Nothing But A Fairytale

[Wild@Heart]

In A Dog Eat Dog World

The Only Thing To Turn To Is

Toxic Depression

A single drop of blood had fallen, a tiny pool below. The crimson droplet landed in the middle, condensing as a wave of ripples was sent scattering. Then and only then, once the ripples had quited, was the substance allowed to disperse, it's war torn tendrils slowly snaking out. It began with a thin line emerging from the circlular body, stretching toward dry land on the right side. And then the left became couragous, following the lead of its partner. Before long the puddle was tinted a rust color, the single bead no longer in such a shape, but instead spread out over a much larger space. No longer was it a clear pool, a breath of fresh air in a land so grave. No longer did it stand out against this barren landscape, and instead it became one with it.

I squinted, my charcoal eyes peering into the mirror, attempting to see what was staring back. My face was blank, empty of all emotion, and yet at the same time I managed to appear regal, a stone princess. My cream forelock was frayed, sticking up in every direction as it sat upon my crown, giving an edge to my appearance. Little triangles of green were visible to either side, my twin peaks brushed with paint. My face was shaped nicely, eye sockets just far enough apart, and face the perfect length. Everything was proportional, cheeck bones sitting just right before fading away into my dished forehead and rounded muzzle. But there it was, the thin ruby line that trailed down my face, crimson beads visible upon the surface. That was the only evidence of my early activites, the only thing that was left from my encounter with Spartan. He had just managed to run his sharp claw across my delicate nose, the wound hitting bone just millimeters deep. It was hard to imagine that we had once been pack mates, that he had long ago been the one to teach me the tricks of the trade. And now we were constantly at one another's throats, often a blood bath.

You were only ever good for one thing. Hating. My fathers voice rang strong, his venom filled words bouncing of the walls in my skull. Instantly my lips curled back, harks dissapearing as a low growl rumbled out from my chest. I leapt forward, dagger landing in the muddle of the puddle as water splashed my tendons. My muscles seered with pain, preparing for the transformation. It was the worst pain in the world, and yet the result was always welcoming. So as my bones changed, figure shifting, I held in a whimper.

No longer was I towering above the ground, but now my belly was almost dragging, long stride eating up the ground. The stained dirt was warm under my ebony pads, giving as I pushed off. I could feel the wind running through my fur, mouth agape as my tongue lolled out. I ran as fast as I could, bounding in gaint leaps as bones of the dead jumped from underneath me. I could feel my muscles rippling, growing larger and larger with each stride, the cold air flowing through my nostrils as my heart pumped franticly. This is what I did, this is what I loved doing, and this is what I did best. My father was wrong, that I knew, and yet his words still heart. But I had showed him, I had had the final word.

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[.:.Gambler.:.]

You gotta know when to hold them, know when to fold them, know when to walk away, and know when to run...
Gambler


This land was stranger than I had ever expected a land to be. There were rotting things running around a mock, like zombies. They weren't quite flesh eaters however, and they seemed to speak and function like any other animal; they just...weren't...quite...right. I didn't know how to approach them, or even what to do about them. Something about this place was just strange. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but I knew something was about to happen.

It had been nearly a month now that I had been roaming these lands. Not many had made reference to my presence; I was just any other horse with something around its neck. That had not been common in my old herd lands; I was one of the few that fashioned any sort of necklace of seaweed (or any weed for that matter) around my neck in a sort of hammock for my deck of cards. I hadn't yet found anyone to play with me; no one seemed intrigued by me here.
I just knew that someone, today, would be one to play a game with me. Someone willing to learn how to pick the salty cards up with their teeth and play a round of poker; or even just a game of crazy eights. Anything. I didn't even care what the stakes were, even if it was their pet rock or a twig that was beneath their feet. I just needed to get the temptation out before I screamed or had to revert to playing with rocks and stones as my companions again. They were often heavy and they didn't have their own legs to walk on, so they were just friends passing through. Nothing like Earl. Nothing like...
Although we knew we hadn't loved each other, it still hurt to think about her. What of my unborn child, that those monsters had killed for no reason. I could still remember her laughter that morning. I knew something was going to happen if we went that way. I had known something bad was going to happen. I just didn't know what until it was too late.

