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2024-10-29 19:42:56
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The Calling - Blood and Snow 10.
The Forest of Vatala had never looked so claustrophobic through the darting watch of Faris, sporadically searching for signs of Axil. No tracks, no traces, no time to lose, no direction, just running as fast as a racing heart. Bird ballads impossible to hear through, trees barricade every view and amidst the unseen lies daunting possibilities. "Axiiilll?" Faris calls over and over through the trees. Miya watches from the camp, rising to keep her companion in need in sight. "We should check the river." Miya suggest. "Do you know the way?" Agrees Faris in despondency. "Of course." Miya calmingly smiles. The beautiful pallet of Vatala forest hums bleak across the browns, greys and rich greens. White fog of each breath, hard ground and the silent echo accentuate the atmosphere of despair in the hope, and hope, in the despair. Trees as old as the Earth stand against the winds of time, cold rocks watch another body cross what was never a path. Birds invariably chirp from the most
The Calling - Blood and Snow 11.
"Wake up, wake up!!!" Samuel whispers. "Are we... where are we?" "Stay quiet! Listen; The cage is locked!" "What?" Daniella ask, still dazed."How long has it been locked?" "I've no idea. I woke up just a moment ago." "Where is he taking us?" "I'm not sure, but I do know we are heading west judging by the sun!" "What should we do?" "Stay quiet, pretend to still be asleep. When he opens the cage we startle him and make a run for it." "Will that wor...." "-You two, quite back there!"The harsh voice of the coachman scorns. "Where are you taking us?" Demands Samuel. "You'll see, .." The rider laughs ".. We're almost there now." "You cannot do this to us! You hear?" Screams Lady Daniella, finding her authoritative voice. "We have paid you for a service and demand that you set us free!" The wagon keeps going to the sound of whipping and donkeys panting. - Vatala's doors thud with mighty fist echoing through the beating city. From above a voice asks "What business do
The Calling - Blood and Snow 12.
Chaos trembles through the veins of Vatala, it's heart gushes panic and despair. Defenders cannot stop the giants demolishing all in their path like a wildfire, consuming what falls in its blaze. A butchery from which all try flee, each running only for themselves. The western tower bell outcries for help. The city shakes as spears, swords and amour march to its aid halting in a disciplined, condemning formation. The pack laughs at the threat, watching the sky fall red. The city's western forces all gather outside the clock placed by strategic advantages. The Titans stand proud before swordsmen, spearmen and archers like wolves surrounded by sheep. The sun falls under the moon's mighty presence. Reflections of white gaze through the dark, scolding and vicious. "Throw down your shields and kneel, last chance or by God we will strike you down!"Commander Victor demands atop his steel dressed steed. The outsiders laugh and begin to hit the ground in rhythm using their shields as drums.
The Calling - Blood and Snow 13.
Snow begins to gently fall from the night sky, glowing against the moonlight in beautiful silence. Plummeting from the heavens a body crashes hard into the ground, splitting dry on impact. Looking up, a cloaked silhouette flutters in the gentle breeze. The cursed recognize her scent: one of the damned! Wrapped in armour and cloaked in exotic fabrics, Carmilla was as beautiful as she was Stylish. Floating down and landing gracefully, she wipes the blood from her mouth. "At last, it's just us." Carmilla remarks in a condescending tone. Heavy shields of black oak and steel are thrown to the ground, they stand shoulder to shoulder, snarling viciously against the amber gaze. Carmilla flings her hands open with nails as thick and long as dagger blades, exposing her elongated fangs. Adrenaline of their meals still powers through their veins fresh, under a hunters moon the children of Loki are ready for battle. Raged breathing of the wolves contrasts the vampire's stillness of death. Fen
The Calling - Blood and Snow 14.
Fighting against the winds, Daniella manoeuvres as swiftly as she can away from the ever loudening deep growls and cursing. The pouring blood from her fingers continues to wet her hand, leaving a red splattered trail. Shaking and gasping, each cold breath cuts through her lungs. Naked trees, thorny bushes and frozen blades encompass her like a dirty damp blanket. Danielle's heart beats like it wants to burst out of her chest, hurting more with each hit. Tears and earth particles obscure sight as the blood loss draws life out, causing Daniella to fall far paler than natural. Against nature's hard cold force each step becomes harder to push through. Tripping over a thick surfaced root, smacking shock through her skull on a tree trunk she falls into a ringing emptiness. The sounds of terror close in through the wind whistling between wooden bones and bushes. Daniella lays still, losing blood from her hand and head. Blackness and dredd, barking and shouting, soaked and shivering. "There
The Calling - Blood and Snow 15.
