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Post by moonlightwalk on Jun 14, 2015 17:37:20 GMT -5
The answer if her question came in a large beast appearing out of the bushes, making Amber let out a high piched scream of shock mixed with fear - which she'd deny ever doing later ofcourse - and run just a tad bit faster than before. The thing was huge and unlike anything she had ever seen before. Then again she never was much into other animals anyway preferring to steer clear from them if possible. She didn't like Ezra's command though and glanced back to see what he was up to. Seeing him drop back towards the monster, she had to contemplate insanity on his part and she slowed down a bit. Hearing hooves hit something, followed by an outraged roar however tempered her judging a bit and she added 'brave... but stupid' to her mental description of the horse.
Tierra called to follow, apperently having spotted a trail for them to take and she didn't hesistate to turn in tow of the other female. The ground was irregular and she had to be careful not to trip, slowing down even more than before. She figured it was okay, 'cause this way she could reach Ezra more easy less the male who wanted to play hero needed help. He better not expect anything afterwards 'cause he'd be in for a cold suprise. Well, from her at least, she didn't know about Tierra. Maybe the female liked stallions going hero on her. There were always those who didn't see through their charm and see their true motives. She sighed, just barely avoiding an upsticking root and snapping back to the presence. 'What the heck am I doing?! Running for your life is not done on auto-pilot, damnit!' She scolded herself inwardly, making sure to keep her focus outwards. The creature seemed to be falling back.
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Post by dryoasis on Jun 16, 2015 20:46:14 GMT -5
Ezra picked up his pace to regain the ground he lost when he dropped back to defend the group against the bear. He was happy to see that Tierra spotted a path full of roots and began to lead them through it and hoped that the roots and holes did indeed stop the quiver back fully. Though he decided it would be best for him to stay near the back in case someone did trip, which he was hoping no one would, but just in case he would be there to stall the beast if it caught back up again. Tierra was very agile and Ezra watched as she evaded the roots effortlessly, but he remembered this from when they paired up and fought against the massive toad creature, so it was really no surprise. His gaze dropped back to the red mare, Amber, who seemed distracted but went along well though the littered trail. But poor Ozzer was struggling and losing speed and ground by running around most of the obstacles.
The lusitano could hear the bear behind them stumbling, but it was still carrying on with it's angry roars and trying desperately to catch back up to the horses. The trail was really no match for the quiver back due to its weakened vision from the injury. It tripped and bumped into things and Ezra believed that one loud thud might have been the sound of it actually falling. The group distanced themselves from the bear until its huge black figure was no longer visible and its bellows were almost inaudible over the sound of the surrounding wildlife and rustling of leaves in the breeze. "N-n-nice eye T-Tierra" Finding that trail was huge relief to Ezra, especially since they got away, unharmed, from the quiver back. Or so he thought. He couldn't talk and turn his head his head quick enough to warn the others. The bear came silently flying out from the under brush, it must have regained its composure and snuck up on the group while they were trying to catch their breath. Ezra scrambled trying to get the group out of the way and moving again. He hoped they all still had enough energy to outrun the bear again, but it was furious and seemed even more determined to get them this time.
