November 19, 2008

  • YACAS 3-4

    I should be catching up instead of posting...oh well. :D

    Disclaimer, warnings, and other crap in this post.
    YACAS-Chapter Three 

    Kenya growled at the low bushes, eyes aglow with inner flame and body taunt. He never did like when things crept this close to the home, nor when it started picking off workers one by one, making them reluctant to work and keep his master happy. The others that guarded the slave’s homes were doing just that, making sure that none escaped during this hunt nor were any accidentally hurt when this really began to take off. The dimming light would soon prove his prey, that he hoped to scare off for at least awhile or even make a kill, depending on what it was. This swamp was always full of surprises, although rarely any good ones.

    Dark forest green flank blended in easily with the underbrush, wings tucked tightly to the tough leathery hide to try to make him as streamline as possible for this. Although he was much more comfortable in the air doing this kind of hunting, he was slowly getting used to this ambush kind, although he was sure that he would never like it as much as going after something in the wide open sky where there was little place to hide. He could hear his prey over his slow and mostly quiet steps on the spongy ground, crouching low underneath a cluster of bushes.

    There was a small squeak, followed by at least two other similar calls which meant this was a group taking the slaves down. He could easily take them on, the only advantage they had over him was their speed on the ground, but he had something to counter that. Fire was a very good weapon after all.

    They were large flightless birds, standing a little over the bushes’ height, weak wings pulled tightly to their body. They could glide, this Kenya knew, if they ran at the right speed and there wasn’t any real obstacles in their way. A large feathered head peeked out from above the bush, large eye darting about as it seemed like it was scenting where it thought an intruder would be. The creamy white feathers tipped with dull pink disappeared back with the other two, feeding on a beast Kenya couldn’t name. It didn’t matter, all three would be on the table this night.

    He waited until the largest had gorged itself and curled up, long tail with large feathers for help in gliding as well as gaining speed while running held its head. The other two were much smaller, and would be no problem following as they looked like mere chicks, which he had killed on many occasions. The larger one however would prove to be a challenge, especially since its legs were fully developed and therefore it would be able to run much faster than the other two. Flay was just setting and Yutr was rising in the sky, making it still very easy to see where the other two would go, which would most likely be a nest of some sort. They might have eggs today as well.

    He leapt over the bushes, talons forward and jaw open. Fire spewed out, catching the closest escape route on fire, leaving the chicks to find another way back to the safety of the nest. The adult, however, screeched a warning as it tried to get up fast enough to try to lead the way, but fell right back into a heap when Kenya’s large form landed on it’s back, breaking it in a few places, making it easier for the dragon to make a kill. With a tight grip on the back of the neck, he twisted his head, breaking the beast’s and killing it almost instantly. He could still hear the chick’s cries, and ran off after them into the underbrush.

    --

    The dragon went back to his master, Fairfax, dragging the adult beast by the neck, two chicks in one claw and carefully handled two eggs that were in his spare claw. Once he found himself back on the plantation, the other dragons helped him with his load, carrying it off to the main house for their master’s inspection. Hopefully the killings would be less now, especially with those of the forest learning that dragons protected this claim of land, although it would seem that nearly none of them knew of their power nor existence.

    Fairfax was a proud looking man, always dressed properly and short black hair well kept. He owned his fair share of slaves, all of which worked the area, farming it for all that it was worth. He lived in a small house, colored a neutral brown so it didn’t stand out to anyone who happened to pass by. He wasn’t here to draw attention to himself, nor to really make any money. He had his goal always in mind, as well as in sight, although the money he did get was counted as a blessing.

    The usually harsh looking face brightened as he watched his most trusted pets bring in the kills, white eyes approving of the dead birds as well as the eggs. He had wondered how Kenya faired in the wilderness and whether he had caught the culprits who were killing off some of his slaves while leaving those who witnessed the attacks scared to even move out of the safety of their little shack. At least now they should be appeased, if it weren’t for their religion keeping them from working this day, as it always seemed to. One holiday after another, worshiping the many things of nature, which he found rather tedious and stupid when the universe could be worshiped as a whole rather than separate. However, things didn’t work here like they did at home, one he wasn’t so sure he was going to be able to see again.

    “You faired well, Kenya,” he smiled, petting the dragon on the snout. “We will all be eating good tonight.”

    The beast snorted, sitting at Fairfax’s feet, the others who helped him carry his kills also receiving pats and congratulations, although they didn’t really understand exactly why. Then again, praise was usually taken for granted, as well as any coins they were able to come across for their small hordes that they kept secret from each other, to feed their inherited greed that allowed them to become legend no matter what plane they were stranded on. Kenya, however, was just as pleased with a good meal in his belly or a coin or two to add to his bed of coins stashed away in his hiding spot, figuring both very fine rewards.


    Fairfax looked up towards the suns, well sun now that Flay was almost gone below the horizon, it was almost time for him to spy on his ‘good friend’ to make sure he hadn’t figured out a way to return to their home plane. As much as he longed to see his old home, he had been given a job to do, one he fully planned on fulfilling until either he died or a replacement came to relieve him so he could spend the rest of his days in comfort as was promised. Although as the days and years wore on, he was beginning to suspect that he had been fooled into this position and that he would die here as well as the one that he was being forced to watch over.

