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Post by Buggy on May 18, 2015 0:32:22 GMT
"OW! What do you want?" Omaron stopped his efforts to get the child-thing off so he could rub at his ear. What in Blazes did he hope to accomplish, pulling at his ears and--
Wait. The tailed one's whimpering wasn't the only noise he heard. He turned, eyes round and fearful, as he heard someone or something coming through the woods. This wasn't good. He took a hasty step back toward the cover of the trees. Hopefully the imp on his back wouldn't shout or do something else to get them killed.
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Post by Unokins on May 18, 2015 0:46:39 GMT
Gale nodded encouragingly. Had they come looking for him? Was he an important one? Whatever the reason, Gale wasn't going to let him go or get found out. Nimbly, he jumped off the man's back, landing in front of him. Taking his hand, Gale sped into the woods, following Rook.
Rook whistled, and Gale's grunt of affirmation followed. He continued tugging Omaron, the shuffling footsteps not abiding. Instead, they got louder. "Ah, ah," Gale said, stopping when Rook turned its nose to the air. He glanced back at Omaron, quirked eyebrow a question in itself.
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Post by Buggy on May 18, 2015 1:10:13 GMT
Omaron didn't have to think twice, or wait for more encouraging ear twists from Gale for that matter. His longer fingers curled around the little grubby hand, and he followed the one-winged child into the woods. The sunlight that managed to filter through the leaves turned dim and dappled. Black shadows flew over them as they ran.
When the other two pulled up short, Omaron almost fell over Gale. He doubled over beside him with his free hand on his knee. Fire, he was out of shape. The questioning look from Gale made him shrug.
"I don't... don't know who or what's after us. Do you?"
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Post by Unokins on May 18, 2015 2:34:59 GMT
The answer to Omaron's question was a simple, quick nod of the head. The Kiltar were after them. It didn't matter who or what caste or if they were part of the battalion. They were a singularity in their cruelty.
Though Omaron's... compliance confused Gale. Would he not like to see the monster caged and safely away? But as long as Omaron followed, Gale would be content.
Rook started off again, whistling quietly. Gale tugged. And they soon approached a stream. Room splashed in it, heading towards an upturned tree to hide. Gale tugged Omaron to follow.
They were almost on the small group. Growls and muffled yowls and sharp orders. Gale shook slightly, and tugged harder.
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Post by Buggy on May 18, 2015 2:45:27 GMT
Omaron heard the voices, and his guts did a sort of half flip. Kiltar. He may not have done anything to cross them yet, but given the way the children were running his initial flight was definitely warranted. Getting his shoes wet in a stream didn't seem like too great a price to pay.
"All right, I'm coming," he said in a quiet voice. Omaron gingerly took a step into the water.
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Post by Unokins on May 18, 2015 2:50:01 GMT
The water was frigid in the early morning air. It quickly went up to Gale's shoulders and Omaron's waist. Rook squeaked, and Gale joined him, ducking behind the fallen tree and lowering himself so only the top part of his head was visible.
It didn't take long for their persuers to appear. Three of them astride purple and white striped tigers, outfitted in black armor that glittered like stars. The battalion insignia was on their shoulders and Rook held back a whine, pressing its face into Omaron's back, its movements silent.
They needed to go away now, but the cats sniffed and sniffed, confused by the trail gone cold.
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Post by Buggy on May 18, 2015 3:03:01 GMT
Omaron clenched his jaw, hoping against hope that the chattering of his teeth wouldn't be heard over the chattering of the stream. The Kiltar on the stream's bank seemed even more imposing than they had in the city. He froze as one of the beasts glared stonily at the twigs he was looking through, its eyes almost luminescent.
He felt Rook press its face into his back. He didn't stir.
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Post by Unokins on May 18, 2015 3:24:20 GMT
They did go away, after several long minutes. The leader - the one with the most ornate helmet - took the time to talk, give orders, and motion angrily to the lost trail in front of them. One sped down river while another up river. Gale flinched, ducking further underwater. But they were ignored. It was almost a miracle.
Soon the sounds of the forest returned. The cowing presence of the Kiltar filtered away and Gale straightened up, water dripping from his hair and face. Rook, still pressed close to Omaron, whimpered again. Gale replied with a short whistle, and glanced towards Omaron. That fear. He felt it, sure as the sun was shining. So. He wasn't Kiltar? Still, the child gestured to where the Battalion squad and been, and tilted his head to the side.
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Post by Buggy on May 18, 2015 3:32:58 GMT
Omaron slowly began to relax. They were gone. As quickly as they'd come, they were gone. He clutched at the tree for support, just wanting to rest for a moment.