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Post by queerly on Jun 18, 2015 18:11:14 GMT -5
It happened very quickly, as these things often did. The Quiverback had been upon them, growling, a victim to the throes of bestial fury. His maw had gaped with intent, threads of saliva dribbling from yellow incisors comparable to the quick lethality of knives. From his chest had come a rumbling snarl that shivered up his throat and rolled off his tongue in a low, furious roar. It had sounded like a cry of satisfaction, a cry of victory. The bear knew he had won. And just like that, victory was stolen from him. The unicorn was a flash of gold between the trees, and then he had exploded from the brush with a vicious cry of his own. The stallion threw himself against the creature, pale coat pressed to dark, reeking fur, his head cocked so that one mercilessly sharp horn could sink into the eye socket and tear at the brain beneath. For seconds that felt like eternities, the pair stood very still. Predator and unicorn, locked together, but the battle already won. Within seconds the quiverback crumbled, dead before his chin hit the dirt, and the stallion's horn came free with a sickening squelch. His horn was bloody and dripping when he turned to the band of Loners. He flicked his head, scattering drops of crimson that vanished in the dirt, devoured by the thirsty earth. " You are surrounded." He told them. The triumph in his eyes was as tangible as the bear's had been. " Come quietly, or I will break your legs one by one and drag you."  The Overseer Alistair Speaks: "The posting order is now reset to the beginning but remains the same for both groups. UNICORNS: Alistair, Gyda, Elona -- MORTALS: Ezra, Tierra, Ozzer, Amberly The groups will take turns posting (unicorn post, mortal post, unicorn post, mortal post) If it is your turn and you fail to post within 24 hours, your turn will be skipped and you must rejoin on your next one. Have fun you wretched, filthy peasants." |
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Post by dryoasis on Jun 19, 2015 14:36:55 GMT -5
[EZRA]
Before Ezra could get away the beast was above him, dripping saliva onto his neck. As the quiver back growled and roared, as if in delight and satisfaction, Ezra tried to squirm out of its grasp but the creature was too strong and heavy for him to wiggle free. Just as Ezra was beginning to think he wouldn't make it out of this one a blur of gold rushed out the bushes. It was all happening in slow motion to Ezra, like when your life flashes before your eyes. From the ground he watched as the unicorn propelled his own body into the beast and swiftly stabbed one of its horns into the bear's brain through the eye socket. As the unicorn and quiver back stood locked together Ezra scrambled to his feet and backed away from the pair.
Come quietly or I will break your legs one by one and drag you.
Fear struck Ezra as he saw two other unicorns peer from behind the foliage while the golden unicorn's message sunk in. Ba'Yagu told them to avoid capture at all costs, but to him it seemed as though they would lose if they followed willingly OR tried to flee. But his team also out numbered the unicorns, as far as he could tell at least. Maybe the odds were in their favor, who knows what the unicorns would do to them if they caught and brought them back to.. wherever. They could at least try to get away. But the stallion was worried that after just running from the quiver back they wouldn't have energy to put up a fair fight. The dark stallion firmly planted his hooves in the ground and prepared for a fight.
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Post by dryoasis on Jun 19, 2015 16:28:58 GMT -5
[GYDA]
Shortly after Elona mentioned the spirits the group heard roars from an angry quiver back and Alistair darted off in the direction using his gift. The mares could hardly keep up but the screaming bear lead them in the right direction. Gyda couldn't make out anything the bear was yelling, perhaps he wasn't even saying anything, he was just so caught up in the moment the only things that could escape his chest were growls and roars. The mares appeared upon the scene as the Quiverback's hefty body fell to the ground with a thud.
You are surrounded.
The tawny mare peeked over the foliage, revealing her location, to see a small group of 4 mortals. It had been so long since she had last seen a mortal. Her mind was flooded with memories of secretly watching them play and live their peaceful and innocent day to day lives. But things changed and they began to disobey the King and no longer were the lives of mortals and unicorns peaceful. They were the reason they have been locked away on the island, unable to go beyond the wall, and now they were back to challenge the King once more. Hatred and bitterness began to overtake the fond memories she once held of the mortals. The olive eyes of a dark stallion momentarily caught her gaze, his eyes were full of fear.. as they should be. A wretched smile over came her face as she stepped out from the dim shadows of the thick foliage, intent on fulfilling her orders from King Valraldic.
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Post by freedomoncanvas on Jun 20, 2015 13:29:25 GMT -5
For a second Tierra thought they were save. The group had stopped running to catch their breath after they had lost the bear. Ezra complemented her on her actions and she politely wanted to politely thank him. But as she opened her mouth to do so a loud roar interrupted her. Out of nowhere the bear was there again and this time he was to close.
Tierra turned and jumped away to dodge the beast's sharp claws. In her hurry to get away the little mare practically fell over Amber. As she stumbled, she knew that she wasn't fast enough this time. With her eyes shut tight Tierra waited for the claws to rip open her skin, but instead she heard a battlecry and the sound of something piercing flesh. As the little mare opened her eyes she was just able to witness the gruesome view of the beast sliding of the horn of an unicorn and falling to the ground. Tierra had to swallow some nausea away and quickly diverted her eyes. Instead she focused on the three unicorns that had suddenly surrounded them.
