Putting to purpose blood, sand, bones, and hearts (Musca

[Darian]

15th of Spring (Night)

His heart beat hard in his chest as he worked his sword deep into the corpse in front of him, it's edge splitting open the felled deer easily enough. Steaming guts spilled from it body into the cool air, filling the air with the heavy smell of iron rich blood, and leaving a metallic taste in his mouth. It wasn't all that revolting though, for surviving on the streets as long as he did had brought Darian to smells far more revolting and intense enough to make this one almost pleasant. It's bones cracked noisily as it's breast split apart from the pressure, fracturing open and revealing the precious organs cradled within, all still still as death. He'd seen the deer felled a bell ago, dying from a mortal wound suffered by a phantom creature Darian hadn't the skills to track back into the wood, and he wasn't going to question his good fortune at finding the creature. A slash from his longsword had torn the wounded creatures throat from it, and finished his prey and likely scared off the predator if he was lucky. He couldn't spare to be distracted by such a musing in any case though, and seeing the bones parted just right, he pushed his hands into the beast, sliding through the hot press of the sticky inner tissue till his hands wrapped around a firm, almost cylindrical organ, and ripping it from it's moorings he pulled his hand back out to have a better look at the heart he clutched in his fingers.

It beat no more, having stopped that bells hence with the tearing of the beasts' jugular, though still it gave of traces of warmth, a semblance of the life it once possessed. The sight of it brought a smile to his features beating or not as he gripped it tighter, and brought it to his lips. His teeth sank into it's toughening flesh easily enough and he tore off a healthy bite of it as he ripped at the organ again, and again with his teeth, downing goblets of the flesh with the deers own arterial blood. Within chimes he had finished the bitter meal, and taking gasps of the fresh forest air riddled with the stink of death, he cackled into the darkness loudly, almost madly to anyone who could hear it the man himself appearing to have lost his wits. It was so unlike Darian, but spies did not always know that.

[Musca]

She watched him with bright excitable eyes, incredibly glad now of her decision to venture out of the city walls. The night did wonders on her- everything was revealed, the slightest touch, the faintest stench, the muted whispers. They couldn't hide from her. And the man- the man was simply a treat to observe. The moment she smelt the blood being spilt, she searched for it, maddeningly curious.

Yes, he was a treat. Not even the simplest Zith in Din wouldn't be so imaginative to eat a dear this way. A shiver rose in her body, half in arousal and half in excitement. Surely meeting such a man would result to splendid results. She let go of a bated breath, admiring his work.

"It's too bad you didn't save some for me, human." Her sultry voice rang into the crisp night air, hanging on to the remnant of the madness that was clearly pronounced by the man. A sly grin formed at her lips as she regarded the black cladded man. "But you know what? I'd rather have you than a desecrated deer." It was true- everything in her body wanted the man. She wanted to throw him into the ground, lick the blood of his face and take pleasure from his body. At whatever cost, she wanted those bloodstained hands on her, touching and feeling every nook, exploring each alcove as violently as his feeding. And certainly, what a treat would this man be.

Musca lapped her plump botton lip, leisurely. She wanted him to want her then, in the midst of his feeding, she wanted to be next. But she made no move towards him, only keeping in the same few distance from the man, not wanting to be seen as competition. Basic manners.

"What do you say?" She asked softly, her smouldering gaze still trained on his form. "Won't you keep company of a creature like me for a while?"
oocsorry for the short post.

[Darian]

Words rang out in the darkness, and the satisfaction that had slowly building up inside of him deflated as he recognized them for what they were. This was no spy with eyes on him, but simply a curious observer, or admirer as it sounded. That or the spy had made out he knew of the her presence, and saved herself in the only way she knew how. It soured his good mood all the same, and standing up, blood dripping from his mouth, he simply stood there for a few moments to let her have her words before speaking himself, his own response measured, though throaty to perhaps disguise his voice just in case she couldn't make him out either in the twilit forest. His breathing was hard anyways after engorging himself on the hardy meal.

"I fear you might find my flesh burnt more than you'd prefer" He chided, pulling his hood deeper over his face in any case, though he knew any that knew he would get the reference. Testing the waters was a good game to play when you couldn't see your observer, and maybe the reference would bring his would be foe into the light where he might better finish off this spy.

[Musca]

There was some basic courtesy that the Zith observed when they claimed their own prey. After all, they were not rabid mindless beasts that only seek to fill their stomachs and satiate their curiousity. They were beings with cunning intelligence- adapting easily and fluidly in their environment, attentive to the strangeness of the new world. And one such courtesy was to simply know when to back off when the predator was feasting.

And as Musca ogled at the impressive human, it was clear to her that he did not want her anywhere near him at all. Though he was careful to hide it- she was no soft day dwelling creature as he was. She saw every tiny detail of his body that screamed at his resentment of being disturbed. Musca frowned.

If she didn't have a measurable sense of pride and humour, Musca would've been morbidly offended. Here she was, offering herself to a human and getting rejected. He might've been spectacular at tearing through a dear- but a human he was still. A tug of displeasure lessened the hold of her excitement, but nonetheless, she still pursued it, wanting to claim what she didn't own. The talk of burnt flesh piqued her interest, and she let out a giggle. "Is that your way of dirty talk, human? I must say I've encountered far better ones than that." She let the silence drag for a chime, letting herself take in the environment around her. Musca could tell that he thought of her as a threat- someone easily dispatched off. His little comment about his body was a lure, to ignite her own curiousity and lure her into the moonlight to expose herself. Musca certainly didn't mind some exposure, but she really didn't appreciate being manipulated so craftily. Or having pointy little metallic items at her when she's doing the exposing.

