This is a short little dark fic of mine. It started with a book by Mercedes
Lackey, and too much pizza before bed. I get some pretty vivid dreams that
way. Hehe! Anyway for any of you that don't know about old lore I'll tell
you what this story actually is about. In olden lore there was such a thing
as the Wild Hunt. You might know of it if you read the Dark is Rising
sequence, or Dogstar. A creature of power (such as Herne the hunter) would
use his great hounds and chase it's prey to the ends of the earth and
destroy it. Well the hounds aren't supposed to be able to lose their prey,
so pretty much if you become prey you're dead. Any person with power can
have a hunt, dark or light, but primarily it's supposed to be lords of the
dark doing it, because it's so brutal.
Disclaimer: I don't own gundam wing, or the true tale of the hunt. I'm just creating my own dark reality.
WILD HUNT
Ragged gasps pierced through the imposing silence that coated the night, as a small figure dressed in grey tore through the low brush that was growing thickly on the forest floor. Branches like black claws reached out to snag at clothes and braided hair, as the figure stumbled yet again over it's cumbersome skirt and yelped as it tried to maintain it's balance before resuming it's flight. Yanking the skirt away from the offending branch with a frustrated moan, the braided figure suddenly straightened up at hearing a chorus of howls coming from some distance behind.
Duo Maxwell's eyes widened, and probably (If it wouldn't have given his position away) would have shrieked in anger. Holding the long up his began running off in what he hoped was the opposite direction from the hounds. The sounds had seemed farther away since the last time he had heard them, but Duo had been using every trick he ever learned on the streets to rid himself of his pursuers, and the fact was he was running out of ideas….and they were still coming…..
//Figures// he thought to himself, as he ducked low through the trees, his long chestnut braid flying behind him. //I always manage to get screwed over. //
Pushing through the brush sticks scraped along his face and body, the slippers that he was wearing were no protection from the sharp sticks and stones that littered the ground. Duo grimaced. He must be leaving a pretty fresh trail for the hounds, with his torn and bloody feet.
//I should just put up signs wherever I go that says "THIS WAY TO THE STUPID BRAIDED BAKA! //
But he knew that the pain he was feeling now would be nothing compared to the pain he would be in if the hounds caught him, but even that would be quicker that the death that would come from what was following those hounds…….
Duo wasn't stupid. He had been born and raised on the streets, but even he had heard of the Wild Hunt.
Another branch hit him, opening a new cut to add its blood to the many that already marred his face, as well as a stronger scent to his trail.
//Good// he thought grimily.
//If I draw the scent out enough I might just get a quick death. I'd really be a fool if I though I'd get any mercy from the Rider. //
The Rider…. also know as the Lord of the Hunt. The epitome of a nightmare turned reality. The Rider was a dark lord, to whom all surrounding kingdoms paid homage. He was rumored to be one of the Unseleighe Sidhe, but no one was certain, because no one had ever seen his face…..
Not to mention, it was because of this Rider, that Duo was running for his life.
Every year, at the first full moon of autumn, a young maiden was "sacrificed" to the Rider. Basically that meant all kingdoms casting lots together, and the loser would have to take one of the maidens in its royal court, and abandon her in the Shadow Veil Forest, with no hope for return.
The Sanq Kingdom had lost this year, and due to lack of maidens in the noble families, the Princess herself had been the one sentenced to the depths of the Shadow Veil Forest. Duo seethed inside with his hatred for the royal family. They were what got him into this mess.
Milliardo Peacecraft, the new leader of the Sanq Kingdom, hadn't wanted to give up his beloved sister, into the hands of the dark lord, but he also feared for the safety of his people. So the bastard of a Prince had done the only thing he could think of. He went to find someone to replace his sister, and he found Duo. Duo snarled inwardly at the memory. He had been arrested on the streets for theft, and been taken to the Captain of the Guard for punishment. That stupid brute of a man had been trying to capture him for years, but he had run circles around the whole guard. When he was brought before that big jackass of a man Mueller, he had been talking with the Prince, and oh how his eyes had lit up at seeing poor Duo in chains. Mueller just been about to gesture Duo off to the dungeons to be tortured, when the prince had stayed Mueller's hand, and began to circle Duo. Looking him over like a horse at market before proclaiming "He's perfect."
When Duo had actually found out what was going to happen to him, he almost cried. Instead of the beating, torture, and execution he had thought he was going to receive. He got bathed, fed, and dressed like a female so he could be thrown into the realm of a nightmare come true.