    Kenya raised his head, cocking it to the side as he looked up at Fairfax. The man seemed uneasy about something, although he couldn’t put a talon on exactly what it was. Where he knew that his master had the one to watch, it was his job to watch over his master, to make sure no harm came to him as what most loyal dragons, or pets of any kind really, were supposed to do. He was hatched in the other world, given his instructions by his mother, and the others like Fairfax, and hadn’t ever thought about going against it. He was rewarded for his efforts with another pat on the snout, which somewhat settled his own nervousness and laid back down.

    Looking at the three birds before him, Fairfax sighed, gathering them up so he could prepare them for the oven. That was one thing he did miss about the other side of the ocean, was the fact that there were people there to do this for him, since he didn’t really keep any house staff or slaves, usually preferring to do such work himself. Today, however, he didn’t seem to be in the mood for it, although he knew that he should. The two smaller ones would feed the whole place for tonight, and the larger one the next day with maybe even a few leftovers to serve for lunch the day after that. Taking them to the kitchen, Kenya close behind, he decided to get the preparations over with, so that he wouldn’t have to figure something else out for dinner.

    --

    It was awhile later when he ventured out of the house again, Yutr low in the horizon and the shadows long and ever growing, the eastern sky already beginning to show signs of the coming night. Fairfax usually chose this time to spy on his neighbor, who most likely knew what he was doing but either chose to ignore him or spied right back. Whatever the case, he rarely caught any trouble unless one of the dragons caught scent of Kenya, in which there was usually a larger dragon fight on both their hands. Anyone who owned any piece of land in the area also owned dragons as guards, although a few did prefer gryphons but those were few and far between as the beasts were hard to tame as it was let alone train to guard a whole plantation.

    A darkened figure moved above them, Fairfax ducking, hoping that the beast was far enough that Kenya hadn’t be found out either. The beast didn’t turn around, so he took that as a good thing and slowly continued forward, hoping that was the only scare they would have as they approached the property. He could make out the sounds of the last few workers in the fields, which wasn’t odd. They would be heading back to their cabins soon anyway which would leave him an open path to go spy on the mansion with. Kenya would keep anything from the forest at bay, both here on the edge and on the way back to his own home. Sometimes, he did yearn for the chance to go back to his home plane, where magic would have taken care of this problem, but knew that was a futile wish. Especially with the rules this place was governed by.

    With a pat on the head, Fairfax left Kenya at the edge of the large field, tall stalks of corn swaying lightly in the light wind, giving him plenty of room to hide and shadows to play with. Although he was much more adept with using the manipulation of light for illusions, but then again, it wouldn’t be hard to just change the way it’s spread and the way it moved the shadows around to complete his illusions, of either something more threatening being around or to just making him seem like he wasn’t even there at all. Confident his plan would work, he made his way up to the large house, hoping all the while that everything would go well tonight.
    YACAS-Chapter Four 

    Clyde finished up his daily tracking of his profits and making his notes that he would need for the next day when he felt it. Someone or something had trespassed on the barrier, which meant his nightly check up was due. He knew that the other demon came this time of day, when Yutr was low in the horizon, although he seemed to be coming in from the south this time, which meant through the corn fields. Well, Fairfax wasn’t going to catch him that much off guard tonight. With the recent attacks, he had put up some barriers to make sure that he and his slaves would be safe from any menace including such nuisances like his “friend”.

    He had known Fairfax since they were both growing up, although he wasn’t sure exactly when their alliances changed, nor when their views on how the world should be did either. It wasn’t exactly betrayal that had them both here, but he had to admit to himself that he trusted his old friend with too much information that shouldn’t have been shared and led to his downfall. Hind sight was always 20/20 and Clyde knew that there was little to nothing he could do about it now, and was content that his old friend was in the same situation as he was but was also under the delusion that he was going to be able to go back home.

    Putting away his supplies, he stretched and decided to go meet his ‘visitor’ so that he could have some fun. Besides his little confrontation with Isabelle a few days before, this was the first time something interesting happened in a little while. Getting up, he decided to at least give his shoulder length hair a quick run through with the brush. He hadn’t gone out to meet Fairfax in a few weeks now, bordering on a month or two now. The other must have thought that he didn’t care anymore. There hadn’t even been a large dragon fight in awhile either, which wasn’t surprise as Kenya was rather good at hiding himself, a smile creeping on his face as he thought of the dragon. He remembered when the beast was nothing more than a mere hatchling learning how to use his flame. Oh the trouble maker he was as a child!

    He went out to the porch, the last little bit of Yutr sinking below the horizon, the fields darkened in the shadows of the surrounding jungle, although he could just make out the shifting forms of the slaves going back to their little cabins and some of the dragons coming out for their night watches. He couldn’t tell exactly where Fairfax was, but he was pretty sure that he would be able to tell soon enough. The man usually got up really close to the house to make sure he was still around. Unfortunately, Clyde was still waiting for the day he found the way home, so he would be able to leave a note for Fairfax telling him that he had gone home without him. As mean as that would seem, it gave Clyde a smug smirk every time he thought about that, remembering his goal and why he was gaining all the resources he was to obtain it.

