Featuring Baeric with mentions of Datur
Fall, Year 747 of the New Age
Between the Proving Grounds and The Shadowgrove
Fall, Year 747 of the New Age
Between the Proving Grounds and The Shadowgrove
He had made his declaration and he would take on the greatest of challenges, to prove his worth to the great Uir.
The coming of age trials.
Baeric made his away from the proving grounds, down to the south west as he skimmed the border of the the Shadowgrove. He had to find a prize...a great prize to show the herd his worth. That he wasn't as crazy as everyone had started to say...
He was fine! Normal! Well as normal as any Blackwood could be.
With a throaty snort he trudged on, head lowered as his fresh antlers gleamed in the low light. He was patrolling for trouble as he searched out a worthy advisory to end in the name of the earth goddess. Several of his old class mates had already passed their trials and had returned with the pelts of wolves to present to the herd. Datur had returned with a bear hide and judging by the size of it the beast had been quiet the monster. Of course, his old rival hadn't returned unharmed. The haughty stag returned with numerous wounds but he would likely recover from them all which was a real shame...
Baeric shook his head as he pushed all those thoughts away, not wanting anything to distract his mind from his task. He would outdo them all...there was no question. Granted, he wasn't sure what would outmatch a bear but he would keep looking until he found such a prize.
Perhaps several wolves? Or even a bear of a larger size? He was ashamed at the fear that entered his heart as he imagined a large bear, there was doubt there and doubt something he could not afford.
"Uir will present me with my destined opponent when the time comes.." He nodded, speaking it aloud to reassure it to himself. He had to trust in the goddess. She was with him after all.
Anytime he needed he could look over his shoulder and see it, the ghostly white raven that had taken a liking to him some weeks back. He smiled to himself as he saw it and gave it a stoic nod of appreciation. The bird remained unresponsive as always and continued to just stare through him.
It took hours.
Hours of walking, listening, watching, feeling.
The woods presented him with nothing. Nary a leaf to even battle or face in honorable combat.
He was starting to get frustrated as he continued to come the woods for something, anything, to face. He even dared to approach a medium sized cave in a rocky hillside.
"Hello!?" He called, listening to the echo and frowning. Seriously? Any other day he would have tried this he would have lost his face. A bear or even ice bear would have come roaring out and ended his meager existence but not today!! The ONE day he would have welcomed a turn in his luck. He stormed away from the craig and turned into the woods once more. Perhaps this was yet another challenge by Uir...did she wish him to venture into the Shadowgrove? It was tempting at this point but the childhood tails kept him at bay for the time being.
With a half defeated sigh he stopped, thumping his antlers into the nearest tree as he took a small pause. Why? Why was this so difficult!!?? His homelands were thick with predators, he had been aware of them all his life so WHERE were they NOW!? The one time he needed them to show their ugly faces.
Crack
He pulled his tines from the dark wood as he twisted around to see the source of the snapping branches.
His heart races, eyes darting about as he found nothing. The air had gone still and the wood quiet as the constant gusts of wind suddenly stopped. He smirked, head lowering some as his tines too ready for attack.
He shut his eyes for a moment as he called on the dead, the spirits who were fast to appear and begin their haunting dance thought the air. Their sickly glow cast more light around the otherwise musty wood and in that light he saw it...
The long, sleek tail of the mountain cat that was stalking him through the hibernating brush.
As their eyes met the cat froze, lips slowly curling up over his teeth as a low growl began to emit from his chest. Baeric stomped a foot in return and let a loud, challenging snort leave his nostrils. The cat roared, spitting out it's wild call as he struck out with bared claws on his large paw. He rose from his crouching position, growling lowly with each step as he watched the large stag in front of him. Baeric resisted the urge to charge forward and the initiate the fight himself since he needed to know the strength of this beast. His magic was powerful but his physical form left much to be desired and he wasn't foolish enough to deny it. It would take cunning, skill and trickery to take this beast down.
He was startled when the beast charged him suddenly, claws ripping at the each as it zigged and zagged in front of Baeric before pouncing. The stag stumbled to get out of the way, his body swinging just out of the way of the cat who caught the edges of his tines. He snarled in pain as he passed by, claws clipping into a tree as he showered Baeric in splinters.