I shook my crown...this wasn't the place to think about things. Something was going to happen any second now, I just knew it. I felt it. There was going to be someone flitzing into my line of vision and demanding their presence be recognized. Well, not really demanding it be so, but intriguing enough that I couldn't help tipping my perverbial hat and say "hello, my name is jello!" Okay, so I wouldn't say that. That would be strange. Maybe I should though, it would be quite entertaining. But...then again, I really wasn't that immature.

My auds pricked, and I took a deep breath of the air. I smelled something furry. It wasn't a horse; though there were plenty of horse smells around, but something more...menacing. I had never really smelled it this close before, but the smell was familar to me. As my auds flicked back and forth, I picked up the sound of padding feet. Living with a squirrel, you pick up these sounds. And his feet were much smaller than whatever was approaching, at what appeared to be a fast clip. I turned to the direction it was coming from, but I did not see whatever creature it was yet. It was most certainly a creature though-not a rock or a tree. The smell of it was getting stronger, the padding feet louder. Whether it was coming to play or eat me, I wasn't sure yet. My sense of premonition told me the former.

Finally, the sight came into view. A strange four legged beast very similar looking to a fox, but larger. Whatever it was it was pretty neat. I felt foolish asking it what it was, so I wouldn't pester the thing with doing so. I would find out in my own due time.
I apparently wasn't what this world was expecting it's next character to be though; that was for sure. Everything was so different here, and I was so plain. So normal. I wanted to be something more to this world, but I could not put my finger on what exactly it wanted me to be or who I should be to fit in.

My thoughts were again distracted by the beast running by. It leapt like a fox, it moved like a fox, but it was not, of course, a fox. I sniffed in its general direction, but still its name did not come to me. Sighing, I plodded toward it, and picked up a trot alongside it. While it was moving swiftly, my lengthy stride at a trot easily kept up with its sprint. From alongside it, I could get a closer look and a keener scent. It smelled like a horse...beast...hybrid. Something I had never smelt before. It was certainly female, it reeked of the scent of them. Something I never quite understood about them.
I opened my maw to speak, but could not find the words, and closed it again to think of what to say. Should I say, how are you? Should I say, what are you? Or, should I say, Hi. I'm The Gambling Man, let's play a game. The latter is what I finally chose.
"Hello, miss. It's a fine day for a run, isn't it? I am the Gambling Man; would you play a game of cards with me?"
It didn't come out quite as I had planned. My voice was gruffer than it used to be from all the salt that had rubbed against it while I floated in the water. Oh well. It added an edge to my gambling problem, to be the gruff voiced one.

I turned my crown to look upon the beast, noticing its coloring. It had strange green tribal markings along its...I mean her...side. She was a pretty beast, and if she were a horse I think she'd almost rival the beauty of my former companion. I couldn't quite place what was going to come of this beast, but I knew it would be what I least expected.

[/blockquote][/blockquote]

[.:.Gambler.:.]

FINISHED!!! (I think for a comeback post, it's about on par with my other ones. He's not exactly what I had expected, but he will do.)

[Wild@Heart]

In A Dog Eat Dog World

The Only Thing To Turn To Is

Toxic Depression

Into my nares floated the enticing smell of equine, drool beginning to dribble off of my pink sandpaper tongue. My twin peaks stood at attention, picking up each and every step the beast took, bringing it closer to me. I could almost taste the chewy flesh already, the warm crimson liquid sliding down my parched throat. Yes, that was what I needed. I needed strength, food, something to fill my growling belly. And the beast would be just the thing, the perfect before dinner filler.

