OMGoodness I am so glad for the extension! I went on two trips right in a row, and I was sure I was going to miss the deadline. XD XD XD XD
The Fall of the Cervichi
Inspired by song 1 (I imagine the song as being kind of back-ground music to the attack on the village.)
Elk Bugle (This is what their bugling sounds like.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec0UcmAr4_E
Marath is based off of a Magic the Gathering card all others are my Original charecters.
This is supposed to take place many Millenia ago, and I have no idea if humans would have even been around in this time period, so my apologies if this is historically inaccurate. :P
Note: This is basically a back-ground story I made up for Marath from my first story that I entered (see page 8 for reference) (I made up the backstory waaaaay after that first story just btw, because that sentence was kinda confusing)
The forest was peaceful, barely a whisper of wind disturbing the tall trees. That is until a beautiful female Cervichi galloped frantically though the once-tranquil trees. Her hooves and paws thundered across the forest floor; pursued by the thump of human boots and the thwip of their bows.
After her!
Dont let her get away!
Fire!
The humans shouts caused the terrified creature to sprint even faster across the tangled roots of the thick trees; the blood roaring in her ears. But she was quickly tiring, for she had run for many miles in an effort to escape her pursuers, and as she leaped over a fallen log an arrow sliced through the air and struck the majestic creatures flank. She stumbled, but continued on at a much slowed pace as blood dripped from her wound. She stumbled out of the trees to a mossy stream, ready to collapse with exhaustion. A second arrow pierced her throat and with a low cry she collapsed forward into the crystal clear stream, her antlers clacking against the smooth pebbles adorning the streambed. The humans stepped towards her; lowering their bows. But before they could do anything else, an enormous male Cervichi galloped from the trees on the opposite bank of the stream, letting out a bone-rattling bugle. He bugled again and reared up over the female. The humans shouted to one another and three arrows flew into the large males underbelly. He fell, dead, onto his mates body in the stream.
Let us thank these beautiful creatures for sacrificing their lives so that we may eat in celebration of the chiefs daughters wedding. One of the humans said reverently. The group bowed their head in a moment of silence. Then they hoisted the bodies up onto their shoulders and began walking back to their carts so that they might return to their village with their fresh meat. As they left, a third Cervichi hidden in the trees turned and ran downstream toward the rest of his herd.
Far downstream, a horrified Cervichi herd listened as a male explained what he had seen upstream.
No, no no no NO!!! A female closely resembling the dead female ran from the herd in distress.
Lavinia, wait! A young male took off after her, calling her name. He found her standing at the edge of the stream, watching a streak of blood slip past her, the last remnant of her sister and would-have-been brother.
Lavinia, The male started.
Leave me alone. Lavinia interrupted.
Lavinia, its all right. We can-
Its NOT all right Tumr! Cervassa is dead, and so is Malachidye! Nothing can bring them back.
We can get through this, we will remember them. We will honor their sacrifice, just as the humans did. Tumr consoled her.
Sacrifice! Lavinia spat. As if they died willingly so that the humans could celebrate a marriage! A marriage!
Lavi,
Just leave me alone!!
Tumr turned to leave; glancing back once more at the grief-stricken female, and trotted back toward the rest of the herd. Soon though, the entire herd came to the stream.
Their Monarch addressed them. Let us feast in honor of Cervassa and Malachidye, and comfort their families. The herd bowed their heads and drank from the stream and feasted on the luscious moss that grew from it. Crevion, the Monarch, made his way over to Lavinia.
You shouldnt be so hard on Tumr, he is only trying to help. Crevion rumbled in his deep voice.
Lavinia sighed. I know, Ill apologize to him after the feast.
He really cares for you, why must you push him away so harshly? He continued, his large eyes meeting hers
Cervassa was the only family I had left! She cried. First my mother, then my father, and now her. If I allow myself to grow close to Tumr, he will just be taken from me like everyone else! Why must the humans take everyone I love from me!
Crevions eyes filled with sympathy and sorrow. I do not know why the humans seem to target your family specifically, my only guess is cruel coincidence. But I do know that you can be truly happy with Tumr, if you will only allow yourself to be. He waited a few moments for a reply, but when none came he stood and made his way toward Malachidyes father. After a few moments Lavinia stood and walked toward Tumr to apologize. He accepted her apology and then to her surprise proposed to be her mate. Remembering what Crevion had said she said yes.
After the feast Crevion decided to make an announcement according to what he had heard from a few of the herd members, Malachidyes family in particular.
Cervichi! It has been made known to me that many of you wish for revenge on the humans for taking so many of our friends and family from us! I for one agree with you, and propose that we launch an attack on the humans tomorrow at dawn! This announcement was met with cheers and bugles from the Cervichi standing below. The herd departed the stream to bed down for the night with much talk of the coming battle for vengeance. As Crevion headed toward his usual spot, a young buck from two foal seasons ago walked up to him.
May I speak to you in private? He asked politely. Crevion agreed and wondered what this could be about. They were some ways away from the herd when the young buck turned.
Well Marath? Crevion asked, remembering the young ones name.
