore she knew this pain. Something she could feel but not identify. Is this real, she thought anxiously, or is this apart of history, or an event perhaps that has not yet come to pass?[/glow]

[glow=red,2,300]As soon as the soldiers made it into the village all hell had broke loose. Women screamed into the night, children cried, and men died, No one knew what to do. The soldiers proceeded to torch the homes and anything that would burn. A family of seven, three girls and three older boys along with their mother huddled together in the center of the village. The men who were at the front of the line walked toward the trebling family with malevolent faces and weapons raised. “Where is your husband”, the General asked, demanding an answer from the woman. She responded in a voice that was strong and steady. “He has left me for another woman”, she said. “Left me with all of my children and I have had nothing to do with him since he left.” The General looked at the small woman with his stone cold grey eyes. “You lie”, he said quietly at first. The General moved forward and glared at the lady, her eyes widening with fear. “YOU LIEING LITTLE WENTCH,” his voice echoed through the night. The malicious man pulled his strong arm back and struck the woman on her face, breaking the skin. She fell to the floor in a heap. The children that were watching with terror now found their anger and attacked the evil general with their own bear hands. Six shots rung out, as the fire grew higher, and the village met its demise.[/glow]

[glow=blue,2,300]Rigel shook with anger and fear, “Why would soldiers do this.” “I just don’t understand.” Her face was wet with tears just thinking about the horrible dream. There was nothing logical she could do about these disturbing dreams, but she decided she needed to go to the Silver City now, to find out more about the wars and if anyone needed her help. If her dreams were true, she would surly find who did this and why and then kill them.

Rigel poked her face out from behind a rock, her eyes shining in the light of mid-afternoon. She walked through the small pool of water entering into the high brush of the N’Ädinel forest. The sunlight broke through the gaps of the tall trees and the greenery reflected the water droplets still on them from the storm that morning. She cleared her mind of her thoughts and sought out for the Silver City. Walking through the forest was both peaceful and frightening. The never-ending trees made it hard to tell which direction you were headed in. Rigel thought she saw someone in the distance but she blinked and whatever she had seen disappeared. She paced a few steps more and ducked down into the bush and looked down in the mud ahead of her. Footprints. Someone else was in the forest she was not alone…[/glow]

[Cerberus]

No, the woman was not alone. In fact she was being looked for. By the large fire brujo of cerberus breed.

Cane was starving, the blackish-grey monster having fasted for near two weeks. He was ravanous and having a difficult time in finding any easy prey. Everything seemed too fast for him to catch. He was not built for speed, even though he was a lean and muscular creation, he was more skilled in strength then in agility and extreme speed. However he was a hunter, and the scent of a lone creature had sparked its interest. Of course in two different eyes, this was either a good or bad thing.

The middle, led the three-headed brute... and led Cane well; for he slowly stalked the prey he had yet to see. He had to approach slowly so as to see if the prey was possible meal. Or if the desired food was in fact too much for the large monstrous dog to handle. Decaying flesh burned into its hide as the curse was in full string... and the bleeding had started again... leaving a slight trail in the lucious grass and forest ground. He had wandered far from his normal hunting grounds, but when one was hungery without luck in other regions, one had to spread out.

Anubis shaped heads lowered themselves agressively on their shoulders, as the scent grew stronger in the multiple nares of the hellish beast. So animalic in nature, he acted mostly on instinct, for he had not needed reason for some time. Though being free from a restraining master did allow a much larger amount of room to grow and develope.

Since his rebellion and his newfound freedom, he had gained knowlegde of the upper worlds, and thus develope a minor amount of cunning. It was enough to learn to communicate in a verbal language of... speech. Though still rather hard to accomplish... the dog, Cane was fully capable of being a deadly force and a very serious threat.

For Pain might drive a large beast away... this was not as strong in Cane. For the pain that is caused by decaying flesh... where bone is exposed to the elements... leaves one in a rather sour mood - if one knows what I mean. He had grown slightly ignorant of the constant cycle of mortal wounds... thus he was somewhat calloussed to pain. Though a lack of hurtfelt pain would not cause him to be any more invincible, it gave him a certain relentlessness that did not give easily.

Four feet from earth to shoulder... he was an intimidating sight, with the three gruesome heads of large power and strength with a broad back jaw structure, that signified a strong strength of power within those gums. Of course, right now... If he layed down and lay motionless he might appear dead, and now rotting from the numerous marks, scars, and specks of white - the bone - that seemed to sprout from beneath the skin. But he was very much alive.

The Left snarled slightly as the scent grew thick and it knew they were close.

Cane hungery...

Was a very common thought amongst the three. But the right was not so rash and did not let the bod flight over the brush to attack whatever form could be near. He did not wish to start the chase. He wanted to know that which he was stalking... and if it be wise to attack or not.