    He waited until twilight had fully set, the only light coming from inside the house and the dying colors in the horizon. He knew that Fairfax would have had to made it within hearing distance by now. If the other hadn’t, that meant that they were both getting old and they needed to get back home that much more to hone their skills again. As much as he enjoyed the peace for profits, it didn’t give him a real chance to practice his warring skills all that much that would put him at a severe disadvantage when it came time for him to return home.

    “You came earlier than usual today,” Clyde said, admiring the view of the stars that were already showing in the ever darkening sky. Although it was soon going to be drown out by the moons that were already rising. “And with good reason too. You’ve heard the rumors I take it, of the travelers around this area disappearing? Hopefully it’s actually some sort of warped space. Home may be in closer reach than either of us thought.”

    Fairfax himself was not pleased that Clyde was waiting for him, sitting in that damn rocking chair on the large porch. He always looked so smug when he sat like that, and always sounded like he was a higher status. This wasn’t their home anymore, and so he was actually of a higher rank, if ever so slightly, than Clyde, but then again, the other rarely took defeat well. No matter how much it annoyed him that his former friend couldn’t accept the fact that he was defeated and exiled.

    Standing up straight, coming straight for the porch, he sat down on the chair next to Clyde a little reluctantly, knowing that there was no escape now. No matter how many times this ritual was done, he would never understand how Clyde could be so casual with the person who betrayed him to his enemy. He guess the revenge would come if he ever found a way home and leave him all alone on this wretched plane of existence. Hopefully that would never happen and Clyde would have to suffer with him through this trail that may never end.

    “I’ve heard the rumors and Kenya caught three of them, or the ones picking off my slaves,” Fairfax replied, not looking at Clyde at all, but instead the sky or even the empty dark fields. Or at least he kept hoping that they were empty. All he needed was for something to really be out there and had an intent of eating them or even just causing trouble. Kenya didn’t need that kind of aggravation and neither did he. “I’m not sure if those same damn birds are the cause of the recent attacks or not.”

    “I’m sure that they were a part of the problem,” Clyde replied, the tension building. He loved making small talk with Fairfax, the way it took its toll clear on the other man’s face and body language. At least he could have small wins against the other man, yet another part of his revenge for getting them both stuck here on this insufferable planet with its insufferable order. “But I fear that there is something a bit larger lurking nearby, as if we had only scared it off for a little while before it had time to study us.”

    “I thought we found everything with intelligence already,” Fairfax said, honestly perplexed at this seemingly new finding. “The rest of the jungle is supposedly just animals that can be used as food or are just nuisances to society.”

    “Ah, we haven’t even begun to discover exactly what this place holds,” Clyde said smugly, face lit up with the possibilities of being able to go home. “There may be hidden ruins with a way for us to active them and go back home to see exactly how well Faolan has been running the place since my exile. Then again, that does mean taking you with me since I have to say that I told you so in that case. What would be more priceless? The fact that I’d be able to leave while you stayed here or if we both went back home and see that I was right for my opposition of Faolan?”

    Fairfax didn’t answer, biting his tongue to keep from making a comment on exactly what he thought about the whole situation. Either way he would be given a punishment for, that he was sure of, if Faolan found out that he had allowed Clyde back in. It was only by luck and Clyde’s trust in him that the other demon was able to gain the upper hand and finally get rid of Clyde by exiling him. Then again, that same thought made him bitter as that meant that Faolan hadn’t seen his betrayal as something to prove his loyalty, but as someone who would even go as far as sell out his own friend to gain a little power for himself. Either way, this whole thing was becoming more and more foggy to him as the shades of gray ordered themselves by darkest to light, and Faolan’s intentions going towards the darker side.

    “Dragon by the throat,” Clyde asked, feigning concern at Fairfax’s silence. “You can certainly voice your outrage about the way I handle things, as you have clearly done before many times in the past. Surely you won’t deny me now.”

    “You sound almost bitter,” Fairfax replied, still not looking at the other man. “It doesn’t matter either way, for either I’ll find out which one of us told the truth or I’ll be here waiting when you’re exiled yet again, most likely to a planet worse than this one where no magic is allowed or even one just starting out with no intelligent life expected for many eons.”

    “That almost hurt,” Clyde replied, frowning a little.

    “Almost,” Fairfax nodded, getting up. “I have made my observations for the night. Let us talk again sometime.”

    Clyde just watched his old friend walk away, the same way he assumed the man came onto his property in the first place, caught up in the memories of happier times, and wondering exactly how things came to be like this. Then again, where Fairfax was a talented illusionist, Faolan was as well, as well as a weak telepath giving him a slight advantage in the powers of suggestion. Either way, it left Clyde sitting on the clouds of memories and Fairfax walking home with worries that one day, Clyde really would escape his grasp once and for all.