And then I saw the beast, his ebony hide glistening in the sunlight. The way his muscles rippled under taught hide, the way his heart beat underneath strong ribcage, and the way he continued to advance upon me. I licked my lips, warm spit absorbing into tufts of fur. I stopped moving now, allowing my prey to come to me, allowing him to do all the hard work. And as he grew closer, a snow white blanket appeared upon his rump, dice visible. Yet, this meant nothing to me, nothing at all.

Hello, miss. It’s a fine day for a run, isn’t it? I am the Gambling Man. Would you play a game of cards with me? A low growl rumbled through my body, bristles upon my back rising as my mouth continued to water. I was low to the ground now, body crouched and ready to pounce. Just in time for dinner, I rumbled as I stared, hungry eyed, at the beast before me. My nostrils were quivering now, inhaling large gulps of his strong aroma, while my pools played upon his nice frame.

[.:.Gambler.:.]

.:.Gambler.:.

"Well, that's not very polite, now is it, mistress? You should at least tell me your name before you get all glazy eyed staring at my immense handsomeness. Besides, we're from different species, it might not work out."
I paused in mid sentence, reevaluating her stare. She was growling...I'd never quite heard something so ferociously...sexy. I found it odd that I was being turned on by it, especially since she had such epically pointy teeth. WHAT THE HELL WAS I THINKING? I guess I felt a bit like Donkey did in Shrek when he was first confronted with the dragon. Or perhaps I was just slightly dumbstruck in fear that the first thing I encountered was snarling at me and possibly wanting to eat me. Now I remembered what she was; a wolf. I believe mother had warned me about them before I had left the herd, and I know for a fact that Earl had not been very fond of the pointy teethed little buggers. And here I'd gone and done something stupid, again, and was probably going to die. Damn myself to hell. Well, hell wouldn't be so bad after having my flesh torn off my rippling pounding in dire agony muscles, would it?
I just stood there, staring back at her. Staring back into those immensely hungry eyes, yet here I was, staring back, just as hungrily, but for something else. Her scent was tantalizing, taking over my thoughts and melding with any idea I had of running. I had to figure this girl out, even if she ate me before I could. I'd follow her around as a ghost and figure her out.
I snorted, watching her lips quiver as they traced over her bubble gum pink gum line. Such an intriguing figure, I had to lower my crown to take a closer look. Yes. The snarling wolf in front of me...and I was lowering my nose right to hers to take a closer look. To take in her scent. Was it strange for me to want someone who was plainly interested in another type of hunger satisfaction?
My whole body was tensing as I looked at her, her frame was perfect. Her fur was raised along her back as she growled. As she stared hungrily at my frame, surely seeing me as a t-bone steak instead of the lover that I wanted to be to her. How could I possibly ever explain it to her father, our star crossed love? Except, the only thing she loved about me was how nice a meal I would make. It was some sort of love, wasn't it?
My face was lowered to about a foot away from her. If she lunged, I wouldn't have time to move away quickly enough before those pearly whites sunk into my nostrils. Such beautiful pointy teeth she had. I just had to tell her what I thought of them, but how do you tell someone you love their pointy teeth they're about to kill you with? It's like a cowboy telling a ninja he likes their katana before the ninja stabs them in the back with it.
Apparently, I was really really desperate. I had only ever known that sensual feeling with one mare, and she was gone. Was I that desperate for female affections that I would soon push her memory out of my head by getting my face rearranged by trying to do anything with a wolf? I needed to snap out of this, and fast. But, apparently, getting eaten was a very weird very strange fantasy of mine. That disturbed me quite a bit. And yet, what was more disturbing, is that it wasn't disturbing enough for me to pull away. Instead I just studied her teeth. Her curves, her bristles on her neck.
"You are quite an eccentric wolf. How do you keep your teeth so pearly white?"
I groaned inwardly. I was trying to talk all seductively, but my gruff voice just wasn't the very sexy type. It was rather hard trying to pick up girls now. Not that I was ever any good at it, I'd only picked up the one, and it wasn't really a pick up, it was more like a hang out.