//Hello reality, you're a bitch. //
Then he had been thrown in a cart, dragged out to the forest, and stranded. He hadn't thought so at first, but hen he had tried to find his way out by heading in that direction on the dirt road, he found that not only had the road around the next bend disappeared, the part that he had traveled on was gone also. He had wandered around until dusk, wondering if there really was anything to worry about except for dying of hunger, and then he had heard the first howl…..
A savage bark shook Duo out of his reverie. It was closer than any of the others had ever been! He began pushing himself for every ounce of strength he could muster. Another bark sounded out, seemingly right behind him, but Duo wasn't going to waste precious speed and direction, by looking over his shoulder. He only wished he had a weapon right then, but when you make a sacrifice, you don't give it weapons to escape. Suddenly it was right in front of him. A dog as big as a horse. With a coat so pure white, that snow would even look dim compared to it. Its ears and eyes were blood red, and it was staring at him growling softly. The Hound raised its head to the trees and let out a howl that made Duo feel as if his blood had been turned to ice. He could hear answering barks in the distance sounding like they were full of joy at the prospect of a kill. With a small yelp Duo tried to back up, but his heavy skirts hindered him. The Hellhound leapt for him, Duo quickly rolled aside and its jaws closed on the heavy overskirt, ripping it from his body. Duo scrambled up and ran, blindly pushing through thick bushes and thorns in his haste to get away. His braid snagged on a stick, he ripped his hair loose running forward, hearing the hound close behind him. Just when he thought the killing jaws of the hound were imminent, his foot found open air, and he plummeted. The last thing he heard was a frustrated howl, and the shrill whinny of a horse, before he was enveloped by cold water and everything went black….
***
He watched her plummet into the river. Long hair flowing out behind her as she disappeared under the dark surface. He sat for a few seconds waiting for her to surface, annoyance growing with each passing second. When it became pretty clear she wasn't coming up, he whipped his black stallion around to face his disobedient hound. It cowered, head down, tail between its legs. Not looking up into the face of its hooded lord. "Did I not tell you that I wanted her alive?" the Rider's cold voice was soft. "Did I not say to hold her till I came?" The Rider's anger was obvious, even though his voice was soft. "…..You disobeyed me, and that is unacceptable." lifting his hand towards the hellhound he watched as It cringed in front of him, He smirked under his hood.
//Foolish creature…. not even you can stay my hand.//
He clenched his fist, a summon for the rest of his hounds. They emerged out of the mist, and encircled their dishonored brother, tongues lolling and eyes glowing with eerie light before they leapt. The mass of hounds fell on the dishonored one, tearing his body to pieces devouring the carcass.
The Rider removed his gaze from where the hounds were feeding, looking out over the murky forest.
//I know you're out there, and alive. Do you think you'll get far little one? No one escapes my hunt. I'll find you. //
***
Duo awoke to find himself lying in water, or make that half in water half out. His head was pillowed against a tree branch, and his body was on fire. Cuts and scrapes aside he was burning up. The chill of the water and air had got to him, not to mention it was apparent that he'd been lying there for awhile, by the way a pale grey light was streaming through the tree tops; totally different from the pitch black nothingness of the night. It was daytime, he had actually lived that long. Duo pushed himself up to sit, becoming instantly dizzy. He groaned, waiting for the world to stop spinning, before he stood up. His skirt was heavy with water, even though the thick over skirt was gone, leaving only the lighter skirt was under it. His shirt was torn in such ways that it no longer concealed the fact he wasn't a woman. His hair had come unbound at some point in his flight from the Rider, and was now cascading down his back full of leaves. Groaning in annoyance at the tangles he knew were developing, Duo tried his best to clean out the chestnut mass before, with a small cry giving up in despair.
//It doesn't matter if I'm dirty anymore does it? I'm carrion now anyway. //
He started climbing up the riverbank. The Hunt would not resume until nightfall, and all he could do now was to put as much distance between himself and the Rider as he could. He stumbled over a root and fell to his knees, clutching his stomach as he retched and coughed.
//If that's even possible, I can barely stand much less hike all over a forest and hope to outrun hellhounds. I'm as good as in the hands of the Rider now. //
Duo shuddered. No matter what condition he was in, he'd never let himself fall into the hands of the Rider.
//I'll die first. I don't know how but I'll find someway to do it. //
He staggered to his feet, propping himself up with a stick and started moving as fast as he could across the forest.