Marath inhaled deeply. I do not think you should attack the humans as you plan to.
Crevion was surprised. Marath, the herd wants revenge, especially the families of those who died today.
Only more pain will come of this plan if it is carried out. Attacking the humans is wrong. Marath said assertively.
And the humans hunting of us is not wrong? Crevion countered, a bit annoyed by this young bucks attitude.
It is the way of nature, if nothing hunted the herd we would grow too numerous and affect the health of our ecosystem in whole.
The humans eat us and our families. Crevion said.
We eat the grass and the moss, do the grass and moss attack us for needing to survive? The wolves and bears eat us also, and we do not attack them for needing to survive. Marath insisted
The humans do not eat us out of necessity, it is not right. Crevion said
It is true that they kill more of us than they truly need for one or two days, but they only eat us in times of ceremony and celebration, similar to how we eat extra moss in honor of the deceased. It is only the circle of life, and the humans do not waste any of the meat from those that they slaughter. Plus they always thank those of us who they kill for our sacrifice. Marath countered.
Crevion was silent for a few moments, and then said softly You are wise far beyond your years Marath, and you have enlightened me. I will call off the attack if you will tell them what you have told me.
Marath agreed to this and Crevion returned to the herd. No one was asleep yet, but a few had settled down enough that they were annoyed when Crevion began to speak to them.
I have received wise council, and in light of this new realization I have decided to call of the attack on the humans. This was received with gasps of disbelief.
And who revealed this wisdom to you! Malachidyes father shouted.
Crevion hesitated for a moment, and then proceeded. Marath has revealed this to me. I know he is young, but his words ring true. He nodded to Marath. He stepped forward and explained what he understood about the circle of life and how death is a part of life as well as everything he had told Crevion. When Marath had finished, Cevion could see that most of the Cervichi were nodding in agreement, but then Lavinia pushed her way to the front and yelled So you are saying that my sister and her mates death should go unpunished! Malachidyes father bugled in agreement to Lavinias words. Marath opened his mouth to respond but before he could say anything, Lavinia whirled and kicked him brutally in the chest, causing him to fall heavily to the ground. Then she disappeared into the woods, followed by Tumr and Malachidyes family. Everyone else returned to where they would spend the night, thinking about the words exchanged just then. Crevion checked on Marath, he was bruised pretty badly and bleeding quite a bit, but there was no major physical damage. Crevion then retired to his resting spot for the night. It had been a long day.
Crevion! Crevion awoke with a start to see Marath stamping nervously next to him.
Marath? What is it?
Its Lavinia! She and half the herd have gone to destroy the human village! I would have tried to stop her, but she told me if I did she would finish what she started yesterday!
Crevion bugled angrily at the barely lightened sky. Theres nothing I can do, with half the herd behind her I cant stop her without causing a huge rift in the herd. Im sorry Marath, but all we can do is wait for her to return.
Lavinia raced through the forest with Tumr beside her. She was going to avenge her family with or without Crevions support, and look! When she had told Tumr what she was going to do, he had woken all of the Cervichi who had disagreed with Marath and now they were a force to reckon with. Lavinia saw the human village up ahead and raced toward it. She burst through the trees and slammed her forelegs into the glass window of a wooden hut, instantly shattering it. The others raced through the village destroying everything they could. Humans were awake by now and arrows were flying. Lavinia trampled a human with a bow in his hand and smashed into the house behind him where a woman and her children cowered. Lavinia hooked them on her antlers and threw them viscously, and then trampled them before running back out to destroy another human life. Some of the humans had torched and as Cervichi ran them down the torches set houses alight. The scent of smoke and blood filled the air. Lavinia inhaled deeply and grinned; finally she had her revenge.
EPILOGUE
After the attack, the humans were much fewer, but they wanted vengeance for their dead family members. Soon the attacks escalated into a feud, and then escalated into a full-blown war. So many Cervichi were dead, and those who were not, were too weak to fight back. Marath crouched beside a dying Crevion after a viscous battle. Everyone was dead, except for Crevion who would be soon.
Im sorryMarathI tried myhardest. Crevion heaved one last labored breath and gave up the ghost. Marath stood up. He was the last, the sole surviving Cervichi in the world. All because of vengeance and hatred. He let out a long bugle for the dead, and stared at the bloody water of the stream. He chuckled to himself. Its fitting. The battle started and ended on the banks of this stream. He thought.
A star glowed in the dark sky above him, then fell to the earth and unfolded into one of the strange, powerful creatures called Frost Sprites that were the guardian of the forest. Marath knew them well, they were the ones that had warned him that this would happen. He had tried to stop it, but he had failed.
The Sprite picked up a stone from the streambed and held it out to Marath.
This is called the Wildstone. It will give you control over the four elements, Earth, Fire, Water, and Air, and will allow you to prevent things like this from happening again. Use it wisely, and should you ever cease to understand the balance of life and death, your power and immortality will be stripped from you, and you will join the rest of your herd.
The sprite stretched its hand out and placed the Wildstone between Maraths antlers where it hovered.
You are now Marath: Will of the Wild. |
