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Post by Buggy on May 22, 2015 3:17:16 GMT
That was interesting indeed. Maybe Rook could follow better after being exposed to more words and talking. It certainly seemed eager to learn at any rate. Not that he had much time or attention to spare for anything like that at the moment. He accepted the skewer again and began to eat. Without seasoning the meat wasn't wonderful, but he ate it with as much gusto as he'd eaten anything.
He took his time chewing, trying to think of the best way to word his question. Finally he looked to Gale again, expression serious. "Why do you live out here with Rook? I mean, did you... have a family, ever?" He rested his hand on Rook's head.
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Post by Unokins on May 22, 2015 3:25:09 GMT
Gale chewed on the meat quietly, eyes hard. He didn't meet Omaron's face, and instead stared in the fire, watching the flames dance. Wasn't it obvious? Maybe not. He was a big baby. And perhaps he was stupid, too. Especially if he didn't get it at this point.
I'm a monster, he said, swallowing the bite of food. It didn't settle that well in his stomach anymore. No fight. No underground. No words. No hurt. A harsh breath escaped his nose and he ran a hand through his hair. He did not want to think of this, but the memories came up anyway. Stupid question and stupid words. Gale's scars ached at the thoughts, and the feeling slipped slightly. Rook whined as a subtle ache creeped into its back. It wiggled closer to Omaron, and it was gone.
Free now. Free with Rook. No fight. No underground. Sky, trees. He nodded. Better. No family. Monsters don't have family. No want family. Family bad.
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Post by Buggy on May 22, 2015 3:30:57 GMT
Omaron's mouth came open slightly as a bizarre thought struck him. But... Gale certainly didn't *look* like the Kiltar. It would explain why he'd started out with them though.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked. This place is just so strange to me, I thought... well. It doesn't matter what I thought."
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Post by Unokins on May 22, 2015 3:33:37 GMT
Gale's head tilted to the side. He didn't catch any specific thought. But he wasn't searching for it, and he gave himself points for not invading Omaron's privacy. It was basic decency, and he could at least be that civilized.
What thought? Gale asked. Had owner. Owner like parents, yeah? He thought back to what Omaron said about parents, and nodded. Yes. Yes, owner parents. Can leave and do whatever with. It made perfect sense. Pulchra had passed him around, lending him out to other doorsteps and houses and people to do what they wanted. To give what care they wanted to a monster like him. Yes, owners were exactly like parents. And that made Gale all the more happy he didn't have either.
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Post by Buggy on May 22, 2015 3:44:54 GMT
Omaron's nose wrinkled. That was rather disturbing really. "Well no, a parent is different. Parents are in charge of you, certainly, when you're young, but they're supposed to take care of you. They have to make sure you're fed and clothed and safe, and when you get old enough they're not in charge of you any more. Owners use you; parents raise you."
He finished his meat and tossed the skewer aside. "Parents aren't necessarily the people who gave birth to you, but usually they are. That's another difference, I think."
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Post by Unokins on May 22, 2015 3:55:00 GMT
Gale scoffed. He didn't see the difference. Or, rather, he refused to. There were people who would care for little things? Make sure their cuts didn't fester and their stomachs didn't violently reject what slop that was tried to pass as food? Using and raising were the same things. They used Gale for entertainment in the ring, and raised him to be an animal. If it was different... would he be different? Could he talk better? Be prissy like Omaron? The thought was not something he could comprehend.
"Mmph," Gale grumped. He flopped on the ground and itched his head in the dirt before stretching out on his stomach, much like a cat. His wing flared out and he sighed, and he relaxed.
Go sleep soon, Gale said, hoping the conversation would drop. Move more tomorrow. Avoid Kiltar. Go fast. Ocean.
Rook blinked its eyes open, and reached forward with its gargantuan arm, pulling Gale close to itself and Omaron. The child grunted, but didn't fight otherwise. It was warmer curled up with them both, anyway.
Sleep. Gale said one last time, the only chiding Rook got. The creature chirped back at him.
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Post by Buggy on May 22, 2015 4:24:04 GMT
Mmph wasn't much in the way of affirmation, but perhaps Gale would think on it at the very least. Omaron felt his head drooping down on his chest and was vaguely aware of both children being pulled close to him. The light from the fire flickered behind his eyelids.
"We should put that out," he told them before passing out.
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Post by Unokins on May 22, 2015 4:31:06 GMT
Gale shrugged, kicking dirt on the flames half-heartedly. The fire sputtered, and smoldered in its ashes as the boy curled up into a tiny, tiny ball. Nestled between Omaron and Rook, he was warm and, hopefully safe. He drifted off soon, Rook following, its breath whistling through its teeth. It was a still night. Silent. Peaceful.
And then morning came with padded footsteps and hushed, harsh words and growling. Gale's eyes snapped open, and he was on his feet in an instant.