The one she had met before wasn't with them and that disheartened the little mare. What if these unicorns where the dangers he had spoken of? They would kill them if they tried to run, they would kill them if they went with them... so many choices Tierra thought sarcastically. She looked at the lifeless body of the bear lying on the ground, then back to the golden unicorn who had killed it. She then forced herself to smile despite of the fact that she was slightly shaking and spoke softly "Thank you for saving our lives, sir..." She looked to her companions and then to the stranger unicorns and sighed we've got nothing to lose...
She slowly lifted her head and continued speaking "My name is Tierra. My friends and I were on our way to the landbridge...to leave the Island..." She couldn't bring herself to ask the question out loud, but it was written in her eyes. Please let us go...?
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Post by gingergoddess on Jun 21, 2015 0:28:37 GMT -5
[Elona//Aphelion Unseelie//Mare]
The tiny mare was almost entirely out of breath by the time she caught up to her larger companions. Inhaling sharply, Elona bit her lip as the pain from her earlier fall followed by the sprint through the forest seemed to tackle her all at once. She tried to shove the pain aside, reminding herself it was just a sensation trying to hold her back from her mission. King Valradic would not be pleased if he received news that she'd only been a hindrance. Gyda had already taken a few steps into the clearing and was standing behind Alistair, ginning unnervingly at the mortals as the stallion stood, unmoving, blood dripping from one of his horns. 'At least they made a great first impression' Elona thought to herself with a small chuckle, noticing the dead quiver-back for the first time.
"You are surrounded. Come quietly, or I will break your legs one by one and drag you."
Alistair's voice pierced through the air, demanding fear and respect. The paint grinned menacingly as she stepped out of the brush and took her place beside Gyda. This would be fun. The mortals seemed terrified as the contemplated the choice set before them. Elona shook her forelock out of her face, pawing at the mossy forest floor impatiently as she eyed the small golden mare who began to speak. "Thank you for saving our lives, sir...My name is Tierra. My friends and I were on our way to the land bridge...to leave the Island..."
"Leave the island?" Elona scoffed. What were these mortals thinking? "You can try to run, but I promise you, we'll catch you, and you'll be even worse off than you are now." She shot a glance at Alistair, knowing her words to be true. The large stallion was gifted with the speed of 10 horses, and he could easily out run any of them without even breaking a sweat. "I suggest you take the offer and come along peacefully. That is, if you value your lives." A dark grin slipped across her face, reaching her eyes only to leave an evil glimmer in it's wake. "Though I would love the opportunity to see what color mortal blood runs..."
[Post 6, Word Count: 371, +1 Tier to Elona]
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Post by mariahwhy on Jun 21, 2015 9:46:39 GMT -5
Ozzer stood, nostrils flaring, as he tried to catch his breath after the fear fueled run. Small flecks of sweat dappled his white chest and forelegs. He knew they couldn't pause for long, but any respite was welcomed. He nodded, echoing Ezra's praise towards the pale mare. But before he could add his own take on their current situation the bushes exploded again. The quiver back roared, towering above the small group, and Ozzer, startled, brayed loudly. Before they could act it had knocked Ezra down and sent Tierra skittering.
Without thinking Ozzer prepared himself to jump forward to the other stallion's rescue. His chance against the quiver back was slim, but he couldn't stand by and just watch another horse be ripped apart. His muscles tightened, but before any of the horses or the predator could act there was another on the scene.
It all happened so fast that the donkey wasn't sure what was going on until it was over - the quiver back hanging gruesomely by the horn of the unicorn. For a brief moment they stood paired, the quiver back's mouth hanging agape alongside the magnificent unicorn's serious expression almost comical. Then it slid from the horn, landing on the ground with a thud that Ozzer felt in his hooves.
A silence stretched among them, broken finally by the unicorn itself. It took a moment for the exact words to register in Ozzer's mind, though he was painfully aware of the intent. He stood, chest expanding and contracting as he continued to try and catch his breath. That act now seemed even more difficult; every breath caught in his throat as he looked upon the unicorn. All at once the being was magnificent and horrifying. The jack felt small and helpless; not in his usual, self-conscious way, but in the way that a foal might in the presence of a powerful stallion. The forest was dim, but Ozzer felt that he could see him clearly, as if standing in broad daylight. His coat, a dunalino, was not an extremely unusual color, but still it seemed to radiate amongst the dark trees. Two horns sprouted grimly from behind his ears, the blue of a spring sky marred by the quiver back's blood.