Cerberus was known for eating anything and everything that it found suitable when it was starving. That was what made the cerberus breed such a good servent to an evil cause or even a guarding one. If made ravenous and then promised food for a good deed, there was a definate "of course" for obedience.

But in the past few years of freedom, the odd canine had learned... animalistic behavior of too rash a commitment made one more or less common. And Cane had pride. He had reason - and he was still learning. Methodical he was becoming... and thus he layed the grotesque bodice of black and mangled grey hide into the brush... waiting for a sign of some kind as to what quarry he was hunting this time.

[Daybreak]

[glow=blue,2,300]Rigel looked cautiously from out behind the brush, her hands sinking into the fresh mud from the recent rain. Glancing once more at the footprints she noted that her forest company was of no man, but of beast, a large on possibly, not to quick judging on the animals enormous tracks. He or she was strong though, for the mud had caved in on the creatures weight and sunk a few inches into the ground. She decided that remaining on the ground would leave her wide open for an attack and she climbed a near by sturdy tree. The tree was gigantic, with lushes leaves and vines growing all over it. The tree shown its age with pride and the roots ran deep. As she climbed she moved quickly and gracefully and kept a sure footing. When she reached the second main branch of the tree she pulled herself onto it and stood. Her icy blue eyes scanned the forest floor for an animal she could not see. She stood patiently and focused, then she saw it, a beast that was dead looking laid on the forest floor. She backed against the trunk of the tree and stole another glance at the presumed dead creature. Rigel thought about the situation for a minute. Footprints do not lie, I have a feeling I have become somethings prey.
Rigel knew at one point she would come to face this kind of danger and she was prepared for it. If the beast attacked she would do all that was necissary to survive. She used her magery to cover herself lightly with greenery. As the vines flowed over her skin she stared at the mangled beast with no fear. If her wanted to deal with her the creature would certainly come and get her, but for now all she could do was wait.[/glow]

[Cerberus]

Cane had all three heads completely focus on its prey that it was stalking. It couldn't afford to let something slip out of its fingers. Until it was inevitable that it could not be caught... he would keep after it.

Tuned hearing picked up the sound of the light footsteps. It was a fait sound and barely audible, but it was there... The middle tilted its head in slight confusion. The scent was still there, but it was turning more earthy... and seemed to mingle with the scent of the flowers and greenery that spring had grown over the past weeks. It was slightly frustrating and the beast wondered if it had been found. Possibly, for the sound of movement ceased, even as the scent lingered. Letting loose a growl of anticipation of a kill the left snarled briskly and shook it's massive skull - much to the dislike of the middle... for the sharp movement jostled the whole form. Snapping maliciously in the left's direction the middle commanded... and Cane lifted himself from his feet slipping from the underbrush. The right searched the ground fervently for the scent, for it remembered the smell and conveyed the aroma to the other two for the moment. Occasionally it whined in dispair when it lost the trail. The decaying dog, Cane, hadn't seen the prey slip up into the tree thus he had yet to learn of the location. Mangled flesh staggered forward feverishly as it scoped the area, where it had beleived it's quarry to be. But it found no sign that the animal it hunted has left this location.

It's pacing of the area led it several times to traverse beneath the boughs of the tree that its prey was hiding. And each time it didn't think to look up. Atleast not yet...

Finally, reaching a moment of fatigue the large cerberus layed its body back down to earth - ironically, right beneath the cloaking wood structure. Laying his heads upon the earth, Cane fervently thought while the hunger ravished his stomach, the frustration of not being able to figure out the situation ran through his mind, and the anger at failing yet again.

The Left: growling.
The Middle: thinking.
The Right: whining.

It was then that the wind drifted down from the heaven's... and the scent reawoke the right. Where memory surged upwards to the others... and again hope sparked in the ravenous brute's mind, as it stood and turned to the trunk of the tree they rested beneath. Cane then looked up... trying to spot the scent.

It was in the tree, the middle concluded.
hunger making the other two easy to agree... and Cane regained focus.
He knew where his prey was. Up in the tree. It was there. It was there. Hell, they might just get a meal now.

HUNGER!

It's intent on eating was hard on now. If the prey was small enough to fit up in the tree, and remain hidden and out of site - that meant it was possible... and most likely smaller than the big satanic dog. Cane still had to learn that power could come in small packages.

At first the beast sat in contemporary thought, right at the base of that tree. But so suddenly it leapt. Hinds leaving the earth for a moment as fores struggled against the bark that it couldn't climb. The claws slipping on the smooth birch. The tree was sturdy and thick, but that didn't disuade the dog. It was hungery and like any hungry animal... there was a certain need to remain and stand guard. For everything needed to come down from the trees eventually. BEsides this was as close as Cane had come in a long while to any possible chance at a meal. He wasn't going to leave so soon.

but back to his leap...

