Apocalyptica
03-04-08, 02:58 PM
Atop the hill, horse and rider stood. To sit astride the skeletal horse should have been uncomfortable at least, though the zombie gave no indication that straddling bones, a few chunks of maggot-ridden flesh and stretched cracking hide were anything but natural. As she sat, watching the movement under the trees, she let her bare feet brush against the arching ribs of her steed. It was as if Huyana knew her mind, though the horse's dark eyes were nothing but a blank void. Tossing a sparse mane of black, she began to canter forward until she came to a plateau under the red canopy. It was there that Jivantika dismounted, letting her rotting feet finally touch the ground.
It happened again. When she was upon her undead mount, she was safe, for the unicorn would keep her safe. But skin to the flesh of tainted Raiaera, she was at the mercy of the Lord. Xem'Zund's voice tore through her mind, taking over everything. He was louder than the hunger, louder than the clang and clash of steel heard so close by. Licking her splitting lips, the zombie took a ragged breath. She had no need for air, really, but breathing came as naturally as blinking. Her body moved in death, but her thoughts remembered what it had been like to truly be alive. Now, with the deep baritone ripping through her brain, she wished for true Death.
Destroy the living and bring them to the fold! it urged, while she shook her head furiously. She didn't want to attack, didn't want to add to the power that she'd been desperately trying to resist. Instead, she fell to her knees and began to crawl through the grass and weed. Tangled tree roots and burred ferns grabbed at her dress, pulling and scratching both at the fabric and her own discolored flesh. As she came closer to one of the humans who had fallen at the start of the attack, his body laying several meters from where the melee was in full swing, she grinned. No one had noticed her yet, and she didn't want to be messed with. She was just here to eat and run.
Her teeth buried themselves in his arm, where years with a sword had bulked up the flesh. Muscle was the best, and as she clawed and gnawed to rip her prize from bone and tendon, she shuddered. The voice was demanding that she rise for Xem'Zund, do her duty as one of his Children. Closing her eyes tightly, Jivantika gave a whine that was more like a dog than a monster, and tried to keep down her meal.
Somewhere, not so far away, another body fell on the cursed ground of Lindequalme.
{open}
It happened again. When she was upon her undead mount, she was safe, for the unicorn would keep her safe. But skin to the flesh of tainted Raiaera, she was at the mercy of the Lord. Xem'Zund's voice tore through her mind, taking over everything. He was louder than the hunger, louder than the clang and clash of steel heard so close by. Licking her splitting lips, the zombie took a ragged breath. She had no need for air, really, but breathing came as naturally as blinking. Her body moved in death, but her thoughts remembered what it had been like to truly be alive. Now, with the deep baritone ripping through her brain, she wished for true Death.
Destroy the living and bring them to the fold! it urged, while she shook her head furiously. She didn't want to attack, didn't want to add to the power that she'd been desperately trying to resist. Instead, she fell to her knees and began to crawl through the grass and weed. Tangled tree roots and burred ferns grabbed at her dress, pulling and scratching both at the fabric and her own discolored flesh. As she came closer to one of the humans who had fallen at the start of the attack, his body laying several meters from where the melee was in full swing, she grinned. No one had noticed her yet, and she didn't want to be messed with. She was just here to eat and run.
Her teeth buried themselves in his arm, where years with a sword had bulked up the flesh. Muscle was the best, and as she clawed and gnawed to rip her prize from bone and tendon, she shuddered. The voice was demanding that she rise for Xem'Zund, do her duty as one of his Children. Closing her eyes tightly, Jivantika gave a whine that was more like a dog than a monster, and tried to keep down her meal.
Somewhere, not so far away, another body fell on the cursed ground of Lindequalme.
{open}