Free Me From Who I Am [Karimah]

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A crow, flying high above the land, circled on drafts of air for a few moments before heading north. Having just feasted on the carcass of a fallen buffalope, it was time to head back to its nest in the mountains. Spring had brought out the plant life, and thus, more options for food. The crow’s beady eyes followed a mouse to its hole in the ground, but left it alone. Below, the plains transformed gradually into hills. The rougher landscape warped the crow’s shadow on the ground as it flew, rippling in draws, tumbling in creeks, scattering over trees.

Hills steepened quickly into foothills with deep ravines and rocky outcroppings. The mountains of the northern part of the Mirinah region rose in the distance, their snowy caps like cold sentinels watching over the continent. The crow circled above a ravine, looking over the area around the tall coniferous tree it called home. Something felt off to it, a presence that wasn’t there before. Swooping lower, it landed on a tree branch to get a closer look.

As it had sensed, things were not right. An intruder had taken up residence, albeit temporary, in the clearing. Below the bird was the creek, tumbling furiously with the spring runoff. On a large, flat boulder on the shore, a cloaked figure sat with its legs crossed. The white fabric stood out like a patch of snow that had fallen among the lush green. It hid his body from view but the hood had been pulled off. Long, luscious blue hair fell from his head and almost touched the rock. It was near the same color as the flowers growing on the shore just inches away, a soft blue.

The person could almost be taken for a human if it weren’t for the sharp blue horns protruding from his temples and the pointed elf ears peeking out from under his hair. That, and the intense energy emanating around him that was unmistakably Demonata to those who knew what it felt like. The air felt heavy and sharp, a sense of uneasy wrongness that permeated every breath one would take.

The crow cawed out a warning into the air, piercing through the sound of rushing water. Dio clenched his fingers, digging fingernails into his knees. He grit his teeth, a pained look causing harsh lines on his beautiful face. The crow had broken his concentration, snapping the peaceful bubble of meditation he was barely holding on to.

Dio took a few deep breaths. He had to stay calm, peaceful, and focused. The physical pain he was in was taxing enough, but the emotional pain was almost worse. He determinedly refused to let himself thoroughly feel the anger he wanted to express. Anger at himself, his mother, his father, his brother. Anger at the world for its unfairness. Why did it seem like the odds were against him at every turn? Why did he have to have a brother intent on killing him mercilessly? It was there in his heart, a deep hatred he couldn’t let free. The demonata blood in his veins loved hatred, thrived on it. He wouldn’t let it.

The hybrid took deep breaths through his teeth, letting out a quiet hiss with each exhale. His eyes were closed, the thick eyelashes wet from the tears that were beginning to leak down his perfect cheeks. Focus, he told himself over and over, desperately clinging on to the control that meditation lent him. Letting himself be still and using the power of controlled breathing would speed up the healing process thanks to the elf blood in his veins.

Unbeknownst to Dio, blood was seeping out from his wound and through his robes. It trickled down the boulder, turning the gray granite into red on its way. At the bottom, it dripped into the rushing creek, swirled away into the cold depths.

Post WC: 648 ❂ Thread WC: XXX ❂ Tagged:  @Karimah   ❂ Music: Wondering  

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There came a faint noise around Dio, which did not draw his attention or break his focus as the crow had. He mistook it for the breeze dancing gently down from the mountains. If he were of right mind, he may have noticed that this breeze did not rustle the leaves, nor did it caress his tearful face. He may have noticed a presence next to him, a silent being that had appeared out of thin air. Yet, the pain and concentration stole away his awareness, save for that allocated towards noticing his brother’s presence. Should the demonata arrive to finish him off, Dio would be ready.

The sound of a sudden gasp and a feminine voice ripped Dio sharply out of his meditation. All of a sudden he became aware of the presence next to him. The hybrid was startled that he hadn’t noticed someone had approached, nor took up residence at his side. Whatever words were spoken didn’t take hold in his brain. Instinct took over, fear and adrenaline pulsed through his body. The sudden energy gave life to his stiff limbs. He lunged like a cornered panther, blindly attacking the person on the rock.

Grabbing the being up by the front of the shirt, he spun on his feet, bringing them both off the rock and into the grass. With strength fueled by adrenaline, pain momentarily forgotten, Dio slammed the stranger back-first against a large tree. His grip shifted from the pink shirt to their throat, fingers digging in just under their jaw. The clutch wasn’t enough to harm, but if he so desired, he could clench his fist and feel the life slip out from beneath his fingertips.

“Who are you?! Did Izai send you?!” he spat rabidly at the person, his powder blue eyes wide and crazed like that of a wild animal. He realized the intruder was a small woman. It didn’t matter to him. Izai’s minions could be of any creed. Fear had taken any rational sense from him, and pain had left him willing to fight tooth and nail to save his own life.

Post WC: 352 ❂ Thread WC: 1,000 ❂ Tagged:  @Karimah   ❂ Music: Horns  

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Dio narrowed his eyes warily as the woman in his grasp claimed not to know Izai. She sounded honest, but he was desperate and wounded, which made him ever more distrustful than he normally was. He couldn’t be too sure if she was very deceptive or genuinely innocent. Nothing in this world was certain to him, and past experiences had proven that others often lied and manipulated like it was second nature. A hunted hybrid could never be too cautious.

The little bird under his claws tried to convince him that she wasn’t worth the energy he was quickly losing. Dio became acutely aware of the warm blood dripping down his torso, staining his pristine white robes, and his face hardened. The very obvious puncture made him appear weak, easy to prey on. Maintaining a vicious front and intimidating stature was the only way to keep the upper hand in his mind.

The woman - Karimah, as she had mentioned - desperately tried to convince him of her innocence. Dio continued to glare at her with piercing eyes and a stony face, but his grip loosened around her fragile throat as he thought about her words. He hadn’t noticed it at the time, but when he’d realized her presence he had felt a soft handkerchief on his cheek. If she had wanted to kill him, she would have done so instantly without drying his tears. Ever suspicious, Dio refused to let his guard down completely, but the sense she was talking caused him to let go of her neck completely.

“I’m fine. You claim not to know Izai, but then why are you here? What do you want?” Dio said coldly, his voice deep and harsh. He was not convinced that Karimah didn’t have some other ulterior motive, but he must calm down. The darkness inside that he had been suppressing with meditation was jumping in bloodthirsty excitement at his sudden violent outburst. He needed to relax in order to keep it in check, and to not exhaust himself beyond repair. The hybrid was starting to feel light-headed, and he could taste the bitter iron of blood in his mouth.

Post WC: 360 ❂ Thread WC: 2,397 ❂ Tagged:  @Karimah   ❂ Music: Link