For a moment he hung in the air as his large bodice fell against the tree, the left snapping maliciously up towards the branches, as if to snag the prey from the boughs... though there was no possible chance. Being such a large animal - the cerberus could not manage to get very far from the earth in one leap... not directly upwards. He could leap fair in distance... and could run at a decent sprint. He was not terribly slow... he just wasn't terribly fast either. He was just one oversized dog with three heads instead of one.

The flesh upon the left's jaw ripped upon the bark, causing the already open wound that was there to bleed... the blood falling over the white appearance of its open jaw. The copper taste in its mouth only hieghtened its lust and hunger. And even enticed the middle and Right. Cane was not going to give up any time soon. He was here for a reason - and he wasn't giving up possible easy prey.

Coming back to earth, he paced once, coming back to the tree... he leapt again. The same occuring his claws leaving long white marks where the bark had been ripped and the raw meat of the tree bled green. The scars were shallow indentations - and served no help in the malicious beast's quest.

Snapping and growling - Cane repeatedly leapted against the bark, as if to encourage the tree to stand... uproot itself and run. Or atleast fall - but it didn't and it held sturdy. Finally giving up his quest to break the tree, and reach his quarry... he stopped and settled himself at its base. growling and snarling up towards the boughs, for he couldn't see his prey... but he could smell it. Though it was sometimes masked and mingled with the earthy scents of vegetation... he knew it was there.

And would continue to think it was... until something proved to him it wasn't.

[Daybreak]

[glow=blue,2,300]Rigel sat in complete silence as the creature began to make its way toward her hiding place. She now had a clear view of the deformed animal, a three headed canine and although its appearance suggested that it was dead it was very much alive. The disgruntled animal passed several times under the great tree she had covered herself in with vines of green. Then the animal now looked as thought it had tired and flopped itself right down below her onto the forest floor. She watched this beast carefully and then realized that it had regained her sent. She suddenly noticed that each of the three heads seemed to have a distinct personality that divided the poor creature. It arose and then sat back down, for the middle appeared to be thinking at the moment while the others waited impatiently. Rigel braced herself for what she knew was inevitable. The canine threw itself at the gigantic tree out of desperation, snapping violently as it did so, digging its enormous claws into the bark. The tree remained and Rigel knew that if she didn’t think quickly she would certainly be out of luck. The animal was too large to reach her in the trees, she thought. She did not want to appear to be a coward but in this case she would not let her pride win for it could mean death. To the trees she thought, that was the only way she would be able to reach her destination with no further trouble from this beast of hell. She kept her cover until she pulled out her bow. She loaded the bow with two arrows, one with all three feathers the other arrow she pulled one feather off with her teeth and placed the it along side the other, ready to fire. She aimed at the jumping canine. As it leap she focused her ice blue eyes into the deep amber eyes of the Cerberus, pulling her bow back, she released the arrows straight into the eyes of the middle head, hoping that the other two would also feel the searing pain. She shot another arrow off into the distance and anticipated that the maimed animal would hear the noise and charge. She climbed to the apex of the tree she had sought cover in and stood up overtop of the forest. The light of the day reflected off of her angelic skin and the light breeze blew her silver hair in all directions. Using her own agility she leapt over the treetops as quickly as she could, heading closer and closer to the Silver City.[/glow]

[Cerberus]

ooc: aww... not fair, lol. Now it's on! hehe ;D i won't let u end our moment together so quickly... lol

At one of the moments it leapt, there was movement - and the canine's eyes caught but a glimpse of movement before something more ominous picked up in its radar. nearing the decent of its leap, two projectiles flashed into Cane's line of site. Pain already seared through its body from the decaying flesh that should have signified it as dead, so the pain from an arrow wound would be minute however, one through the eye, could cause different problems. Trauma to the brain - death to a part of Cane, an important part nonetheless. But Cane was not so easily killed like a mindless creature.

No. There was no way to avoid the sudden attack... and the arrows did catch the middle head. However, the middle was more clear minded then the left... and the right was more or less following the overall motive and goal, in other words, not paying much attention.

Two arrows, headed for the eyes within seconds they flew - their aim, damn near true. But the middle winced, flinching and tucking its head a hairs width. One arrow delving into the skin at its brow - whilst the other broke upon his head, the point lodging itself in the cranium, as the shaft broke as the dog roughly discended/fell to the earth. where the right whined pitifully. and the left howled in fury... its head snapping to the direction that the third arrow made noise. But the middle was still alive, and was angered. For it was the center of Cane - it was the main portion the leader so to say. Cane was very unhappy. He was not stupid... and gathering details from the left and the right... he saw little chance that the creature that had been in the tree had leapt such a distance. And thus it ordered the right to watch the trees.