So, she resorted to a laugh. "It's sort of amusing the way you're so guarded, human. What are you so scared of? Monsters that jump out shadowed woods? The trick of the light fooling you into believing in nightmares?" She took a step forward, barely enough to give the human a full view of herself, just a shade of who she really was. "I'm afraid that your suspicions are wildly out of proportion. The only monsters that stand right now is the both of us. Logically, this would mean that both of us should try to finish each other- but what's the use when both are already fed?" The question made her stop and smile, "of course there's always pleasure in doing so. The thrill of discerning your wants. The adrenaline of the hunt. The rush of blood that makes one feel weightless after the first bite. The satisfaction of possession." She continued her rhythmic swagger towards him, her eyes drinking the sight of him, drowning in the scent of death that hung closely between them. She stopped at the foot of the dear and smiled, flashing her teeth as well as her wings. "All of them- the basics of pleasure. So easy to satiate, so difficult to attain."

With a flourish, she willed her wings to beat to the movements of the cool breeze, savouring the feel of the slight wind against her sensitive wings. She fluttered her eyes open and smiled- sweet enough to fool a lesser man. "In this way, pleasure and instinct are one. And the Zith- ultimately- embody this. And from what I see," her smile turned sadistic, "this certainly fits in your ticket."

[Darian]

With ease he stood up slowly, listening carefully to his observers' words, his eyes darting this way and that trying to find which patch of darkness she claimed at that moment. Even exposed to the clear patch of moonlight like he was, shadows seemed to deepen around him, though this was simply the product of his night leather drinking in the fragile light. The sole thing that reflected was the cold iron longsword held easily in his hand, and that was how the black clad warrior liked it. For all his care in dressing though, it seems like he was the one who lacked stealth in this encounter, and the favor of the shadows as well.

As if answering his unspoken request, the watcher emerged from the shadows, and a familiar form, but quite different features greeted him. Memories of Cass flooded through his mind briefly, reawakening a time when his flesh was not seared, and his mind remained weak to simple pleasures. Seeing her for what she was gave him a measure of comfort, and perhaps even an advantage, even if it only was because he knew just what manner of creature he was dealing with. Subtly his grip tightened on the hilt of his longsword, though he kept his arm relaxed satisfied he could get it up in time to cleave her in two if it came to it. Perhaps that would prove to be a desired result, who knew what power he could coax from her bones. He pushed back the notion for the moment in any case, focusing in on the zith woman and her honeyed words, his hazel eyes softening their icy stare to one more accommodating. She wasn't the only one who could try tricks after all.

"I have experienced quite a bit alongside your kin, even learning a use or two for those nasty claws that doesn't involve carnage" Darian spoke, smiling suggestively, his words no longer cold and distant. In the background of it all he watched her, observing the movement's of her form, looking for any sign of hostile intent, or even a glance at the zith woman's body betraying her, providing chance opening for his blade to find a place in her flesh. There was always the possibility of capturing her, but it was too soon to make such choices, and decided which would benefit him most. That time might soon enough still upon him though.

[Musca]

She almost bought it, his sudden shift in attitude. In fact, if she wasn't searching so thoroughly for discrepancies in the language his body told her, Musca had no doubt that she would've been played like a fool. She had seen many men at their weakest moment, where they were at their most unguarded and at their highest delusion- and none of them gripped a sword as tightly as he did. He was planning to kill her.

Her muscles twitched from the myriad of emotions that had mixed itself in with the excitement. A flush of anger, a sprinkle of arousal... and a dose of fear. It had been a long time she had felt that. She had almost forgotten the thrill that crept along with fear, the goosebumps that it sent with it. She breathed out softly, trying to regain some grain of control in her rigid form. Bows, daggers... why couldn't it be them? She had a better understanding of them rather than a thin mental that was more than capable of slicing her arms off.

But... she had all the advantages at her disposal. She could easily get away if she played it smart.

Musca laughed lightly, tossing her hair back while flapping her wings half heartedly. "We Zith's keep good company for the right people.... besides the claws, I'm sure you've experienced something else beyond that." She smirked playfully, "or at least a slice of it." Her choice of words brought a dry chuckle in her throat. Though it was dangerous to flirt with such a fine line, keeping up appearances would be vital to her escape.

"So..." her tone still held the note of playfulness in it, her wide smile still intact, "I'm curious. What else did you learn besides our claws?"To some degree, she really was curious. Zith's usually take comfort in the colonies- separating only briefly for a hunt, and even then they usually went in packs. Despite the foolish arrogance they tend to show now and again, the power of Zith usually lies in numbers. And from what she could see, Sunberth contained no such colony to give a Zith such comfort.

[Musca]

He hadn’t replied to her jibe, merely looking at her with curious eyes that she couldn’t read. Musca bit her bottom lip, wondering on her next course of action. The longer she stayed with the human man, the tenser she grew. The likelihood of her death grew stronger as the chimes that passed. Still keeping her complacent smile, she threw a laugh at his direction, trying to contain her nervousness. “It seems that we’ve come at an impasse,” she found herself saying, “and I do hate it when that happens. It gets boring. I do not like getting bored so, I must take my leave now, least it turn to something unpleasant. You were an entertainment, I’d hate that impression become marred.” Musca twirled her fingers at him, a bastardization of a goodbye wave. Without waiting for his approval or comment, she opened up her wings once again and launched herself back to the clear sky that she loved so dearly. At least she got the excitement she was craving for. -END-

[Fallacy]

XP Award! Name:Musca XP Award: +1 Detection +1 Observation +2 Rhetoric +2 Interrogation Lore: Watching a Human Dine on Flesh Too Bad You Didn't Save Me Any Taking to the Wing of Boredom Notes: Any questions or concerns about the rewards gained please send a PM