[[M E E T Y O U R M A K E R]] [Loni|Sekhmet]

[Destiny]

Fury

Loni could have done a million and one things then. The brute could have turned on Sekhmet, deciding he'd rather see her dead then live himself or try to survive. He could have attacked the bear, trying to corner it. The brute could have died into the water, let himself drown before getting to the other side. There were a million things he could have said. A million thoughts running through his head. Strangely, he met Sekhmet's gaze when she spoke. "I don't see why you care about my survival..." But he made no arguments past those few words. The brute turned to Nightshade, snarling furiously as the other fae screamed. He was well aware that the bear was now awake. Even more aware of the fact that he was probably going to have to help Nightshade deliver her pups. Charging forwards, he grabbed her by the scruff of the neck. "Take a deep breath." It was a warning. With all the strength he could muster he towed the fae towards the pool. "Down. Now." If she did not obey immediately the brute would grab her by the scruff again, taking a deep breath as he did so, and drag her down with him as he dove.

Tension

What does my survival matter to her? I know she told me before, what her purpose was, but that seems so long ago. Does it even matter? This is a test of whether I'm worthy of her, whether I'm good enough. At least, I think that's what it is.... Bah, I have to get this heap of fur out of here. I'm going to have to help deliver pups. Me. Loni. I know nothing about births other then the fact that my mother almost died during mine. That there were not three, but six in her litter. I barely remember seeing those other bodies, all so strange in color. They were brown and grey. Not like me or my living siblings in design. Yet, they were like me. It was strange.

Our futures burn in red horizons
Ashes scattered in winds of change
Casualty numbers are rising
Now it’s time to raise the stakes

[Sivoncé™]

^{"Despite the lies that you're making, your love is mine for the taking,
my love is, just waiting, to turn your tears to roses..."}
S E K H M E T + N I G H T S H A D E

Nightshade didn't hesitate any longer, knowing full well that the bear would be the death of her if she stayed. She plaunged into the frigid, mountain waters and churned the ripples with her paws as best as she good. She sucked in as much air as her lungs could hold, then ducked under the layers of darkness, after Loni.
The tunnel was hard to find, a single shaft of light dancing on the bottom of the pool. she swan towards it as fast as she could, limbs thrasing and pushing out at the water. She was running out of air fast, soon she wouldn't be able to go at all and she would sit there and stare, watching her last hope of life slip away before her eyes---
No. I'm going to make it out of here. I will get through this. And when I do, I will have these pups and they will be safe and healthy. And when they are healthy enough, when they can travel, I will send them to the Siverians, where I pray they will never know of their father or the sins their parents committed.....
And besides. They say water births are easier than dry ones.
She pushed herself forward, not bothering to see what the crash was above her. Hopefully it was Sekhmet, and not the bear. Either way, the bear could not fit through the tunnel.
She was sucked through, the black swirls suddenly melting and giving way to an amazingly white surface, blinding her. She coughed and spluttered loudly, pelt sticking to her slim structure, enhancing the bulge of her stomach. She gasped for air as she broke the surgace, spitting out water like a fountain. Exhaustion flooded her senses in place of the water, its effects almost imediate. She wasn't really sure how she managed to cling to the rocks and haul herself from the water, but she somehow fought on just a bit longer. She collapsed, heaving, onto the cold mountain ice.

Sekhmet was dislodged from the bear with a hard blow to her flank, slamming her against the stones. She tried to maneuver around it, but it blocked her only means of escape -- the pool. It was backing her into the cavern where Nightshade had originally rested. That can't happen. If I get stuck in there, I'm done for. Already my options are limited. I'll have to chance it and hope for the best. Hey, maybe I'll get lucky and I'll have drilled some thought into those two. Maybe someone will carry on with my work....probably not, but oh well. I did my duty while I was needed.
But regret and sorrow pierced her heart as she thought of Loni. She wasn't trying to prove him 'worthy' at all, if that's what he thought. No. Just make him think and cross-examine himself further. Just make him realize there are errors in a few of his ways. Perhaps even to prove to him and herself that she did care for him -- more than either of them would like, perhaps. But whatever the reason, Sekhmet couldn't afford to think of anything now. Nothing but her final shot.
The bear reared on its back legs, letting out an ear-shattering roar. It dropped and plunged forward, closing the gap between them in seconds.
But Sekhmet was quick and precise; as the bear charged, she ducked between its legs and dove for the pool, legs pumping for all they were worth. The bear could and probably would follow, but he would never fit through the tunnel. Deeper and deeper she went, the only sound she could detect was that of water rushing through the exit and the bear swimming noisily behind her. Just a bit farther....almost there...