Rushing to reach the voice that calls, Faris runs into the thick fog of the forest, Miya close behind. Each stride into the clouded sea submerges the pair deeper, drowning them in blindness. "Stay close." Faris gently says as he looks back. Miya struggles to keep up, almost stumbling in the black coat she barely fills. "Shhh, I can still hear him." Faris whispers with his hand pointing upwards, slowing into a cautious walk. Kneeling to a stop, Miya does the same. Holding breath and concentrating, the harder he listens, the more vague the direction of origin. ~Am I hearing things?~ "Can you hear him?" Faris whispers, reluctant to pull even further into fates clutches. Miya kneeling with her limbs tight together points her gloved hand in the direction they have been moving in. Faris looks into her golden eyes with his eyebrows slightly curved upwards, unable to say the words. Miya assuringly nods. Moving forward into the nothingness, the voice fades ethereal amidst the blindnes
The Calling - Blood and Snow 16.
Vatala'a bells scream through the blood stained twilight. Below the monstrous wings of Carmilla, Olcan's body reverted from beast to human, lay bloodless. Dominating the sky amidst her minions, the night lord presents her palms forward, conjuring a thick wild red thundering stream, storming from the glowing rune cast. Trapped inside the pit of red mist, the cursed leap and run to evade the crimson lightning beam that seeks them. Loudly crackling in dark sovereignty, the spell absorbs the very life of all it bleeds. Raising her arms, the cyclone of bats swarm the cursed children of Loki, biting and scratching as they encase them, sending red particles to their master. Agnaar howls with force strong enough to quake the moon. Night slaves fall to the ground, disoriented and wounded. Carmilla covers her elongated ears and closes her eyes in pain, unable to tolerate it's deafening power. The bats blindly flee into the red fog, skin exploding as they enter. Brenn howls alongside Agnaar
The Calling - Blood and Snow 17.
Dongs echo through dark homes lit by candles through endless, lifeless streets. Mayor Baldwin looks out his daughter's window, watching as men fill wheelbarrows with parts of the dead. Limbs and chunks and frozen blood. "God, please, let Daniella be safe."He prays as a tear rolls down his sunken face. The Nakhflay Camp lays motionless, no feast. No gatherings. No music. Schenade and Veryth stand outside to the call of the cities tears. They wished the rain would wash away the red remnants of a night never to be forgotten, but the blue sky watches cold. "My Dad, he's been gone far longer than he promised he would be." "My husband was told to keep an eye on him, he's safe. They have never found themselves in a situation they could not handle together." "How can you be sure they are safe?" "I'm not, but I must hold onto the belief that they are." Veryth says with tears. "They will return soon, safe and sound...Then I'll kill them myself." Schenade wipes her flowing face and c
Latest Chapter
- The Calling - Blood and Snow
39.
Authors note:I apologize for the condition of this chapter, I reposted my previous chapter by mistake and I could not delete it so here is a draft of this chapter that I am still working on. I hate posting work in this state but I would rather you read this than pay to re read the last chapter. Sorry.#########By all accounts, the blood thirst is painful• It hums until it roars, driving the afflicted into a blood-lust madness• Even while satiated, the smell of blood or even the very sound of a beating heart can unleash the feral rage without warning• Soldiers would often leave defensive positions and break formations to sink their teeth into the red fog of war• It took no time to concede the futility of mortal tactics while no longer gravitated by injury and death• The soldier's swing carried impossible force, they moved like gusts of wind and every wound healed as fast as it was inflicted• You would think the blood army were angels by their astonishing beauty if not for the horrors
- The Calling - Blood and Snow
38.
The night is cast over the stone crown, and the burning glow of Faris's blood-fueled eyes is concealed beneath dark lenses. Unwanting to be seen, Faris moves through the shadows of the oil lamps, his steps sinking into the damp dust, pine, rotting food, berries, and perfume that have soaked the fogged air like dye. Everywhere he goes, he's met with the stench of footsteps, sharp breath, mumbles of madness, and the people around him appear more like carcasses ready for consumption, drawing out demons like thorns draw blood. Faris's thoughts are filled with the faces of his daughter, his best friend, his wife and above all, Veryth and her unborn child dulling the sharp edge of thirst that stabs from every direction. As he gets closer to his target, the Nakhflay camp, the smooth flow of his steps slows, and he is filled with dread. He has experienced opening doors into rooms he wished not to be, and crossing lines he wished he never had but the camp just seems like it's too much to face.
- The Calling - Blood and Snow
37.
The harp of morn serenaded a sleeping camp of silver warriors. Through frosted nights the hunters moved, unknowing of what pursued them by day. Vampire killers - The Legion of Dawn as they were known, armoured and well prepared for all creatures of magic and darkness but, young Dolkan, was human. Ambition, pride, power, a promise. Proving himself worthy of the dark gift and a worthy successor to the throne, he took an oath to destroy the greatest threat to the immortal kingdom. Black oak tablets lay the perimeter like dominoes carved with runes of protection, impossible for vampires, wraiths or ghouls to cross. No mortal would dare attack a camp of well-trained soldiers with nothing but steel to gain. The tiger is hunted not for its fur but for its claws, but, The Legion of Dawn were no mere tigers. Of the nine tents facing the fire, eight lay occupied. Day watch makes his circles atop the mount with vigilance and poise, taking no second for rest. Heavily armoured, armed with a mace
- The Calling - Blood and Snow
36.