"Get back and cease in your fighting posthaste. Enough fruitless struggling." Gale felt his body fling back as if a hand gripped his shirt and yanked. He hit the ground with a thud and howled with rage. Rook's head shot up, and its eyes widened. Those Kiltar scouts. They were back, and did not look friendly.
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Post by Buggy on May 22, 2015 12:19:07 GMT
Omaron's eyes flicked open. That voice... he'd heard enough harsh, clear voices like that over the past week to tell him that this was not a good thing. But in an instant he'd pushed his fear to the back of his mind. He had to play his part, or they were done for.
He got to his feet, slowly, as though he had nothing to fear, then looked down his nose at the scouts disdainfully. Those tiger steeds of theirs had very long teeth...
"What is the meaning of this?" he asked almost insolently. "Why are you attacking my slaves?"
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Post by Unokins on May 22, 2015 16:46:55 GMT
Gale's struggling stopped for a moment before they renewed. Slaves?! What the hell was he talking about?! A hiss escaped him and he tried getting up. But it was like a weight had settled on his chest and it was a fight just to breathe. He would have demanded, but not with the Kiltar so close. With them here, he kept his mind sealed shut. No one would get in.
As Omaron stood, Rook cowered behind him, whimpering and whining. His voice got mean, but he wasn't talk to them. Hopefully it would stay like that. When one of the scouts jumped down, Rook flinched back, shaking.
"Slaves?" The man asked, looking at Omaron, and then the two. "Why do you have monsters as slaves? And so far out here?" There was contempt in his voice. Even has he glanced Omaron over. He was obviously no one of importance. The eyes gave it away. The scout's own was a pale, pale blue. So how did he get slaves in the first place? Lower class didn't have slaves. If they were unlucky, they became slaves.
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Post by Buggy on May 22, 2015 23:36:24 GMT
Omaron did a good job of keeping his voice steady. His grey eyes met the scout's blue ones; he couldn't look at Gale or Rook, or his facade might waver. "I say mine, but they're my employer's. She has her own reasons for sending us out here, and I don't think Pulchra would be very impressed at you standing in the way of expansion."
He'd heard the name Pulchra mentioned once or twice. He had no idea exactly how important she was or if she'd send a servant out into the forest with monster slaves, but sometimes mentioning the right name was enough to keep people from crossing him. He hoped desperately this was one of those times.
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Post by Unokins on May 23, 2015 5:14:05 GMT
All three scout's eyebrows shot up, and a flicker of fear crossed their faces. One opened their mouth and Gale screamed. He howled like the rage of thousands gripped him and wild eyes bore into Omaron's back. How dare he! How could Gale have fallen for such a farce?! This pale BASTARD Gale was going to KILL HI-
A scout said something. Gale's screams cut short as his breath caught in his throat. He struggled, clawing at his chest, mouth gaping.
The leader spoke now. "You found the Empress's creature?" He said, obviously impressed. "We've been searching for well over a year and had no such luck. How did you do it? And the other one, too." He motioned, and the other two approached, pulled ropes from their mounts as they moved for Rook and Gale. "Damn," the leader continued. "What's your name again? She's gonna be pleased as rain when she hears you captured that thing after all it did."
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Post by Buggy on May 23, 2015 5:21:58 GMT
Oh. Oh, this was... not good. He did his best to keep his face irritated instead of panic-stricken.
"Leave them, and stop strangling the creature. You'll harm it," Omaron snapped at the scouts. "I'm under her orders, and she wanted me to bring them in personally. I have some other errands to run first though, so if you'll leave them well alone we'll be on our way."
It was beyond feeble. Maybe he should have let them tie up Rook and Gale and tried to think of a way out later, but that scream from Gale... it was a bit more than he could take.
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Post by Unokins on May 23, 2015 5:25:45 GMT
"Who cares?" One replied, ramming his boot into Gale's chest. The spell broke and he gasped for breath, grabbing the man's ankle as he dug it into his guts. "It deserves it." Another kick, and Gale was on his stomach, wrists being bound roughly. His hisses and spitting did nothing to deter the man. Rook was more complacent, fear turning its guts inside out. Its arm was bent awkwardly, and tied to its body. It stared at Omaron with woeful, begging eyes.
"You should at least stay in town," the leader said, watching his men work. "A lot better than out here. We'll set you up with a coach and a couple of cages, and have you on your way to the Empress a lot faster than you would be on foot." Something about his tone made denying the simple suggestion seem rather dangerous.
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Post by Buggy on May 23, 2015 5:30:36 GMT
Warning bells were going off in Omaron's head now, but what could he do? Maybe he'd get lucky and they would just give him the coach before leaving, and they could continue on toward the ocean. He barely concealed his wince when the scout kicked Gale.
"Yes, thank you," he replied to the leader. At the very least his voice sounded level, unlike his racing thoughts. He tried to reach out beyond himself toward the others. How did Gale do it?
Gale, if you can hear me, I'm trying to get us out of this. I promise. I'm sorry, I didn't know this would happen.
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