crusade

As Vanta seemed to swell and grow, bolstered by her righteous fury, Lia found herself shrinking further inside of herself. There were so many memories here. Both, of her time in this cavern, and her time in so many like it. It was so easy to remember herself as the victim she had been.

But she wasn’t that wolf any longer, and she hadn’t come here alone. She didn’t want Vanta’s pity, but she found herself suddenly immensely grateful that the pale wolf was beside her. She forced herself to stand a little straighter, moving to the end of the passage. Moving beyond… and seeing beyond. Three massive wolves stood over hollow, desperate creatures. Mistreated even further then she had been. With little care given to preserving their beauty. Almost as if to emphasise that point, one of the towering brutes struck a slave and sent them sprawling across the floor.

She could run. She could turn around right now, and flee. Before they saw her. Before they took her back. She couldn’t go back She stood there, paralysed, before Vanta’s voice boomed through the cavern. The wolf beside her was… not the wolf she had entered with. She seemed almost ethereal, something []iother[/i]. Her crystals shone in the faint light of the cavern. A spark that zinged through her coat, and across her teeth. As Lia watched, Vanta threw herself forward, onto the main slaver.

As she stood there, paralysed, she watched one of the minions grab for one of the slaves. Pulling them up by their scruff. Hoping to.. What? Use them as a meat shield? The wolf whimpered, and Lia could see she was young. Barely more than a child, through her eyes were glassy with despair.

Lia was moving almost before she realised it. Leaping at the slaver, tilting her head down, and skewering them through the shoulder. She tossed her head as high as she could. Almost lifting the wolf by the horns that impaled them. They screamed out in pain, dropping their victim. Lia didn’t stop. She tore forward, dragging the taller beast with her. Smashing them against the cave wall. Pushing her horns deeper, deeper into his side. Until the shining crystals gleamed with blood.

She was so distracted with what she was doing, she didn't realise the third dire was behind her until he was upon her. Grabbing her by the shoulders, and hauling her back. Her horns slid out of his friend, and he slumped limp against the wall. But she could spare no more attention for him. She felt the wolf's claws on her throat, tilting her head back and exposing her long, elegant neck. Her antlers swept behind her, useless and unable to reach anything. 


She knew her eyes were wide and wild as his claws dug into her throat, drawing blood and ensuring her stillness. “I've a message for your Warlord” he snarled at Vanta.”I've had enough of him hunting us, picking us off. Tell him to keep his pack away from us… and we are keeping this one to ensure his obedience.” She knew the dire behind her was grinning. She could hear it in his voice. He dug his claws in deeper, leaving trails of blood against her neck and his claws. His voice was thick, and sickening. She knew he was enjoying her blood, could smell his excitement. Her eyes rolled with fear. 

"Speech"