[Destiny]

Extinction

Loni parted his muzzle and sucked in a deep, long breath of air. One final glance was given over his shoulder, a last look towards Sekhmet and her opponent. Then, finally, the brute pushed off the edge of the pool and dove straight down into the water. The frigidness of the liquid did not surprise him, but his body was taken in shock for a moment. The muscles had been numbed by the cold too quickly, and for a moment he just floated there, body in shock. Then his mind snapped back to reality, back to what was happening and where he was. All four legs began to pump, pushing against the water as he swam towards that little bit of light he could just make out at the end. His paws fought, his body fought, as he pulled himself towards it. Even if he did make it through this tunnel, he might not survive. Not without the cure for this poison that was flowing in his veins.

Fight

Eventually the wolf ran out of air, he gulped in some of the iciness. No matter. Spluttering and shaking, he tried to keep going. The brute was aware that his escape was only a few paw steps away. Only a few more. All he had to do was get there. His claws scrabbled on the edge as he tried desperately to drag himself forward, body seeming ten times heavier then it ever had been before. Finally his front half was out, and his forelegs were scrabbling, claws desperately trying to get a hold on the ice. The brute coughed and sputtered, icy water splattering the ice as it was sent out of his body. But his lower half was numb, and he was straining for breath as he tried to pull himself out. To bad for Loni, ice does not make for a good hold. Taking a deep breath at the last second the brute slipped back down into the water. He was sinking. Limbs tried to pull him back towards the light, but it was a useless process. Without help, he'd drown.

We’re meant for something more than living just to put food on our plates
I can’t help but wonder--why should we participate?

[Sivoncé™]

^{"Despite the lies that you're making, your love is mine for the taking,
my love is, just waiting, to turn your tears to roses..."}
S E K H M E T + N I G H T S H A D E

Nightshade coughed and choked on water as it spewed from her maw, making it even harder to get a hold on the rocks. She cleared the majority of the ice masses around the pool and stream, but pushing her sodden body forward was like dragging a wet blanket. Any progress she made was slow, terrifyingly slow.
Something warm pricked her nose, a little spark, a scent, a sound. She looked down, eyes sore and swollen. They widened as she discovered a small hot springs. Gingerly, she dipped into it, heaving a heavy sigh of relief as she found a safe refuge from the snarling, frost-biting winds. She felt her insides slowly calm. Sekhmet was wrong; she would not give birth here. Not today.

Sekhmet's limbs churned and kicked and lashed out at the water, working for all they were worth. A dark mass was fast behind her, but her eyes were locked on another body, one not so far ahead of her. Loni! No! Not him!
She spun out, using her last reserves of energy -- and some she wasn't even aware that she had -- to reach him. She swallowed water when she took a hold of his scruff, her head screaming for her to leave him and go. The bear was creating a massive upset in the water behind her, thundering after her with ease. She took off again, now reaching the end of her adrenaline. Loni was like a boulder on her back, dragging her down and making her move even slower. They were a foot from the opening, a foot from freedom. The bear's dark claws slashed against Sekhmet's neck, blood spraying into the water in dark violet streams as red entered blue. She screamed -- silent -- and water gushed into her throat, stinging her eyes and playing with sudden holes in her vision. With one last effort, she snagged Loni's scruff once more and shoved him through the opening, pushing herself through despite the bear's canines raking her back.
Free. We're free.
She bobbed to the surface, spewing up water and gratefully sucking in the air.

[Destiny]

Disdain

Now he knew she was here. Here in the Mountains Of Endless Winter. She was out there, somewhere, lurking. Waiting for him to slip up, to let his guard down. For just one second. For a half a second. That's all the time she'd need to rip his throat out and paint the snow with his blood. If she aimed right, that's all she'd need to kill him. To finish this never ending vendetta. That'd end it all. But, suddenly, Loni was very aware of something inside of him that he had never noticed before. As the water dragged him down, pleading with him to fall unconscious, wishing that he would drown, he became aware of it. Loni did not want to die. Not yet. Not any time soon. Because, if there was one thing he did fear, it was dying alone. Loni did not want to spend his eternity burning in Hellfire by himself, the sharp claws of loneliness tearing him up from the inside out. He did not want to be destroyed like that. And now that nagging feeling was being noticed. Those feelings, actually.

Instinct

The brute was hardly aware of it when Sekhmet caught him by the scruff. But, subconsciously, he knew it was happening. The burning orange amber eyes caught the blurry images. Loni was massive, but somehow Sekhmet had managed to get him through. Out of the water. Somehow, by instinct he supposed, his claws caught the ice and he tried to pull himself forwards. During this, he was choking out large quantities of icy mountain water, and his body was shaking terribly with the cold. Even the through the thick fur it was freezing to the brute. Eventually his body was lying on its side on the ice, breathing was heavy as he panted. How much longer did he have? Five minutes? Did he even have that? Would he die now, Sekhmet's efforts to save him wasted?

We’ve had enough
Is there even anything left to explain? (We’ve had enough)
Am I really someone you need to restrain? (We’ve had enough)
Can’t you listen to what we have to say? (We’ve had enough)