Both combatants realigned themselves, Baeric taking to pacing in a circle around the cougar. Taking a breathe he take his turn at charging the beast, pleased to see the cat bolt away and flee from his approaching antlers. The cat was quick to jump back on the offensive however and came back at him with teeth and claws. With a leap he landed on Baerics back and sent the stag into a frenzy. His claws cut easily through his flesh as the stag bucked and thrashed his head to try and get the cat off. He couldn't reach him with his tines so he rushed to the nearest tree. He slammed his body into the trunk, scrapping the cat free of him though it took some clumps of hair with him. He threw out a hard kick as the cat fell, smirking as he felt his hooves crack against bone and flesh. The cougar cried out, rushing away from Baeric and into the brush as he vanished.
The silence that followed was just as unnerving as when he first entered the clearing and found the cat. He stood, breathing heavy as his eyes darted around the now torn ground that had become their battlefield.
Nothing.
Not a sound or movement or breathe was to be heard.
Baeric ground his teeth together as he began to think the predator had left. NO! Their battle was not yet completed!! He could not return with wounds and no prize. He would be seen as weak! Unfit to be among the Blackwood! He would not let this pass!!
He looked to the sky and called on Uir's blessing, strength and guidance as his fight appeared to reach a pivotal moment. He smirked and called on the spirits once again to flush out his prize. He asked them, exerting no force on the benevolent spirits, to go forth once more and flush out the traitor. Some ignored his wishes, continuing to float mindlessly about while others humored him and rushed forward into the brush once more. With a yowl the cat cried out and jumped up, startled by the sights before him.
It worked.
He rushed forward as he the cat struck out at the ghosts, face growing confused as his paw fell through the mists. He came crashing through the twiggy bush that had been the cats cover, tines slamming into the body of the beast as it cried out and began to thrash. His legs kicked at the stags antlers, teeth mashing on the tines that dug into it's flesh and allowed it's life to pour out onto the earth. The cat fought well and nearly pushed Baeric back from him but in the end the stags determination proved stronger.
He reached out again and calling out to any mind he could sense in the surrounding groves. One responded an came rushing forward some moments later. A large, rather fat, badger tumbled free and rushed to his aid. With a snarl it leap to the cat, landing on it's thrashing leg which it bit and attempted to hold down.
The cat screamed as it began to feel it's life slip away, giving it's final all to try and push Baeric and his minion off of him. The stag reared up, antlers continuing to pin the cougar down before he threw all of his weight into the pinned cat. With a crunch his tines heaved, sinking through the body of the cat and caving into the soft earth below him. Baeric looked the once proud cat in the eye as he watched it's spirit leave and find Uir and as it died he smiled.
HE HAD DONE IT!
He heaved himself back, blood splattering him and the tree's around him as his tines pulled free and left gaping wounds in the cat at his hooves. The fat badger gave a content snort and waddled away, returning to his home or whatever it had been previously doing before being pulled into this fight. He hovered over his prize with great elation, looking over the monster he had slayed in the name of his great goddess. It was no weakling, not some cub or sickly creature but a strong adult male. And he, the corrupted one, the lunatic, had brought him down.
He smirked, giving his torn pelt a shake before leaning down to scoop up his prize. The fight had worn him down and it became evident then as he strained to lift the corpse. He had thought he had the energy he would have just resurrected it himself and had it walk beside him all the way back. Regardless he knew in his heart he had passed this trial and that was the important thing. He was a true member of the herd now and no one could deny him that right. He turned, heaving the cat above his head as he began to think of the reaction to those who had doubted him, taunted him, bullied him for the better part of his life.
Datur.
His smirk was so wide it almost hurt his lips.
The look on that cocky stags face when he saw this....oh nothing would bring him more joy. He knew what his rival had been saying, whispering to the herd that Baeric would probably just feed the wilds with his body. He had counted him out, marked him as fodder for the wolves but oh no! He would show him...
Baeric found strength in his excitement as he began to trot through the hollow forest. The sun had set during his battle and now he traveled by glowing moonlight. The beams that hit him set his hide tingling as he felt the gaze of his goddess on him. He could feel her pride, her joy in his ill and the success of his hunt. He smiled, looking up as he heard the wings of the ghostly white Raven. The beacon flew on, lighting his path even further as the moons beams reflected off her glistening feather. With his path lit and the power of the moon fueling his pace he would arrive back at the Proving grounds with a bloody but mighty prize. He heard the whispers, the gasps of surprise as he came through the grounds with his prize. Many gawked at his wounds and wondered how he was still alive while others looked to the cougar in shock. Baeric had brought that down!? That massive cat! Surely this was some sort of trick.
Baeric strode to the center of the grounds where he dropped the now bloody prize at his hooves. He spotted Datur among the crowds, his eyes seering with anger and hate as he saw that Baeric had come back alive.