Veryth is awoken from a dream of happyness by the song of rain echoing through harsh frost. Dreaming of her husbands warm arms, only to find Schenade has crawled into her bed again. Finally asleep after another late night, this is the only time Veryth does not need to hide her tears. - The darkness of home would be navigated with cautious strides to the lamps usually but even the darkest of corners appeared shaded in light. Water hissed in his ears and every droplet seemed to have its place as it ran red through his hold sharp fingers. Catching the icy water in his palm he gargles and throws the cold against his face, closing his eyes to flashbacks of failure, fear and blood. Taking his Miswaak(toothbrush) and openining his mouth he stands opposite his reflection - his reflection stares back judging and scolding. Burning eyes of bright amber stood a stark contrast to his ashen skin and black dishevelled hair, sharpened teeth as long as his nails; a far cry from the face his wife knew
- The Calling - Blood and Snow
35.
By the roaring fire, Daniella and Rohain laugh over roasted rabbit and black coffee. "I've never seen a helmet have the faceplate lock forward before. It is rather clever." "Eating alone is not always an option. You learn to adapt." "You know, people will not judge you for breaking an oath you made voluntarily." "People always judge others, especially by their appearance." "Are you concerned people will judge you if you are ugly?" "No." Rohain leans in. "As you get older, you will notice how people become more interested in how you look than who you are." "People are so callous in reflection of my guise?" Daniella sighs. "It's human nature to judge by the apparent. People are judged so radically for their appearance despite it being the one thing about ourselves we control the least. Being pretty can be a curse just as much as disfigurement." "Why is the human race... ...so dogmatic?" Daniella questions, trying to hide a world of pain. "Most people are shallow, vile mons
- The Calling - Blood and Snow
34.
"Think I should get a piercing or a tattoo?" Daniella asks. Rohain turns to face her, even through his helmet an expression of confusion and exclamation show through. "Too much?" "Why would you do such a thing?" Rohain asks as he dismounts Phantom. "I don't know, just to feel different I suppose. Something to represent all of this. A memento if you will." Rohain helps Daniella down. "Your hand is not enough?" Daniella looks at her bandage, turning her hand. "I want something that I have chosen, on my terms." "You do not need a reminder to represent hardship or triumph. The things that matter most, we carry in here." Rohain says while tapping his heart. "Are you sure you want to set up camp here? We are close." "They are forbidden from opening the city gates after nightfall." Phantom watches as Daniella pulls the wood bunch and lays it down before making a circle of rocks to set the fire. Rohain lays out the under-sheet and pegs it down. "Hand me those will you?" Daniel
- The Calling - Blood and Snow
33.
Coughs of hopelessness echo through the frosted darkness, hanging chains, aged bars and the stench of rot sinking through the opening of a large metal box. Candles glow the sound of a quill scraping final thoughts into unrolled paper... Dear Veryth,As I write to you now, I fear you will never hear my last words. All I have ever known from you is love and care, trust and paitence. Everyday with you has been a blessing I have never diserved but have always needed. Closing my eyes your smile is all that keeps me sane in this madness. I know not if I will ever see you again or if you could ever forgive me for dying without saying goodbye as much as it hurts. I'm not much of a writer, never have been so do not look upon my simple words without understanding the love and sorrow between the lines.I don't know how long they have kept me here, I just know it's cold, dark and silent at all times. After all these years, we are finally expecting a baby but fate can be cruel. What once was my gr
- The Calling - Blood and Snow
32. Journal
The 1st Blood scroll My name is Hafidh● Anointed the personal scribe of Lord Vladimir● A better honour than a prisoner, a better title than a slave, tasked with documenting history as I witness it for purpose of glory and warning● My upbringing was nothing extraordinary; a father addicted to working long hours, a mother of poor health and a brother to call "friend"● My education was torn short by corruption for when my brother opposed, he was banished from the academy and I chose to follow my loyalties● The wheel of time turned my early years into a simple working man like a father with less ambition than prospects while my brother found his own path● I lived most of my life with a gaze as low as the sunken sun until eventually I saw the elite, stars, and realised the world had far more to offer than I ever claimed● It was not easy to realise the shade I had become but harsh words from wise men awoke me from the slumber of a relinquished state of mind● Dreaming of being a renowned w
- The Calling - Blood and Snow
31. Journal
The 3rd Blood Scroll Bells rang through the city as the ashes of war began to settle like snow● The siege finally ended after enough blood flowed to fill the former king's skull with fear and remorse● Citizens were still collecting arrows, extinguishing fires and burying the dead as the conqueror came to claim his new crown● Parading through the city streets, his towering shadow cast dismay and awe by all sanctified to behold● Stench of charred flesh, grit of the poisoned throats, whimpers of hunger and rattling of prison bonds - Vladimir knew his subjects were in no condition to commemorate their liberation● No doubt the former king was discriminatory, a tyrant whose only claim to the throne was being the sole heir to a king who cared more about the topics of his goblet than the plate's of his people● Taxes kept the kingdom sunken in deficiency while the defeated king had indulged in exotic fruits and low association● Those educated in the ways of magic were clawed from society as w