Ozzer was distantly aware of Ezra's body tensing, but his mind could not relate the idea of fighting with this situation. There was no point. For once he could not even worry about the others and how he might help them. How could they possibly best an enemy that so easily killed one of the greatest predators any of them had ever faced? No, there was no fight, and he certainly did not have the energy left to run. His fear was becoming cold and remorseful, taking an icy grip on his insides. Regrets washed over Ozzer like a wave. He would never see the city again. He would never again explore the vast labyrinth that snaked beneath the cracking roads. His parents - he had not seen them in years, and for what reason he could no longer fathom. There had been plenty of time.
Tierra's voice brought him from his daze. She seemed to take the exact opposite stance of Ezra, her voice pleading. It was the best chance they had, he supposed, but a smaller unicorn stepping from the bushes dashed those ideas. They would not be reasoned with. They were bloodthirsty.
His voice, low in defeat, grunted, "What do you want from us?"
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Post by queerly on Jun 23, 2015 9:10:26 GMT -5
"Don't do something you will regret." Alistair sneered. His discerning eye had caught the way Ezra shifted his stance, widening it in preparation for a fight. It was a fight he couldn't hope to win, or so it seemed to the Overseer. The mortals were tired, exhausted... some even bled, their fur smeared and clotted with scarlet. The color unnerved Alistair. From the moment they were born, a unicorn's blood ran silver, and it was not until they were in the process of dying that that changed. In those final hours, it turned crimson. Alistair wasn't sure why mortal creatures didn't do the same, but suspected it had to do with how short their lives were. In the time it took a unicorn to mature, they had lived out their lives in full. Alistair supposed they were always in the process of dying... and the one directly in front of him, the chocolate stallion with silver hair, seemed to be intent of shortening his already fleeting existence. Alistair took a step towards him and dipped his head, twin horns on display. One was pristine, a flawless azure. The other still dripped the lifeblood of the quiverback dead at his hooves. Don't give me cause the decorate the former, his pale gaze threatened. He needed no words to convey the message.
His gaze flicked to Tierra as she spoke, but his body remained poised, ready to take Ezra's bulk should the stallion throw himself his way. It was a wasted distribution of his attention; the little mare was only trying to play on his sympathies. He was well aware of how that game went, and he'd had eight hundred years to learn his lessons. For once, Alistair was glad to hear Elona's voice rise in reply, childish though her vindictive glee was. It kept him from wasting his breath on the mortal's pathetic attempts.
"You have broken our sacred Wall," He snarled, addressing them all as he answered Ozzer's resigned question, "and harbored a known fugitive. We are here to take you before our king, Lord Valraldic, to answer for your crimes against the Crown." His eyes swept across the little group, frustration sparking behind the pale depths. "Where is the witch?"
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Post by moonlightwalk on Jun 24, 2015 13:20:33 GMT -5
One moment she was turning, half intent on giving the quiverback a hind kick herself, half fearing it was the last thing she'd do and cursing at herself for being so stupid. The next moment the quiverback was lying on the floor and a magnificent creature stood there, blood dripping down from it horn, blood from the beast it had just killed. Amber's heart stopped beating for a second and she taught they were saved. The horned gods she prayed to during every hard time in her life, had just saved their existance and in reflex she went to bow.
His words stopped her death in her tracks however and she looked up, shocked. She just stared, hearing Tierra plead to let them go and she was startled a bit as a second unicorn showed themselves. This one, a female, had the most unsettling grin that played amongst her lips, a sadistic glee that reminded her of some of the Bachelor stallions. A shiver ran over her back at the unpleasant reminder and she took a step back, shaking her head slowly. This wasn't real. This weren't the gods she worshipped. Not the ones who brought all the good to them mortals, not them who had helped bring order where chaos reigned. It couldn't be, this was a trick. "Demons," she whispered, glaring at the mare. "Imposters!" A bit louder, bit more frantically. "If you harm us, the great compromiser will come for you. He watches over us all. A true unicorn!" She breathed heavily, angry at these creatures. No wonder Ba'yagu warned them. If she was a unicorn herself, she could no doubt tell these were not. The one that killed the quiverback spoke again, accusing them of crimes they did not commit, making Amber's ears lie back, her eyes kept flicking between the pair, aware of the danger these demons posed by the ease the quiverback had been taken down. They wanted Ba'yagu. They wouldn't hear it from her.
