DARK FLIGHT
A/N: Hmm. Another chapter up and out in the open. So far, only one of my original four or five sincere fans have returned (Thank you for the support, Kittie), though I do hope that, much like lost sheep, they shall wander back into the comforting arms of this fic when the world becomes much too cold. Ahem. Anyway, on to the fic!
--
A thick, cloven foot slammed against his abdomen, catching Machel quite by surprise as his swing just barely missed the large wing that had been his target. At a loss, gasping for the air that was so forcefully removed from him, he quickly put his own wings to good use, speeding away from his foe. Bringing the wicked blade up once more, he waited patiently. It was his opponent's turn to attack.
Fraxis looked his enemy over once more. "An Old One, and yet not a tribal leader, you aren't..." he hissed, reptilian eyes narrowing in disgust. This fellow was just as large as he was; quite unusual between the Razielhim, and wearing black armor forged back when the Clan was still young. His pale flesh would need that kind of protection, indeed...Fraxis had allowed his own skin to harden and turn to scale for just this reason. The Old One was at a disadvantage, in their current arena...with his larger wings, Fraxis believed he could outmaneuver this man without much trouble. But it was that accursed blade...he had seen it once before.
He shrugged. It did not matter, and if he did not act now, his opponent would probably try some tricky move with that horrible weapon. With a powerful sequence of flaps, Fraxis burst forward, bringing his claws to rend a few holes in this creature.
He was destined to be disappointed, however. Machel brought the Redeemer up, easily blocking the claws and bringing the blade 'round to slash downwards at his foe. But the other vampire had not been idly waiting; though quite an impressive weapon, the magical blade was awkward in battle and heavy, giving his enemy far more time to react. Fraxis had already brought his free set of claws up into an arcing swing and caught the blade. He made as if to kick Machel again, but after his focus was one the incoming foot, wrenched the weapon free and tossed it to the ground. This battle was quickly becoming boring...should this foe not be skilled in weaponless combat, Fraxis would easily dispatch him all the same.
Mikael shrieked as he suddenly found the Redeemer protruding from his hip; black blood gushed from the deep wound, and the dark metal simply drew it in and absorbed it. Thorin was unable to do anything but simply stare in a sort of horrified fascination as his twin began to shrivel and die right before him. He would not touch the cursed sword; he had seen what it had done to his uncle...and yet, he wanted to save his sibling as quickly as he could. And yet, torn as he was, he could do nothing but watch. His indecision would ultimately prove to be his brother's downfall.
**
Karine idly twisted a strand of bone-white hair round her first claw, scowling in frustration. Fraxis had gone on his regular afternoon flight, and with the formalities of putting the new Tribe, so unfortunately deprived of its old leader, firmly under her control already over and done with...she found herself bored. She kept no court; staring at the brutish countenances of her people all day long would likely give her a headache. And so, there was simply nothing to do. Slowly getting to her feet, she strolled over to the golden pan a few feet from her "throne". An intricate piece of work, really...made from the bones of those she had had to bring her fist down upon. She ran two of her claws through the fine gray dust that rested in a pile inside the golden pan. A small laugh escaped her, echoed through her chambers. Such an ordinary thing, the golden pan...but the dust it contained, now that was another story. In reality, it was ash...ash so old, it had crumbled even to this fine stuff.
She had started to trace an image into the layer...a face, she supposed...when one of her guards burst into her rooms, breathing heavily in fright. Thankfully, it was the female...the slightly curvaceous shape told her that. All of the males under her knew the consequences of entering her chambers without her permission.
"Lady Karine..." She hissed, eyes wide with alarm. "Sir Fraxis is fighting someone...an Old One!"
Ash forgotten, Karine followed the guard out of the twisting cavern and into the light.
**
Pain surged through the larger vampire as the white claws of his opponent scored bloody gashes across his face. With a roar, he grabbed the retreating hand by the wrist and flipped the smaller Old One over his head, taking the air from his wing. A foot planted firmly in his back sent the pale vampire dropping like a stone, but it was not long before he spread his wings wide to slow his descent.
Thorin watched the two titans struggle with a sort of growing anxiety. He had seen the growing gathering of vampires just outside the mountains before him, and they seemed just as worried as he. There was a great excitement going through them...someone was pushing their way through. Squinting his eyes, Thorin made out white hair, and pale skin...an Old One like them!
** A/N: Ok, ok...so this was a short one. But I needed to post before my "fans" believed me dead again, curse it all! My creative juices are slightly congealed, right now...so the wait might be another long one. Don't worry, though: I hope to maintain the special something that drew you all here in the first place. Keep reading!