Gale's whistle brought him back to reality. He jumped a little before turning toward him, nonplussed. "What do you want now?" he whispered, but as soon as he'd said it the truth hit him. It was so obvious. Even the Kiltar themselves had been deceived.
"No, no I'm not one of them," he whispered shakily. "They thought so, but I had to get out of that city. It was horrible." He ran his hand through his hair. "I don't know what they'd have done if they found out I wasn't one of theirs."
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Post by Unokins on May 18, 2015 3:36:59 GMT
He wasn't? So what was he? A monster like Gale and Rook? He had to be. There were Kiltar, and there were monsters. And Gale was the monster. He nodded when Omaron spoke. Horrible couldn't even begin to describe it. Rook nuzzled against Omaron, watching Gale and watching for a decision to be made.
Gale stared hard at Omaron. He was big, looked almost exactly like them, and was obviously not as monstrous as Gale and Rook were. Obviously, he would have trouble surviving with them. So... Maybe he should just leave him? Or. Maybe not. This guy was like a big baby. And he would need someone who could fight and kill if he wanted to survive.
Gale pointed to Omaron, then pointed between himself and Rook, whistling. Would he go or would he stay?
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Post by Buggy on May 18, 2015 3:45:46 GMT
Omaron watched the two for a moment, still a little dazed from the day's events. But the meaning of the gestures could not be mistaken.
"Are you offering to let me s-stay with you? I haven't th-the slightest chance of surviving on m-my own..." He sighed. "First let's get out of this accursed s-stream." He looked darkly to the shore where the Kiltar had been standing and crossed to the far bank. Running around in wet clothes was not going to be fun.
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Post by Unokins on May 18, 2015 4:01:12 GMT
Gale followed, all to aware of his own shivering and shaking. Rook seemed all too happy and fine as it clambered out of the water. Its scales rattled slightly as it shook its head, droplets flinging from its head. For the most part, its scales already seemed dry. And it plopped on its butt, watching the two as its tail wagged. It liked this man. It didn't really know what he was saying, but the words were nice and he was nice and Rook scooted over to sit closer.
Once on shore, Gale lowered himself and shook, much akin to a dog attempting to dry itself. It wasn't too useful, but Gale felt better and warmer in a small patch of sun. The pants, however, were clinging too tightly and sapping away too much heat. So Gale shed those, glad - if not a bit wary around Omaron - to be naked and drying off. Wringing out the pants, he glanced at Omaron again. "Hmm?" He asked, exaggerating the inflection. It was almost as if he was saying "Well?"
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Post by Buggy on May 18, 2015 4:07:33 GMT
Omaron immediately averted his eyes when Gale began removing his trousers. "That-- ah. You... you r-really should cover... some of you. With something." He understood that propriety wasn't nearly as important as drying off at this juncture, but all the same...!
He sat down in his own patch of sun, still shaking and miserable. "I suppose I'll have to j-join you, really," he told Gale. "It's l-like I said, I d-don't know how well I'll d-do on my own."
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Post by Unokins on May 18, 2015 4:13:36 GMT
Gale listened to the man stutter. Of course he wasn't going to do well. It was obvious when he wasn't removing his wet clothes to dry off and warm up. But still. That was besides the point. Did Gale really want to babysit this man? It was hard enough finding food for himself. But to find more for this picky person? Maybe he would like the green stuff that Rook could spit up? Somehow, Gale doubted that.
The idea of another was too alluring though. Especially when this one didn't talk down to him like the monster he was. Plus. Well. He seemed to get flustered easily. And that was funny.
But now he needed something to call this... person. And he needed to know them. Gale would not be known in this person's mind as a monster. He whistled, and Rook perked up. A gesture and Rook nodded. It knew this. It could do this.
"Rook!" It said, pointing to itself with a long black nail from its oversized hand. "Rook! Rook!" It turned to the tiny child. "Gaaale~! Gale, Gale, Gale!" Gale nodded, and glanced at Omaron, hand impatiently gesturing for an answer.
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Post by Buggy on May 18, 2015 4:23:38 GMT
Omaron grimaced as another wave of shaking took him. All right... maybe the little creature was on to something, taking off his wet things. He reached up and pulled his tunic over his head. It was heavy and clung to his skin while he tugged, but finally it came off. He glanced hurriedly over his shoulder before lying it out on the grass in the sun.
That was... a little better. The sun felt nice and warm on his shoulders. It almost made him feel drowsy.
The tailed one's sudden proclamation made him jump. He looked almost wildly over at it. "What? Are... oh. That's what you're called then? You're Rook... the other one is Gale? And... ah. You want to know my name." He rubbed his arms almost distractedly. "I'm Omaron."
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