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Post by dryoasis on Jun 28, 2015 12:51:03 GMT -5
[GYDA]
Gyda stared unamused by the mortals as they talked to the unicorns, one pleading, one in disbelief and one sounded defeated. But the red mortal that seemed to be in disbelief caught her attention. Gyda's dark tipped ears perked forward after hearing the mortal whisper something under her breath. Gyda could hear the next thing she spoke clearly, followed by a warning that The Great Compromiser would come and punish the unicorns if they inflicted harm upon the mortals. One of Gyda's dark and delicate legs took a step forward, her head was low and inquisitive "Oh you really do not know anything do you, poor mortal?" She took another step forward and raised her head above the level of the red mortal's as the tip of her dark and twisted horn glistened, catching the dim light coming through the trees, "King Valdric IS The Great Compromiser" A sinister smile came across her face and she spoke with a slight cackle, "The Great Compromiser is the one who sent us to retrieve you. You know he will probably kill you for the crimes you have committed." Her glowing eyes fell back toward the dark mortal stallion, his stance was still tense, if not more since the unicorns first appeared and so graciously saved the horses from the quiver back. His unwavering audacity made Gyda somewhat unnerved, there's no way 4 mortals could take on 3 unicorns.. right?
"Answer the question, where is the witch? We know she is on the island." She urged the horses to answer the question Alistair asked.
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Post by dryoasis on Jun 28, 2015 15:04:43 GMT -5
[EZRA]
The muscles under Ezra's dark and speckled body tensed with every step the small tawny mare made toward Amber. Her face was sinister and her words were vindictive, neither of which Ezra trusted as she inched closer to the group. The fawn spotted unicorn mare barked at them, asking once again where Ba'Yagu was, her bright green and blue eyes seemed to have an internal light of their own which sent shivers down his spine as he began to wonder what made unicorns immortal. What made them so different from normal mortal horses? He grew up in the Olde herd so he would hear stories about the unicorns, but never paid them much mind as he believed they were just made up stories to make everyone behave, young and old. Until he came to the crescent and saw a unicorn for himself, he never believed the stories to be true. He examined the other two unicorns, leaving the immortal's question hanging in the air a second time. His olive eyes stopped on the golden unicorn's tail, it had a silver liquid that seemed to be drying on it, but what could it be? While still eyeing and examining the unicorn's tail, Ezra finally answered the lingering question, sarcastically, "Well she's not with us."
He could feel a power welling up inside his head, shortly before the group was split into two, Ba'Yagu granted Ezra his gift. Since then he has never used it as they began to make their way toward the wall, there was never enough time for him to practice or even figure it out. But this feeling had to be it, the feeling was almost superhuman. Before Ezra could fully wrap his head around what was happening, a swarm of beetles, flies, arachnids, wasps, ants, moths and etcetera were flowing out from the forest around them and toward the double horned unicorn. The insects clung to his face, clawing and biting, inflicting as much pain as their small size would allow.
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Post by gingergoddess on Jun 29, 2015 22:37:46 GMT -5
[Elona//Aphelion Unseelie//Mare]
"Demons?" Elona couldn't help but laugh as the red mare spoke, sending a sharp pain through her side once more. She'd definitely need to find a healer upon her return home. For now, there were mortals to take care of. She watched as Gyda addressed the ruddy coated mare, grinning wildly as her companion explained just who the "Great Compromiser" was, and what he wanted. All their little mortal hopes and dreams seemed to be dashed away in that singular moment. She relished in their pain as Gyda continued. "Answer the question, where is the witch? We know she is on the island."