***
Well there's the first chapter to my little nugget of joy. Don't be afraid to scream at me for my morbidness (Is that even a word??) I was inspired by a nightmare, and the Wild Hunt isn't pretty to begin with. I know I haven't added any other G-boys yet but they'll be here. It takes awhile to develop a good plot. Well since I'm writing two stories at once you guys better tell me if you want this one finished or not, so I can take it down. Oh! Feel free to read my other fics as well. I have two up so far so please read them too! ^_^
Disclaimer: I don't own gundam wing, or the true tale of the hunt. I'm just creating my own dark reality.
WILD HUNT
Ragged gasps pierced through the imposing silence that coated the night, as a small figure dressed in grey tore through the low brush that was growing thickly on the forest floor. Branches like black claws reached out to snag at clothes and braided hair, as the figure stumbled yet again over it's cumbersome skirt and yelped as it tried to maintain it's balance before resuming it's flight. Yanking the skirt away from the offending branch with a frustrated moan, the braided figure suddenly straightened up at hearing a chorus of howls coming from some distance behind.
Duo Maxwell's eyes widened, and probably (If it wouldn't have given his position away) would have shrieked in anger. Holding the long up his began running off in what he hoped was the opposite direction from the hounds. The sounds had seemed farther away since the last time he had heard them, but Duo had been using every trick he ever learned on the streets to rid himself of his pursuers, and the fact was he was running out of ideas….and they were still coming…..
//Figures// he thought to himself, as he ducked low through the trees, his long chestnut braid flying behind him. //I always manage to get screwed over. //
Pushing through the brush sticks scraped along his face and body, the slippers that he was wearing were no protection from the sharp sticks and stones that littered the ground. Duo grimaced. He must be leaving a pretty fresh trail for the hounds, with his torn and bloody feet.
//I should just put up signs wherever I go that says "THIS WAY TO THE STUPID BRAIDED BAKA! //
But he knew that the pain he was feeling now would be nothing compared to the pain he would be in if the hounds caught him, but even that would be quicker that the death that would come from what was following those hounds…….
Duo wasn't stupid. He had been born and raised on the streets, but even he had heard of the Wild Hunt.
Another branch hit him, opening a new cut to add its blood to the many that already marred his face, as well as a stronger scent to his trail.
//Good// he thought grimily.
//If I draw the scent out enough I might just get a quick death. I'd really be a fool if I though I'd get any mercy from the Rider. //
The Rider…. also know as the Lord of the Hunt. The epitome of a nightmare turned reality. The Rider was a dark lord, to whom all surrounding kingdoms paid homage. He was rumored to be one of the Unseleighe Sidhe, but no one was certain, because no one had ever seen his face…..
Not to mention, it was because of this Rider, that Duo was running for his life.
Every year, at the first full moon of autumn, a young maiden was "sacrificed" to the Rider. Basically that meant all kingdoms casting lots together, and the loser would have to take one of the maidens in its royal court, and abandon her in the Shadow Veil Forest, with no hope for return.
The Sanq Kingdom had lost this year, and due to lack of maidens in the noble families, the Princess herself had been the one sentenced to the depths of the Shadow Veil Forest. Duo seethed inside with his hatred for the royal family. They were what got him into this mess.
Milliardo Peacecraft, the new leader of the Sanq Kingdom, hadn't wanted to give up his beloved sister, into the hands of the dark lord, but he also feared for the safety of his people. So the bastard of a Prince had done the only thing he could think of. He went to find someone to replace his sister, and he found Duo. Duo snarled inwardly at the memory. He had been arrested on the streets for theft, and been taken to the Captain of the Guard for punishment. That stupid brute of a man had been trying to capture him for years, but he had run circles around the whole guard. When he was brought before that big jackass of a man Mueller, he had been talking with the Prince, and oh how his eyes had lit up at seeing poor Duo in chains. Mueller just been about to gesture Duo off to the dungeons to be tortured, when the prince had stayed Mueller's hand, and began to circle Duo. Looking him over like a horse at market before proclaiming "He's perfect."
When Duo had actually found out what was going to happen to him, he almost cried. Instead of the beating, torture, and execution he had thought he was going to receive. He got bathed, fed, and dressed like a female so he could be thrown into the realm of a nightmare come true.
//Hello reality, you're a bitch. //
Then he had been thrown in a cart, dragged out to the forest, and stranded. He hadn't thought so at first, but hen he had tried to find his way out by heading in that direction on the dirt road, he found that not only had the road around the next bend disappeared, the part that he had traveled on was gone also. He had wandered around until dusk, wondering if there really was anything to worry about except for dying of hunger, and then he had heard the first howl…..