And so I stood there, waiting to be eaten. I think I was probably just freaking out about being eaten that I was thrown into the throws of these feelings and tensions, just trying to make light of it. I really hoped she wouldn't eat me. I had a feeling she wouldn't...no, if I was her I'd start laughing and start thinking that I'd get dumber if I ate me.

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[Wild@Heart]

In A Dog Eat Dog World

The Only Thing To Turn To Is

Toxic Depression

Well, that’s not very polite, now is it mistress? You should at least tell me your name before you get all glazy eyed staring at my immense handsomeness. Besides, we’re from different species. It might not work out. The stallion’s words irritated me to no end, and yet something kept me from pounding upon him and tearing into his jugular. And, his blank but curious stare told me that something was keeping him from running. But still, my legs just wouldn’t move. And the even stupider stallion lowered his head closer to the ground, closer to my sharp canines. I could see his muscles tensing up with each second that passed, and still he made no move to get away. His nose was only a few inches away from mine now, his nostrils quivering, as saliva dripped from my jowls. He was too far in now, it would be too late, and yet I still couldn’t move, couldn’t sink my teeth into his soft flesh and tear at the muscle beneath.

I could feel his orbs upon me, running over my body, and it made me squeamish. I wanted to pull away, to get out from under the microscope, and just devour the dinner that stood waiting before me. Such a stupid creature deserved to die, after all, if I didn’t eat him than it was only a matter of days before another did. And what was the difference between one hungry belly from another?

You are quite an eccentric wolf. How do you keep your teeth so pearly white? At his comment my growl left, lips falling back over my teeth slowly. I had not been expecting him to say that, and when he did so I gave him a look of confusion. And then my lips wrinkled up once more, as I moved forward in a crouch. Upon his nose I placed a single nip, enough to draw blood but not enough to cause any damage. And from the wound fell multiple droplets of blood, which I greedily licked up, my sandpaper tongue rough against his silky muzzle. As I lapped up the crimson substance, a single growl vibrated through my ribcage before I pulled away. Any last words, I questioned as I licked my chops once more, hesitant to eat such a dimwitted being.

[.:.Gambler.:.]

Gambler
Ooc: sorry! I didn't see you had replied!
This little vixen was unrelenting in her ways; she really was going to eat me. No matter what I did or said was going to throw her off guard. And I knew that if I ran, it would just provoke her. What was I going to do; play dead or something? No-a wolf would eat my dead body anyway. There was no way out of this thing that I knew of.
There was an odd ring to her voice when she finally spoke though, and it sent my head reeling in as a tornado of thoughts washed over me. The voice that came from her was far too calm, too sweet to be that of a pure wolf. There had to be some magic a foot; as my intuition told me there was more than what met the eye.
I curled my own top lip up over my nostrils, the blood from her nip on my nose rather annoying. I should have pulled away in time. How had she been that quick anyway; for me to not even notice her doing it until after I had pulled away? Saucy little minx, this kitten was. I knew to get out of this one though, I'd have to act tough. I'd have to remember what Earl the Squirrel had taught me about standing up for myself, and I'd have to kick butt and take names. Not like she was going to bother to tell me her name before she ate me though.
I sucked in my breath and puffed up my chest; trying to appear bigger than I was. Not that a wolf would care. Had to think back a ways to what Earl taught me before he taught me to really win card games-about how to bluff, about keeping that poker face. I had to pretend I had something she wanted-that wasn't my flesh-that I wasn't going to give her unless she asked nicely for it. Or, I just had to act tougher than I really was on my gushy inside, then maybe she'd go away.
"You do realize that the second you lunge for my jugular I will rear, land a nice swift kick on your skull that sends you crashing back to the rocky soil, then crack your skull open for the ravens to pick at your brains? I might have a taste myself-see what makes a succubus like you tick."
She was watching my body tense, but she didn't realize the true reason it was tensing. She didn't understand the implications-this little wench was far to young. And why should I die, the last of my line, by the hands of this wolf?
"Aren't wolves supposed to travel in packs? Where's yours? Or have they all abandoned you because you're stupid enough to think you can down a horse? You're pint sized compared to me, brood."
An idea struck me, as they often came to the gambling man. Perhaps I could bargain with her; though I'm sure she wouldn't bite.
"I'll tell you what, you brattish imp, we'll make a bet on a deck of cards. If you win, you get to eat me. If I win, you drop the act and show me your true self."