"Well she's not with us." Came the reply. The small unicorn snapped her attention to the dark stallion as he finished speaking. His muscles seemed to tense as if he was preparing to fight. It was almost laughable. Four mortals against three unicorns? The odds were not at all in their favor. She glanced at the rest of the horses in the small party. Two mares, and a small donkey who was even shorter than she was. They weren't warriors, they were stragglers, criminals who trespassed on sacred ground as if it wasn't a crime. She glared at the group as she felt her anger rising, reaching out with her gift in hopes the dead would give away more than the mortals had. Unfortunately, they all seemed too enthralled by the spectacle to say anything about anything else going on in the forest.
A moment passed before she realized what was going on. It seemed the dark stallion had been granted a gift by the witch, and he was intent on using it against them. Swarms of insects seemed to materialize as the flew towards Alistair's face, covering his head and neck and biting at him. "Is that the best you've got, mortal? Do you really think a few bugs will deter us from our mission?" She scoffed, bowing up as she prepared to attack the mortals. Just a word from Alistair, and she would be upon them in a matter of moments. "I suggest you stand down and surrender. Now. This is your final warning...If you want to walk away in one piece that is." She lowered her head as she spoke, her voice a feral snarl as she pinned her ears flat against her neck, readying herself for the inevitable bloodshed that would take place here if the mortals did not obey.
[Post 7,Word Count: 408, +1 Tier to Elona]
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Post by queerly on Jul 1, 2015 14:36:12 GMT -5
Posting order has been abolished- so long as there are two posts after your most recent one, you can post again!
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Post by mariahwhy on Jul 1, 2015 16:51:37 GMT -5
Alistair's answer fell on numb ears, no emotion registering on the donkey's face. He had half expected it. But Ozzer's head whipped around as Amber spoke, the striped unicorn's dark laugh echoing around them. Child! Holding onto such foolish beliefs after all this time! After everything Ba'Yagu had told them, after the image that the golden unicorn had so effectively painted for them by goring the quiver back. Unicorns were the stories of foalhood, but stories never covered the full truth. The fact that she would still choose to believe such things made him feel second-hand shame. No wonder these creatures saw them as such easy targets - not even believing what was right before their eyes. But even he, having believed everything Ba'Yagu had told them about their pursuers, was horrified by the grey unicorn's words.
"King Valraldic IS The Great Compromiser."
They were being taken to The Great Compromiser himself. He remembered how his mother had spoken highly of the name in hushed tones so his father wouldn't hear. Described as an all-powerful unicorn intimidating to even the most stalwart believer. Such a being, especially if he was as vindictive as these three, would never listen to them. He would never believe that it was only one of the many that broke the wall, and that they wished the unicorns no ill effects. But they seemed focused on Ba'Yagu. Rightly so, he figured. If they had her would the loners be freed?
"We have not seen her in some time," Ozzer added to Ezra's reply. The lie really did them no good, but he hoped maybe if they thought she was further along on her escape then they would find her to be a higher priority and would leave the four mortals for later. But before he could say any more to throw them off a swam of insects appeared from nowhere.
They scurried around and between their hooves and zipped by their heads. Instinctively he ducked his large ears, but it was obvious who they were aimed at. They all flew straight for the dunalino. Ozzer had not been aware that any of their party was gifted in such a way. He stepped back, watching as the mass of buzzing bugs swirled around the unicorn's face. He did not know which of the other Loners was doing this, and he assumed neither would the unicorns. Watching the striped unicorn rear up he realized that she might attack any of them, all possible culprits of the insect swarm.
As before, he knew it was a fight he could not win, and a fight he would be of no help in. He did not know what the others might do. He thought maybe they could take the brief distraction and run. Hopefully they would not fight, at least. But whatever they might do, he could not help them and had made up his mind as to his own actions.
"I surrender!" he called. As soon as the words had left his mouth everything seemed clear. His emotions, having become instinctively vacant, came flooding back. He was angry. Angry at himself, angry at the witch, and above all angry at these unicorns. He would surrender, but it would be on his terms! He stepped forward, head lifted as high as it would go and blue eyes sharp. "I agree to speak with your King." He made sure to emphasize the word. He was a Loner, and answered to no King - Great Compromiser or not. "He will hear me out, and he will come to the understanding that these 'crimes' are no more mine than any of yours."
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