"By Uir's light I have returned! I have returned to you all with his proof of my strength and pray I have gained the favor of our beloved Goddess!"
The coming of age trials.
Baeric made his away from the proving grounds, down to the south west as he skimmed the border of the the Shadowgrove. He had to find a prize...a great prize to show the herd his worth. That he wasn't as crazy as everyone had started to say...
He was fine! Normal! Well as normal as any Blackwood could be.
With a throaty snort he trudged on, head lowered as his fresh antlers gleamed in the low light. He was patrolling for trouble as he searched out a worthy advisory to end in the name of the earth goddess. Several of his old class mates had already passed their trials and had returned with the pelts of wolves to present to the herd. Datur had returned with a bear hide and judging by the size of it the beast had been quiet the monster. Of course, his old rival hadn't returned unharmed. The haughty stag returned with numerous wounds but he would likely recover from them all which was a real shame...
Baeric shook his head as he pushed all those thoughts away, not wanting anything to distract his mind from his task. He would outdo them all...there was no question. Granted, he wasn't sure what would outmatch a bear but he would keep looking until he found such a prize.
Perhaps several wolves? Or even a bear of a larger size? He was ashamed at the fear that entered his heart as he imagined a large bear, there was doubt there and doubt something he could not afford.
"Uir will present me with my destined opponent when the time comes.." He nodded, speaking it aloud to reassure it to himself. He had to trust in the goddess. She was with him after all.
Anytime he needed he could look over his shoulder and see it, the ghostly white raven that had taken a liking to him some weeks back. He smiled to himself as he saw it and gave it a stoic nod of appreciation. The bird remained unresponsive as always and continued to just stare through him.
It took hours.
Hours of walking, listening, watching, feeling.
The woods presented him with nothing. Nary a leaf to even battle or face in honorable combat.
He was starting to get frustrated as he continued to come the woods for something, anything, to face. He even dared to approach a medium sized cave in a rocky hillside.
"Hello!?" He called, listening to the echo and frowning. Seriously? Any other day he would have tried this he would have lost his face. A bear or even ice bear would have come roaring out and ended his meager existence but not today!! The ONE day he would have welcomed a turn in his luck. He stormed away from the craig and turned into the woods once more. Perhaps this was yet another challenge by Uir...did she wish him to venture into the Shadowgrove? It was tempting at this point but the childhood tails kept him at bay for the time being.
With a half defeated sigh he stopped, thumping his antlers into the nearest tree as he took a small pause. Why? Why was this so difficult!!?? His homelands were thick with predators, he had been aware of them all his life so WHERE were they NOW!? The one time he needed them to show their ugly faces.
Crack
He pulled his tines from the dark wood as he twisted around to see the source of the snapping branches.
His heart races, eyes darting about as he found nothing. The air had gone still and the wood quiet as the constant gusts of wind suddenly stopped. He smirked, head lowering some as his tines too ready for attack.
He shut his eyes for a moment as he called on the dead, the spirits who were fast to appear and begin their haunting dance thought the air. Their sickly glow cast more light around the otherwise musty wood and in that light he saw it...
The long, sleek tail of the mountain cat that was stalking him through the hibernating brush.
As their eyes met the cat froze, lips slowly curling up over his teeth as a low growl began to emit from his chest. Baeric stomped a foot in return and let a loud, challenging snort leave his nostrils. The cat roared, spitting out it's wild call as he struck out with bared claws on his large paw. He rose from his crouching position, growling lowly with each step as he watched the large stag in front of him. Baeric resisted the urge to charge forward and the initiate the fight himself since he needed to know the strength of this beast. His magic was powerful but his physical form left much to be desired and he wasn't foolish enough to deny it. It would take cunning, skill and trickery to take this beast down.
He was startled when the beast charged him suddenly, claws ripping at the each as it zigged and zagged in front of Baeric before pouncing. The stag stumbled to get out of the way, his body swinging just out of the way of the cat who caught the edges of his tines. He snarled in pain as he passed by, claws clipping into a tree as he showered Baeric in splinters.
Both combatants realigned themselves, Baeric taking to pacing in a circle around the cougar. Taking a breathe he take his turn at charging the beast, pleased to see the cat bolt away and flee from his approaching antlers. The cat was quick to jump back on the offensive however and came back at him with teeth and claws. With a leap he landed on Baerics back and sent the stag into a frenzy. His claws cut easily through his flesh as the stag bucked and thrashed his head to try and get the cat off. He couldn't reach him with his tines so he rushed to the nearest tree. He slammed his body into the trunk, scrapping the cat free of him though it took some clumps of hair with him. He threw out a hard kick as the cat fell, smirking as he felt his hooves crack against bone and flesh. The cougar cried out, rushing away from Baeric and into the brush as he vanished.