A/N: Hmm. Another chapter up and out in the open. So far, only one of my original four or five sincere fans have returned (Thank you for the support, Kittie), though I do hope that, much like lost sheep, they shall wander back into the comforting arms of this fic when the world becomes much too cold. Ahem. Anyway, on to the fic!
--
A thick, cloven foot slammed against his abdomen, catching Machel quite by surprise as his swing just barely missed the large wing that had been his target. At a loss, gasping for the air that was so forcefully removed from him, he quickly put his own wings to good use, speeding away from his foe. Bringing the wicked blade up once more, he waited patiently. It was his opponent's turn to attack.
Fraxis looked his enemy over once more. "An Old One, and yet not a tribal leader, you aren't..." he hissed, reptilian eyes narrowing in disgust. This fellow was just as large as he was; quite unusual between the Razielhim, and wearing black armor forged back when the Clan was still young. His pale flesh would need that kind of protection, indeed...Fraxis had allowed his own skin to harden and turn to scale for just this reason. The Old One was at a disadvantage, in their current arena...with his larger wings, Fraxis believed he could outmaneuver this man without much trouble. But it was that accursed blade...he had seen it once before.
He shrugged. It did not matter, and if he did not act now, his opponent would probably try some tricky move with that horrible weapon. With a powerful sequence of flaps, Fraxis burst forward, bringing his claws to rend a few holes in this creature.
He was destined to be disappointed, however. Machel brought the Redeemer up, easily blocking the claws and bringing the blade 'round to slash downwards at his foe. But the other vampire had not been idly waiting; though quite an impressive weapon, the magical blade was awkward in battle and heavy, giving his enemy far more time to react. Fraxis had already brought his free set of claws up into an arcing swing and caught the blade. He made as if to kick Machel again, but after his focus was one the incoming foot, wrenched the weapon free and tossed it to the ground. This battle was quickly becoming boring...should this foe not be skilled in weaponless combat, Fraxis would easily dispatch him all the same.
Mikael shrieked as he suddenly found the Redeemer protruding from his hip; black blood gushed from the deep wound, and the dark metal simply drew it in and absorbed it. Thorin was unable to do anything but simply stare in a sort of horrified fascination as his twin began to shrivel and die right before him. He would not touch the cursed sword; he had seen what it had done to his uncle...and yet, he wanted to save his sibling as quickly as he could. And yet, torn as he was, he could do nothing but watch. His indecision would ultimately prove to be his brother's downfall.
**
Karine idly twisted a strand of bone-white hair round her first claw, scowling in frustration. Fraxis had gone on his regular afternoon flight, and with the formalities of putting the new Tribe, so unfortunately deprived of its old leader, firmly under her control already over and done with...she found herself bored. She kept no court; staring at the brutish countenances of her people all day long would likely give her a headache. And so, there was simply nothing to do. Slowly getting to her feet, she strolled over to the golden pan a few feet from her "throne". An intricate piece of work, really...made from the bones of those she had had to bring her fist down upon. She ran two of her claws through the fine gray dust that rested in a pile inside the golden pan. A small laugh escaped her, echoed through her chambers. Such an ordinary thing, the golden pan...but the dust it contained, now that was another story. In reality, it was ash...ash so old, it had crumbled even to this fine stuff.
She had started to trace an image into the layer...a face, she supposed...when one of her guards burst into her rooms, breathing heavily in fright. Thankfully, it was the female...the slightly curvaceous shape told her that. All of the males under her knew the consequences of entering her chambers without her permission.
"Lady Karine..." She hissed, eyes wide with alarm. "Sir Fraxis is fighting someone...an Old One!"
Ash forgotten, Karine followed the guard out of the twisting cavern and into the light.
**
Pain surged through the larger vampire as the white claws of his opponent scored bloody gashes across his face. With a roar, he grabbed the retreating hand by the wrist and flipped the smaller Old One over his head, taking the air from his wing. A foot planted firmly in his back sent the pale vampire dropping like a stone, but it was not long before he spread his wings wide to slow his descent.
Thorin watched the two titans struggle with a sort of growing anxiety. He had seen the growing gathering of vampires just outside the mountains before him, and they seemed just as worried as he. There was a great excitement going through them...someone was pushing their way through. Squinting his eyes, Thorin made out white hair, and pale skin...an Old One like them!
** A/N: Ok, ok...so this was a short one. But I needed to post before my "fans" believed me dead again, curse it all! My creative juices are slightly congealed, right now...so the wait might be another long one. Don't worry, though: I hope to maintain the special something that drew you all here in the first place. Keep reading!