A savage bark shook Duo out of his reverie. It was closer than any of the others had ever been! He began pushing himself for every ounce of strength he could muster. Another bark sounded out, seemingly right behind him, but Duo wasn't going to waste precious speed and direction, by looking over his shoulder. He only wished he had a weapon right then, but when you make a sacrifice, you don't give it weapons to escape. Suddenly it was right in front of him. A dog as big as a horse. With a coat so pure white, that snow would even look dim compared to it. Its ears and eyes were blood red, and it was staring at him growling softly. The Hound raised its head to the trees and let out a howl that made Duo feel as if his blood had been turned to ice. He could hear answering barks in the distance sounding like they were full of joy at the prospect of a kill. With a small yelp Duo tried to back up, but his heavy skirts hindered him. The Hellhound leapt for him, Duo quickly rolled aside and its jaws closed on the heavy overskirt, ripping it from his body. Duo scrambled up and ran, blindly pushing through thick bushes and thorns in his haste to get away. His braid snagged on a stick, he ripped his hair loose running forward, hearing the hound close behind him. Just when he thought the killing jaws of the hound were imminent, his foot found open air, and he plummeted. The last thing he heard was a frustrated howl, and the shrill whinny of a horse, before he was enveloped by cold water and everything went black….
***
He watched her plummet into the river. Long hair flowing out behind her as she disappeared under the dark surface. He sat for a few seconds waiting for her to surface, annoyance growing with each passing second. When it became pretty clear she wasn't coming up, he whipped his black stallion around to face his disobedient hound. It cowered, head down, tail between its legs. Not looking up into the face of its hooded lord. "Did I not tell you that I wanted her alive?" the Rider's cold voice was soft. "Did I not say to hold her till I came?" The Rider's anger was obvious, even though his voice was soft. "…..You disobeyed me, and that is unacceptable." lifting his hand towards the hellhound he watched as It cringed in front of him, He smirked under his hood.
//Foolish creature…. not even you can stay my hand.//
He clenched his fist, a summon for the rest of his hounds. They emerged out of the mist, and encircled their dishonored brother, tongues lolling and eyes glowing with eerie light before they leapt. The mass of hounds fell on the dishonored one, tearing his body to pieces devouring the carcass.
The Rider removed his gaze from where the hounds were feeding, looking out over the murky forest.
//I know you're out there, and alive. Do you think you'll get far little one? No one escapes my hunt. I'll find you. //
***
Duo awoke to find himself lying in water, or make that half in water half out. His head was pillowed against a tree branch, and his body was on fire. Cuts and scrapes aside he was burning up. The chill of the water and air had got to him, not to mention it was apparent that he'd been lying there for awhile, by the way a pale grey light was streaming through the tree tops; totally different from the pitch black nothingness of the night. It was daytime, he had actually lived that long. Duo pushed himself up to sit, becoming instantly dizzy. He groaned, waiting for the world to stop spinning, before he stood up. His skirt was heavy with water, even though the thick over skirt was gone, leaving only the lighter skirt was under it. His shirt was torn in such ways that it no longer concealed the fact he wasn't a woman. His hair had come unbound at some point in his flight from the Rider, and was now cascading down his back full of leaves. Groaning in annoyance at the tangles he knew were developing, Duo tried his best to clean out the chestnut mass before, with a small cry giving up in despair.
//It doesn't matter if I'm dirty anymore does it? I'm carrion now anyway. //
He started climbing up the riverbank. The Hunt would not resume until nightfall, and all he could do now was to put as much distance between himself and the Rider as he could. He stumbled over a root and fell to his knees, clutching his stomach as he retched and coughed.
//If that's even possible, I can barely stand much less hike all over a forest and hope to outrun hellhounds. I'm as good as in the hands of the Rider now. //
Duo shuddered. No matter what condition he was in, he'd never let himself fall into the hands of the Rider.
//I'll die first. I don't know how but I'll find someway to do it. //
He staggered to his feet, propping himself up with a stick and started moving as fast as he could across the forest.
***
Well there's the first chapter to my little nugget of joy. Don't be afraid to scream at me for my morbidness (Is that even a word??) I was inspired by a nightmare, and the Wild Hunt isn't pretty to begin with. I know I haven't added any other G-boys yet but they'll be here. It takes awhile to develop a good plot. Well since I'm writing two stories at once you guys better tell me if you want this one finished or not, so I can take it down. Oh! Feel free to read my other fics as well. I have two up so far so please read them too! ^_^