The silence that followed was just as unnerving as when he first entered the clearing and found the cat. He stood, breathing heavy as his eyes darted around the now torn ground that had become their battlefield.
Nothing.
Not a sound or movement or breathe was to be heard.
Baeric ground his teeth together as he began to think the predator had left. NO! Their battle was not yet completed!! He could not return with wounds and no prize. He would be seen as weak! Unfit to be among the Blackwood! He would not let this pass!!
He looked to the sky and called on Uir's blessing, strength and guidance as his fight appeared to reach a pivotal moment. He smirked and called on the spirits once again to flush out his prize. He asked them, exerting no force on the benevolent spirits, to go forth once more and flush out the traitor. Some ignored his wishes, continuing to float mindlessly about while others humored him and rushed forward into the brush once more. With a yowl the cat cried out and jumped up, startled by the sights before him.
It worked.
He rushed forward as he the cat struck out at the ghosts, face growing confused as his paw fell through the mists. He came crashing through the twiggy bush that had been the cats cover, tines slamming into the body of the beast as it cried out and began to thrash. His legs kicked at the stags antlers, teeth mashing on the tines that dug into it's flesh and allowed it's life to pour out onto the earth. The cat fought well and nearly pushed Baeric back from him but in the end the stags determination proved stronger.
He reached out again and calling out to any mind he could sense in the surrounding groves. One responded an came rushing forward some moments later. A large, rather fat, badger tumbled free and rushed to his aid. With a snarl it leap to the cat, landing on it's thrashing leg which it bit and attempted to hold down.
The cat screamed as it began to feel it's life slip away, giving it's final all to try and push Baeric and his minion off of him. The stag reared up, antlers continuing to pin the cougar down before he threw all of his weight into the pinned cat. With a crunch his tines heaved, sinking through the body of the cat and caving into the soft earth below him. Baeric looked the once proud cat in the eye as he watched it's spirit leave and find Uir and as it died he smiled.
HE HAD DONE IT!
He heaved himself back, blood splattering him and the tree's around him as his tines pulled free and left gaping wounds in the cat at his hooves. The fat badger gave a content snort and waddled away, returning to his home or whatever it had been previously doing before being pulled into this fight. He hovered over his prize with great elation, looking over the monster he had slayed in the name of his great goddess. It was no weakling, not some cub or sickly creature but a strong adult male. And he, the corrupted one, the lunatic, had brought him down.
He smirked, giving his torn pelt a shake before leaning down to scoop up his prize. The fight had worn him down and it became evident then as he strained to lift the corpse. He had thought he had the energy he would have just resurrected it himself and had it walk beside him all the way back. Regardless he knew in his heart he had passed this trial and that was the important thing. He was a true member of the herd now and no one could deny him that right. He turned, heaving the cat above his head as he began to think of the reaction to those who had doubted him, taunted him, bullied him for the better part of his life.
Datur.
His smirk was so wide it almost hurt his lips.
The look on that cocky stags face when he saw this....oh nothing would bring him more joy. He knew what his rival had been saying, whispering to the herd that Baeric would probably just feed the wilds with his body. He had counted him out, marked him as fodder for the wolves but oh no! He would show him...
Baeric found strength in his excitement as he began to trot through the hollow forest. The sun had set during his battle and now he traveled by glowing moonlight. The beams that hit him set his hide tingling as he felt the gaze of his goddess on him. He could feel her pride, her joy in his ill and the success of his hunt. He smiled, looking up as he heard the wings of the ghostly white Raven. The beacon flew on, lighting his path even further as the moons beams reflected off her glistening feather. With his path lit and the power of the moon fueling his pace he would arrive back at the Proving grounds with a bloody but mighty prize. He heard the whispers, the gasps of surprise as he came through the grounds with his prize. Many gawked at his wounds and wondered how he was still alive while others looked to the cougar in shock. Baeric had brought that down!? That massive cat! Surely this was some sort of trick.
Baeric strode to the center of the grounds where he dropped the now bloody prize at his hooves. He spotted Datur among the crowds, his eyes seering with anger and hate as he saw that Baeric had come back alive.
"By Uir's light I have returned! I have returned to you all with his proof of my strength and pray I have gained the favor of our beloved Goddess!"
There will probably be images to follow this >>