It still continued to whine pitifully and the left was in arrogant outrage. Cane laid down, his massive forepaws scraping at his face. The point in his skul - remained where it was. Though not deeply lodged, it was stuck partially in the skull... and would not come out by mere rubbings from a giant paw. The other however, had come much closer to the eye than Cane would have liked. The tip lodge itself just above the socket. The eye was saved... and once his cycle began again, where he healled then opened - the wound would be as if it had never been there. See Cane would always heal as long as he lived long enough to reach that stage of the cycle he was caught within. If he became dead and ceased to live before then... well - there was no reviving. But should he still be left to breath when that passing of mercy came... he would be renewed... only to slowly decay again.

Anyways... the arrow had ripped through the skin, and the shaft broke halfway - still showing the protruding end. The point cause the skin to bleed - the blood stinging the brute eye as the tissue swelled and screamed. The face was sensitive... and the big kujo was indeed in pain. However... that did not deter its task.

hunger.

A quieter cry than before, but it was still not gone. After a few moment of attempting quelling of the painful irritaion. Cane lifted himself and his three components and followed the new trace of sound. Sensitive ears picking up each disturbance of the vegeation that it analysed as the prey that had escaped it. The food, he had still not seen - but he now knew it could bite. He would be more cautious next time. The eye that was slowly swelling shut was a constant reminder of that. Occasionally a whine could be heard from the right as it too felt the joined pain. The only reaction the left gave was a seering snarl... drowning out the other's cries. Cane was more fervent now. Enraged at being struck as such and nearly being partially slain... he was more intent... revenge and hunger combining into a relentless form of both focus and rampage. The fight was not over... the chase had begun... only one would succeed. and Cane was hungry.

Following the faint sounds of the restless vegetation. He followed with adept speed across the treaterous forest floor. This was no open plain... and neither quary would be able to sprint to impossibly fast. The tones were set, and the stakes seemed even, for now. Though it seemed the cerberus was falling out of favor.

It was not yet beaten... only death would disuade such an animal.

[Daybreak]

[glow=blue,2,300]Rigel had just reached the fourth treetop while she heard the angry howl of one of the Cerberus' three heads. The cry of pain expressed pure rage and Rigel then knew she would not escape this beast as easily as first anticipated. Her arrow shots must not have been as accurate as she wished, for if she had hit both eyes of the middle head the creature surly would have died. Unfortunately it had not. The beast was clearly angry and would probably chase her until she confronted the creature herself. Rigel sat and thought for a few moments. Night was coming and dusk began to fall upon the horizon quickly creating shades of purple hues in the late afternoon sky. She could see well in the dark but she was unsure of her opponent. If the animal could indeed see sharply in the night she would need to take caution. The best spot to hide was still in the trees even thought the beast knew were he would need to look. This did not bother her now. Rigel needed to lower herself from this tree to one of the base branches if she wanted a clear view of the malicious animal to understand when she needed to attack. She prepared herself for what might lead to a harsh night in the forest and proceeded with climbing down the mangled tree. The branches scratched her skin and her hands but her steps were solid as she was descending and finally, she perched herself on the third highest branch looking catlike from a distance. She checked in all directions. The Cerberus had not come into view yet and she waited patiently. The sun began to set lower in the sky as the cool hair of night started to flood the forest. The crescent moon began to rise in the east and was soon covered with many clouds and the hunting hour for the nocturnal animals had begun. Surly for this beast it was no different Her icy eyes were illuminated by the mysterious glow of the moon and they pierced the dimly light forest were she began to see the Cerberus make its way out of the distance. She had a firm grip on the sword on her side and another on the branch she was perched on, ready for a meeting she would never forget. Her silver hair flowed in the breeze and she waited for what felt like forever and then glared strait into the amber eyes of the beast.[/glow]

[Cerberus]

Cane followed fervently. Trusting the eyes of the right and the left. Though the left seemed infuriated beyond reason. The middle was near sightless - being able to clearly see through one eye, gave the world a rather shallow and unpredictable view. Thus it staggered in its steps slightly - but not entirely noticable, nor were the movements hindersome. For Cane was still one creation, though divided. Cane was still the creature. Left, Right, and Middle were only his components.

The right remembered the pain - and thus when the glare from the eyes of its prey shown brightly in the shade of the arising moon - Cane slowed, for its quarry had ceased its movement. It remained at a distance stopping - lowering its massive skulls while each snarled menacingly and maliciously. Saliva edged from between the jaws as ravanous hunger foamed slightly upon its gums.

Cane could be easily bought by food or ration. Anything edible would serve him now...

anything, being the key term.