Let's just say this time I was tensing to run. The moment she lunged, I'd do exactly what I had said I was going to do-I'd crash her skull into the rocks. It always took a team of mountain lions to take down an elk, I would not be brought down by one wolf. Whatever feelings I had for her before, whatever strange sexual tension had welled up inside me was gone. Death Dealer was the name my parents had given me, and perhaps this time I would have earned it.
I did not waiver in my stance as I started down upon the vixen, waiting for her retort or action. My poker face was on-I would show no emotion. Not the anger or the contempt I held for her, not the image of winning the battle playing through my mind, nor the sexual tension that lingered; wanting to show the wolf who was in control here by forcing myself upon her-my weight would probably kill her anyway.

Perhaps I had finally gone truly mad; perhaps this was how I was supposed to be. When it came down to the game, there was nothing that would stand in my way from the win.

OOC: I didn't really know how to reply to that...I don't think this is going to work out either way...

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[Wild@Heart]

In A Dog Eat Dog World

The Only Thing To Turn To Is

Toxic Depression

His top lip curled back, warm breath rushing about my mask. I could see him take in fresh air, frame growing larger as his muscled began to use up the air. You do realize that the second you lunge for my jugular I will rear, land a nice swift kick on your skull that sends you crashing back to the rocky soil and then crack your skull open for the ravens to pick at your brains. I might have a taste myself, see what makes a succubus like you tick. A snarl rumbled out from deep within my chest, just a baby one compared to the previous as I let his speech settle in. I had taken down a horse or two by myself, but he was a large stallion and there was no doubt that I wouldn’t come away without injury. And so slowly my lips began to fall back over my sharp canines, golden pools shimmering as I dared him to go on.

Aren’t wolves supposed to travel in packs? Where’s yours? Or have they all abandoned you because you’re stupid enough to think you can down a horse? You’re pint sized compared to me, brood. His insult barely scratched the surface of my feelings, and I let his words roll right off of my back as I continued to listen, knowing that he wasn’t yet done. I’ll tell you what, you brattish imp, we’ll make a bet on a deck of cards. If you win, you get to eat me. If I win, you drop the act and show me your true self.

As he finished speaking I took a few steps back, not leaving, no, but preparing to do exactly what he wanted, preparing to show him my true self. I could feel my bones shifting, changing shape, as my thick coat gave way to that of a sleek one, and my sharp canines became dull once more. I towered over the grass shoots now, frame that of a horse. The only thing that stayed the same was my shimmering pools, smoldering with a hidden fire. My horse color was not that far from my wolf one, legs stained jade before striping into my ebony frame. A matching dorsal stripe slid down my back, sholder striping to match. And then there was my tassels, bleached fray that they were. My forelock hung down my dished crania, yet pools still visible from underneath.

Deal. The word fell from my tongue in a soft tone, the embers flaring in my eyes. And that was all it took, the only word that I felt needed to be spoken. And now I closed the distance between us once more, not hesitating to reach out my muzzle to him, tongue extended to lick where I had sunk my wolf canines only minutes ago. If he allowed me to do so it would heal it instantly; no evidence would remain to prove that it had happened in the first place.

[.:.Gambler.:.]

((After much deliberation, I have decided I'm going to get rid of Gambler. He didn't turn out like I wanted him to, and, well, I don't know what to do with him.))