Zakalwe
Inactive Member
Avatar of Kohana:
Dread Steed slowly walked back into his camp, sitting down by the fire that was just being lit by the cheetah from the day earlier. The large stallion looked over the others gathered there and smiled weakly. It wasn't something that he did very much, sao to see him doing it now made most of those gathered a little nervous.
Brushing off his apprehension, one of the team, a muscular raccoon like Sha'Nai walked up to Dread and held out a rolled scroll. Looking down, the captain took it and slowly unrolled it, looking over the contents and message as the Sha'Nai explained that the messenger had returned a little after the black stallion left that morning.
"Thank you, it seems that Master Shadow wishes to speak with me this afternoon before the match. There is something that he needs to ask of me before the games can begin. What do you all think? Could he just be upset about last night, or do you think that this meeting will be on the level?" Dread Steed asked, looking around the camp.
Most of the team avoided his eyes, mumbling out incoherent answers that made Dread very upset that it seemed that his warriors would be so quickly cowed. He crumpled the note up and angrily threw it into the flames, which quickly curled the parchment and turned it black. The stallion got to his feet, and after gathering up his cloak, and strapping his great sword to his back, he stamped off towards the orchard that the meeting was supposed to take place in, two hours later.
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Shadow walked slowly down the path, keeping his head down so that he or his companion would not be recognized. Both were dressed in their usual black robes, showing that they belonged to the Shadow Monks, an elite group of Kohanians who served the Queen herself.
"Do you think he will show up? He is not like the others, those that are weak minded and able to be swayed by negotiation and empty promises. I think that he knows what it is that we plan to do. I believe that he will try and stop our plans." Shadow spoke lowly, glancing over to the one keeping stride with him.
Shadow's companion laughed, a melodious, yet frostily cold, sound.
"He is a To'Yaree, you give him too much credit, Counselor. His people are known for being stubborn and thick headed, but once you get past that, they are nothing more than sheep in persuit of a shepherd. Keep at it, and you will have them all as your loyal security force." The speaker's paw came up, wrapped in the customary purple velvet glove, and patted Shadow's shoulder. "Don't lose heart."
Shadow nodded, and lifted his gaze slightly to watch the crowds clearing a path for the two robed figures. A smile came to his lips as he thought about the upcoming meeting, and the surprise that 'his pets', had in store for them.
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When the time for the meeting finally came, Shadow, who was still clothed in the robes of a Shadow Monk, found Dread Steed at the far end of the orchard, leaning against one of the apple trees, crunching on one of the fruit. Seeing his superior arrive, the To'Yaree began to walk towards Shadow, giving the required salute and spreading of his arms to show that he was not armed. Dread had left his sword back against the apple tree when Shadow had arrived.
Shadow looked around, scanning for any reinforcements for the stallion.
"You came alone then? Just as I had asked? Do not try to double cross me, Dread Steed. You know my power, and just what I could do to you." Shadow said, waving for his guards to leave them to speak alone.
After the last of the mostly Dy'Unnar and Sha'Nai security had left the orchard the way they had come, Shadow got right down to business.
"I want you to kill the humans, today. What they did to you last night will be completely avenged if you just make sure that they do not make it through the match. I have already spoken to the promoters, and after the last of them has been killed, it will be declared they were using magic, and performance enhancing herbs yesterday. You know that they had to have been doing something like that, after all, your's is the best team in all of Kohana. You are undefeated."
Dread Steed turned his head to look at Shadow, searching for any sign that this was a joke, a test of some kind.
"Surely you can't be serious, Master Shadow! They have families, friends! If my team were to kill them, you would have a civil war on your hands. The humans would revolt against us, and we would be back to the conflicts that the Old Ones speak of in their stories of the Star Destroyers. If they die, what is to stop us for being punished for murder?" The stallion asked, nostrils flaring with anger.
Shadow brushed the comment off as if it had no merit, continuing to walk between the trees. "So they have families, they are clearly outmatched coming against your team. I mean, you do take pride in your team being the best at what they do, don't you? You surely took yesterday's loss as a blow to your ability to lead successfully, didn't you? They cheated to beat you, Dread Steed. They knew that they stood no chance against Neo Kohana's best Rai Sae Vall team, so they broke the rules of the game to get the upper hand. Something needs to be done to punish them for such an act."
"But killing them? Is that the only option that presents itself. Yes, I was humiliated yesterday, the humans should never have beaten my team of highly trained and conditioned athletes, but to kill the humans just because they cheated is a little harsh of a price to pay..." The large stallion said, jogging to catch up with Shadow, who once again just brushed him off.
They walked in silence for several minutes, and then Shadow turned to step in front of Dread Steed, looking up directly into his eyes with an air of finality.
"Alright, so you will not do as I have asked, and kill the humans? Then I will have to relieve you of your duties as the captain of the team. You are hereby demoted, Dread Steed. I will appoint a player I know can follow my game plan to take over your duties." Shadow said, turning and walking back the way that he came.
Dread Steed made a move to grab the robed male, but for some reason could not move his arms...or his legs. He looked down at them, and found his hands to be shaking wildly. His legs could no longer hold his weight, and he crumbled to his knees, looking up at the back of Shadow.
"What have you done to me? I...I can't move! My body, so cold..." She fell forward onto his hands, vomiting on the ground as his world seemed to swim and undulate all around him. He looked up to see Shadow smiling down at him.
"You thought you would arrive two hours early for this meeting, making sure that I had not set a trap for you. You found nothing, didn't you? But if only you had arrived just fifteen minutes earlier, you would have found my spies poisoning the fruit of the orchard...Good bye, Dread Steed..." Shadow answered, turning back around as two black clad figures dropped out of the trees and began moving towards the dying To'Yaree.
The last thing Dread Steed saw, was one of them drawing a long curve bladed kukri, and brought it down hard towards his neck, severing head from body
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"Are you serious? I am the new captain of the team?" The wolf exclaimed excitedly.
Shadow smiled and patted the boy's shoulder. "Of course, my boy. So long as you follow my instructions, and make sure that the humans are not able to play a rematch, you will be the captain of the most successful team in Rai Sae Vall history."
The boy nodded quickly, taking the jersey that used to belong to the old captain. If he hadn't been so overcome with joy, the new captain would have been more questioning as to why Dread Steed would no longer be the captain, but this was not an opportunity one questioned.
"I'm glad that you are so willing to follow the game plan, Boy. I am sure that you will make a wonderful captain, and all of your games will be very interesting. The only other thing that I ask is that you let me add a player to the roster just before game time, to make sure that you don't get hurt in your first game commanding the troops." Shadow laughed, patting the adolescent on both shoulders. The wolf nodded again, but obviously wasn't paying attention, too caught up in staring down at the large C on the front of the jersey.
"Good boy." Shadow said, moving away to finish the preparations for the game, which would be starting in just under an hour.