However, Cane remembered the pain, and the swollen eye. He thus did not come too close, but began a slow circle, coming around with a decent radius. Staying out of range of sword, and keeping watch for any other sharp projectiles that would signify another bite from this fellow creation.

He would not be struck down by the same attack twice. the cerberus had learned.

Amber eyes glinted with several shades as the back of the optics reflected, shining his eyes a solid ghostly array of silvers, reds, shining greens, and several others. The reflection was like that of any other canine, but when such eyes - already eirie by themselves - appeared in a set of three. That was a certain view that was more or less chilling, depending upon the person who viewed them.

Cane was not acting entirely on a lust to kill. It was striving for this other with a lust to survive. Cane would die of hunger - if he did not eat... and Cane did not wish to die.

But he did not wish to fall to his prey either. He hoped it was of a common creature - or even a mere human without power. But this one had already biten him... and had already, nearly been lucky enough to kill apart of it. this made Cane wary and he wondered if perhaps this prey would be unwise to seduce. for its eyes reflected in a very, seemingly unhuman fashion.

Cane was wary, but not yet detered. It was a nocturnal beast, loving the night, for oh how it resembled the depths of the earth and the dark caves which had once been his residence. He was no lesser beast in the dark. His greyish black hide, melted slightly into the darkening terra, but the dark red and pinkish areas of open flesh - made him more apparant than the beastly dog would have prefered.

indeed, it began its circle... warily eyeing the life which it yearned to stop. What other dangers might it pose? The middle contemplated...

The left growled, surging and snapping at random intervals... as if to signify it was ready to feast - so arrogant in itself... it held no caution.

The right kept reminding Cane of the hurt, of the possible doom the middle had escaped. But it did not whine - but it too seemed to become enthralled in the closeness of this possible meal.

Cane did note:

The prey was not on the crowd, but still in the trees; thus unreachable by jaw or leap.

To leap futively after it could result in another attack from flying object.

The prey seemed defensive, no longer running; could mean more danger depending upon race and power.

Cane suddenly stopped his partial pacing. And squared off to the humanoid being. Merelly standing, Cane did not move forward to attack, nor did he retreat. But instead the intelligent one - the middle worked its throat, formulating the speach as the right helped it remember how. The left merely appeared in disgruntled posture and felt no need to indulge what Cane's intelligence felt was needed. Finally the words were found and the throat remembered how the syllables worked.

"Hunger." the middle growled. The vocal seemed more bark then noun. But the syllables were there, and the sound still resembled the word - though it was not as clear as human speach. It was coming from a large canine, though not entirely normal - it was still very doglike in essence.

"Hunger." It repeated, the word coming out with a tad bit more recognizable pronunciation.

"Eat. Leave." It responded after the hunger. Though many might first assume that this was like a monologue. As if the cerberus was saying 'after i eat you i will leave'. But no. Cane did not have a wide variation of vocabulary nor were his throats meant to speak a humanoid tongue, but what he tried he managed. However it was a tiresome dialect and he said only what he felt would make the point he meant.

In truth he meant as if asking - though still feeling no regret in the idea of eating his original quarry - he knew the system of life; something he had not know while in captivity. All creations liked to live, they fought to hold life and war off death. It was an act of survival - and when fighting for survival the stakes were often very high. Preditor lost its life to prey as often as prey lost its life to preditor. Cane wanted to keep living, unfortunately he needed to eat to do this, and the humanoid was the only thing that had proved to be a possible kill this day. Yet his intelligence feared that this prey could fair to be trouble. What if it held power? It had subdued him once... what other secrets did it have? What other abilities. His mind had expanded greatly - allowing such thoughts.

So... he was basically asking if the prey he hunted had anything to offer, that he could take instead of it. He was willing to negotiate... though mostly animal - he was learning and gaining a sense of intelligence. Learning as he lived, trade he found was a power. And thus he wondered if it would serve useful in a situation such as this, when both opponent was wary of the other - caught in a certain stage of unknown confrontation.

The left did not like this idea. It did not understand why Cane did not attack, kill, and eat. It all seemed very logical to the left. But that was why the leftmost skull - was only part of the hellish beast. Only the anger... only the hate.

And so each stood, prepared for what the other might hold... predicting and assuming - or trying - the power the other held.

