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Post by syeira on Jun 22, 2008 22:15:59 GMT -7
The patrol was quick to enter. They looked like a normal bunch of equines, but the lead was a white dame with mild black zebra markings and black stockings. Her mane and tail were teal, her body lean and muscled. The stream approached; it's eight foot length intimidating. The only female horse in the crowd continued her relentless pace, and the younger brutes behind her reared and whirled away. She rolled her eyes, picking up speed, measuring her strides. And that moment she went to the slippery mud edge of it, her fronts lifted and tucked up underneath her torso as her hinds propelled her from the ground. she lifted skyward, her neck stretched out. She had done this a million time, but there was no better feeling then the feeling of adrenaline pumping in your veins as you looked down to see the demon fish; whose fangs glinted, as they swarmed underneath your body, snapping the jaws at your heels, five in long teeth grazing your hooves but leaving no mark. She saw the footing ahead; and she unfolded her legs, stretching out her fores and feeling the friction she got from the hard landing. She brought her hinds below her, and took up ground with them as well, and then skidded to a halt inches past her landing. She turned, and looked to the frightened males behind her, who were left on the other side of the trench. She smirked giddily, and she glanced at the entrance as the black eyed bay galloped toward them. He was a messenger, lightly built and fleet as a sparrow. He made no show as he zipped past the patrol and over the stream, landing next to her. She gave him an asking look, and he nodded. She turned, satisfied, and glanced at her patrol again. On of the younger ones backed up, to get a running start, and made it over more easily then he thought he would, and the rest followed. They went into the village to see many muscled men armouring themselves for battle, rapiers and swords at their belts. In the farthest back, near the palace entrance, were the elite; her main body of the strongest warriors with the best traits and skills in battle. Two were females, the remaining eight were males. Nara nodded; each had two katanas on their belts, one on each side of their ribs.
"Excuse me, ma'am,"
Called a timid voice from behind her. She turned, to see a horse demon with a similar build as her, body black with silver hair and blue eyes, who looked a mere seventeen. "Ummm, may I join one of the speed patrols?"
He asked, and she blinked. He was indeed very slimly built, with long powerful legs. She smiled. "My child, this will be a battle you do not want to join. But, if you insist, I will test you against my fastest warriors. Keltra! Nitrino!"
She called, and from the warriors arrived two speed-built demon horses. They were also half bodied horses, with the top half of a human. They were a male and female, wearing light mithril armour. They had bows and gray fletched arrows, and both were a chestnut color. They were nearly identical. "You are to race these two both around the valley; that means jumping the stream twice. You are yo carry a heavy iron belt to measure your strength. Good luck, these two know what to do."
Both the horse demons smiled, and led him to a hut with much training equipment inside; including the iron belts. They weighed more then they looked; fifty pounds each, some one hundred. Keltra, the female, grabbed a hundred pound one. She asked him to shift into his horse form, and he did so, and she wrapped it around his barrel. He snorted, and they soon morphed as well. The three made their way from the hut, and a few other demons, of various shapes and sizes, gathered to watch, very well knowing what the kid was up against. Nara had taken stand on a cliff. "Begin!"
She called so suddenly, it took a while for the young one to realize what she said. By that time, the other two had already made it to the stream. He tackled the air, his swift legs pushing into a measured canter; and he soon reached the stream as well. He soared over it, and broke into an all out dash. They were at the other end of the valley by now, and determination flared in his eyes. Laughing and jeering followed, and he was suddenly blurring past the stone wall; the laughter ceased as he turned the corner on a dime and belted forward; meeting the others halfway through the north wall. The two started pushing themselves, gaining speed, but the kid kept going, speed increasing. He turned on a dime again, neck stretched out and ears flat. Speed increased once more. He was far ahead the others, and the hundred pounds around his middle were feathers, and he continued gaining ground. No one blinked in fear they'd miss him, and he nearly ran over the water, not stopping to jump, his speed was so great. He turned once again, and sped past the finish.
When he skidded to a halt, his daggers burning from friction, he was greeted with cheers. Nara smiled, leaping from her perch. "Welcome aboard."
She said, beckoning to the winded racers who had just reached the finish to take care of him. They beamed, and took him off.
Five hours later, the troops were ready, and Nara herself was dressed with thick plates of a greenish blue metal, two swords at each hip and daggers strapped in place at her front ankles. Along her arms were blades, and she wore fingerless gloves. A bow nearly five feet tall was slung over her shoulder, and a quiver of arrows was strapped onto her back, the feathers teal on one side and blue on the other. She walked forward, and set into a trot, letting out a long, loud neigh. Males and females stood at her sides in a row, spears and bows raised. She walked through, and letting out another whinny, the two hundred men and women neighed back, and all started forward in a massive herd; each one jumping over the river. Not one slipped. Soon, one hundred and fifty had left the valley, and a remaining fifty stood until the call for backup was issued; and another twenty stood guard. Thirty had taken positions in the canyon walls, them being medium levelled archers. [/size] |
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