[Daybreak]

[glow=blue,2,300]Rigel looked forward at the beast as it headed cautiously her way. The night proceeded to close in on her as the opponent began to blend in better with the surrounding darkness except for a few dark rose colored wounds covering some areas of its coal pigmented coat. Rigel continued to hold her cold gaze with the monstrous beast, unshaken by its devilish glare piercing the night with extraordinary color. She would never fall prey to this beast. She would not. Still crouching on the branch of the twisted tree she gripped her sword tightly and pulled it from her belt. The sharp sword reflected a large amount of moonlight as she held it in a ready position by her side. While she did this the beast had been circling her like a vulture would a dead carcass. This beast had now proved to her it was more intellectual then she had first expected. [glow=red,2,300] What other secrets could this beast possibly possess?[/glow] She sat still, pensively for a moment processing what could be done. The left now snapped viciously and growled menacingly as the whole creature continued its circle. The right and middle remained focused on her with no falter in their steps. [glow=red,2,300]Where did this beast come from? [/glow] [glow=red,2,300] How could it wander so far and not be noticed? [/glow][glow=red,2,300]The hunger of this creature must be driving it, its will to survive was greater than any thought it might have possessed.[/glow] As she pondered this the hunting creature had stopped dead in front of her, the left head dropping slightly for a reason she could not understand.
Rigel stared at the beast waiting for it to react, but nothing happened. Finally, the middle one let out a low growl that Rigel swore it sounded like the beast was speaking.......[glow=green,2,300]Hunger[/glow], and again, now very clear [glow=green,2,300]HUNGER[/glow]. She blinked wildly at this new find, for this animal could speak her language! [glow=white,2,300] "How amazing"[/glow] she gasped with wonderment. I had thought this beast was just a savage animal.......but I was partially wrong.
[glow=green,2,300]EAT. LEAVE.[/glow] said the beast which snapped her back to reality. She was going to be this things dinner if she hesitated any longer, or was she?? [glow=red,2,300]For if this beast can speak my tongue it should be able to understand it to an extent.[/glow] She then stood on the branch so that the three headed canine might have a clear view of her appearance. Her silver hair reflected in the moonlight and her eyes like glaciers. She held her sword high in a protective stance in case her plan was a total disaster.
[glow=white,2,300]BEAST![/glow]
She yelled, echoing into the dark abyss. Her mind set on negotiation. She knew of this hunger that the beast suffered from.....but what was its intentions......
[glow=white,2,300]What of me do you ask??![/glow]
..........Unaware of what was to come. [/glow]

[Cerberus]

Ah returned speech. It was hard to comprehend and correlate each word when it was spoken so quickly by a tongue that was used to the sudden and rather advanced syllables.

Cane just couldn't understand how such a complicated language could be found interesting, or even prefered. But perhaps other such creations like the humanoid before him, were different in a sense. Perhaps they could not utter such emotion sounds like the canine could. Maybe they did not roar, and growl - maybe they were inable.

The middle shook its head, its swollen eye still bleeding, while the top of the head felt red with the burning sensation of the overly large, thorn-like object embedded atop his skull; the second arrow point. The left had not reliquished the savage urge to act as animal and attack the prey with reckless force. but Cane was wiser now then to listen to such savage and rash, ill conceived plans. He'd not let his aggressive animalic nature take a hold as he had let in the past while in servitude. But that was then, and this was now - the breed cerberus would be renewed by Cane. A new brand of cerberus would be born from his line - his learning and intelligence to pass to any offspring, but this was a fleeting thought that went unnoticed in the canine's mind, perhaps it was pride. Cane? A sense of pride? Would dignity soon arise?

Looking at the animal currently one would find it hard to imagine.

Working new found verbs and nouns in his throat he tried to play the message in his mind before answering. The Right occasionally helping with a reminder of certain syllables and certain pronuciations; until finally the phrase was caught and captured, redirted, and now... released...

"Food. Life hold value. One live. Other no. Offer food not you -- Me leave might."

The words were very difficult to discern from the growling, but it could be done, yes. The sentences horrible and disconnected, with little hope of the language ever becoming his choice of speech. It troubled him to speak it. But Cane was not willing to die for this meal. Though the raging of his tightening stomach told him differently. He paced subconciously, never coming closer to the tree - but rather circling himself, wearing the grass down to the dirt; pulled loose by his extended ebony claws.

the night tugged at his form, and seemed to drag him in with it. Only the occasional glare from his eyes prounced he was still where he was - as did the spotlight red tissue, that had now again begun to bleed. Seething slowly down his side to cascade; leaving a small speckled trail in his wake as he walked. The dark crimson fluid lost in the night, as it stained the grass and dirt beneath him.

The growling words were finished, and he again waited to here the complicated reply. It took him so long to transalte her words, and then find the proper words for his own reply. Already the night seemed a quarter way through, though he had not reduced his attention to see. He did not care what other sounds lurked around him - he did not care how dark the night became. He did not care what else might fall upon him. His hunger demanded he attack this humanoid, while his reason warned him that death could follow such an action.

Sometimes he questioned his reasoning for leaving the simplicity of a life as reckless and corroded as it had once been. It had been simple then, kill - eat, sleep when one must. But now, that he chose his own path, things became more difficult and he found himself forced to make difficult descisions. This being one of them. With intelligence came an acknowledgement of death. And ever so slowly he was beginning to broaden his intellect from that of a common animal/beast. Thus it opened some doors while closing others. If she had no food to offer him in exchange for her life.... He could not just leave, and would be forced out of a will to survive to engage her - and kill her. In his relentless ways he would fight to keep himself alive, just as he was coming to realize that she would do as well. She would kill him to stay alive, just as he would kill her to save his hunger and preserve his own state of being. The circle of life, it was unfair to some and curteous to others.

And in the blackness of the night, in its stillness - and in its harmony... death seemed to watch from the shadows, as if waiting to close in on whomever should fall. This current state of negotiation would not last forever and something would die tonight. Whether it be another food source, the humanoid, or the cerberus. Death knew - and the silence meant death was waiting.

[Daybreak]

[glow=yellow,2,300]O.O.C.: Sorry my post is so late. My computer broke down, But I understand if you wish to go elsewhere it is totally up to you. ;D[/glow]

[glow=blue,2,300]She remained on the green covered branch after she had stated her response to the canine. She was not completely sure if the animal had understood her or not. Waiting still, Rigel took notice to the mark she had left on the middles far-head and thought fondly of her aim, concluding her shot could have been lethal if it were just three centimeters lower.
But now back to the present...Rigel felt quite unsure of what this beasts reaction would be.
[glow=red,2,300]Would her conversing lead her into danger?
Would it end the matter quickly and spare her life?[/glow]She waited patiently as she expected the three headed dog to be thinking.
[glow=red,2,300]Would he respond??[/glow]
Finally the creature spoke through the darkness, the words almost untranslatable, but the letter were closed enough for her to comprehend.
[glow=green,2,300]"Food. Life hold value. One live. Other no offer food not you, Me leave might."[/glow][glow=red,2,300]What did this mean?
Did it want her to give it food now?
Was it willing to wait until she came back with some?
Was the beast angry because she had no food to offer?[/glow]The monster paced rapidly back and forth. The eyes of the creature looking demonic in the night made her unsure that what she was about to say would save them both....
[glow=white,2,300]"Canine. If you are patient for just awhile longer, which I know is painstaking with hunger, I will hunt for you. For I am small and a kill will come quickly in the dark. If you consent I will proceed with my offer and not betray your kindness in giving me this option. This is my word, a promise I will not break."[/glow]
She finished speaking slowly and clearly so the beast could understand her better, waiting for a reaction from the canine, hoping it may be of both their interests.[/glow]

[Cerberus]

Cerberus paused its pacing a moment, so as to more caredully catch and translate the words she returned. Again it took him a tad amount of time to correlate the meaning of each word. Some were too complicated and the right could only whine as a sign of its loss for an answer, thus Cane passed over such words and went on to the next, finally coming up with a translation.

Now his mind twisted with the thought of her offer. Was it a mere decoy... that would allow him to let her pass forth from his sight. Would she take this as an escape? Probably. That was his first assumption, for he hadn't much experience with promises and the Left gave a rather abrupt and sudden growl, that barked his anxiousness and reflected the distrust in her words. But Cane saw only two options now, fight her for her life - possibly injure himself more in the process, or...

Let her leave and hope that she returned. So, he made his descision. Resuming his pacing he began the correlation of the difficult speech once more. Again working each vowel, each syllable, each word, and each sentence. Never uttering a word until he had it in his mind. Finally he was ready, pausing once more his growls were of warning, but a willingness edged them.

"Go. Return. You don't? Me hunt you again. You do? Me hunt here never."

With that speech he lowered his decaying body to the earth, seeming to dissapear in the dark shadows of the undergrowth. His luminescent eyes gleaming as the moonlight's stray gaze reflected off the back of the iris.

[Daybreak]

Rigel heard the beast loud and clear.....
"Well, I best be on my way." She said as she cautiously walked away from the beast. She did not trust him at first to actually let her proceed with her offer. Maybe she would be killed as soon as she tried to step away, but to keep this animal from her home was more important than her life, by all means necessary. She walked over the brush and twigs that lowered under her quiet footsteps and off into the woods she crept. She drew her bow and what arrows she had left she kept at hand, looking back occasionally to see if the animal had left its position.
Now she looked forward, her eyes adjusted to the pure darkness of the Forest and listening intently for any noises to be herd. Nothing. She prayed to her Goddess that she would find something worth her while in the darkness, if not she knew she was dead. Flinging her hair from her face she headed back into the direction of her home, hoping to find wild animals near the water, where rest was usually common for woodland creatures. The forest at night was never ending and full of shadows that danced across Rigel's face in the strange moonlight. Fierce were the eyes of the hunter as she made her way toward the water hoping to find something.....then tracks....a large animal, definitely not the one who had hunted her, more bear like, a large cub or male. She followed the tracks scrupulously and found the entrance in a large tree infested den. A big ground structure, opening in the side of a steep incline, hoping she had found what she was looking for, she stepped lightly toward the hole in the dirt. Masking herself behind trees and weeds as she went keeping an eye on the den entrance. Finally she reached the opening in the incline and poked her head into the den.
A family of bears were lying in the inside, not sure of what could happen, Rigel knew if she did not act quickly the beast that was waiting for her might become suspisios.....Ever so carefully she pulled an arrow and loaded her bow, not making a sound. Concentrating hard on her prey she pulled her bow back and spun around and shot. The wild bears acted fast and the one who had been shot was fierce and large. His black fur gleamed in the dark and his eyes were piercing red. It charged her and swung viciously at her face, gashing her from her ear to her cheek, long and deep, the cut bled profusely and she shot back at the animal with anger and fear. Knowing that the arrows now would only get stuck in its thick black fur, she pulled her sword and squared off with the black bear. Lunging forward violently she stabbed the animal through its chest and it fell weightless to the ground.
Sweat dripping from her brow she lifted the extremely heavy bear as well as she could and drug it for as long as she could go. Not worrying about her bloody face she kept going, knowing that this long night would soon be over. Rigel finally entered the area of trees where she had left, dropped the part of the bear she had not been dragging and looked off to find the Cerberus. Her body aching with fatigue, she offered the animal to the beast, keeping her promise she had made.

[Cerberus]

Cane sat in the dark and watched as the woman abandoned him. The left seethed with anger at watching her leave. How could he let her leave? She was the only prey he had come close to catching.

The insects of the dirt were slowly advancing upon his decaying flesh and the right bit and chewed profusely upon its own hide as the knawing pests irritated the raw, tender flesh. The left continued its growling as the middle contemplated this tide of change. Never before would he ever have reasoned with prey. But someone he was learning that their were those who could best him, and who had intelligence greater than his own that would give them a certain advantage. He was also beginning to acknowledge the aspect of death. He knew that he would now one day die, and this new thought made him partially more cautious and more open to listening and reasoning. But he still had that raging personality that couldn't easily be quelled... and possible never would be. It was part of his nature that could be control, but never completely eradicated.

And so after a seeming eternity, his sensitive nares and ears caught the scent and sound of the humanoid... and...

... blood.

His eyes sparked with eagerness, and in his haste to feed he stood, body rippling with excitement as his spirit and surviving nature seathed beneath the skin. He waited only a moment, as the humanoid arrived with her kill, that was now his. He did not care about the wound she had received. She was alive, he was alive... and he would continue to live. All was fair.

Right and Middle thrust in upon the dead flesh and began to drag the mound with seemingly little effort. But the left stood snarling, bristling, snapping, barking, growling... and every act of fierce intimidation that could be thought of. It was time for her to leave now. A protective nature over this food would not be supressed by a starving canine, and Cane wasn't sharing. She could go now. He cared not about her anymore, but only on the food. He would keep his word and hunt here never again. But she need not linger, less he change his mind...

more recently, he was finding himself prone to that.

Blood ran from its muzzle as Cane decided he would now depart. Red stained jaws parted and gripped different portions, carrying it in a ballanced manner as the dog slowly began the lumber back. a retriet so to say. He had gotten what he needed. Home was clear in his mind.

[Daybreak]

O.O.C. I think we can saftly say that are thread is complete! Thats so great! Good luck where ever you take Caine next.




Rigel stood and looked on as the ravenous beast devoured her kill. She finally realized how hungry and tired she was and swayed a little as the creature ate. Regaining her strength she stepped forward and then back a few steps and thought about her day. How peaceful it had been, finding her way through the forest to the Silver City. Then being hunted by a starving wild creature late into the night. She had learned a lot about the creature that hunted her, now knowing the beast had some intelligence and a will to live that was as strong as her desire to survive as well, but apparently this animal was still a savage beast that probably wanted to eat in peace, without anything watching this close, an instinct many territorial animals possessed. She thought about her decision to enter the City of the Elves and came to the conclusion that she was undecided in where she was going to go next. Still, the dream had haunted her so; she would look herself to find those in need and lead her nation for the better, a thought that filled her with comfort.

Rigel turned from the beast and made her way deeper into the forest, away from the creature that one day Rigel might meet again, but for now they would part ways. As she looked to the East a new day was breaking as dawn filled the sky with burning reds and florescent oranges. She thought how beautiful the dawn was hoping her day would be the same and continued on her way, knowing now that she was not alone.