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Mine To Keep (Hat/Mafdet)

Hat-tori

Hat-tori

Supernova
Joined
Jan 9, 2009
The dragon was triumphant, but then the dragon always was. He returned home on a grand procession, cloak of wings spread wide and flapping mightily tied to his arms. He was the picture of masculine power, with rippling muscles and presence that brooked no disrespect. He cheered to his people in their low, growling language, exalting his fellow warriors and shamans for another hard-fought victory. He exalted his foes, who stood against him to the last. He exalted their ancestors, and thanked their gift of fire. While his captive might not understand what he said, the message was clear.

He turned to his captive, pulling her from the cage and bringing her forth. His hand was strong, his grip speaking of his untapped power as he tossed her to the floor of the procession litter, supported by eight dragon-men on each side. The same word was suddenly chanted again and again, weapons raised at the spectacle as the cheiftan stepped forth with great pride, approaching her. She would know - there was nowhere to run, or hide, and fighting was out of the question.
 
Everything was gone for the neko princess, but the fire of will still burned in her body even as she was among the enemy as a captive, hissing at those that were near. As long as she had breath in her body, she wasn't going to become a broken doll to be played with. Snarling at the dragon that approached her cage, whom had put her there in the first place, she attempted to back away but was gripped strongly by him as he hauled her from the confines of the cage. Her claws were useless against his scales as she had made to attempt to get free before she was tossed onto the procession litter, hitting with a soft thud.

Eyes were hard with defiance as she brought herself back onto her feet, watching him as he approached. Her clothing were still of a warrior, her lower clothing of a short but flowing cloth on the front and back as padded armor covered her shins and thighs, while her upper were a hardened leathered top that stopped many arrows, with similar padded coverings on her arms that allowed her movement. On her head identified her as the princess of the tribe that these dragons had conquered, a headband with a single red jewel and three smaller white gems surrounding it. She would not bow to anyone, especially not to her enemies like the one that stepped forth onto the litter.
 
A fire was brought forth, the chanting growing stronger as the brazier was lit. The headband was taken first, tossed into a small coffer beside him with a grin. She was held tightly as the arm armor was torn away brutally and tossed into the fire. The chanting reached a fever pitch as he tore the armor from her shins and thighs as well, burning it.
"You are spoils of war." he said, "Your equipment is useless to us, and thus, useless to you." he growled, speaking her language with surprising fluency. "You may have been a princess, or a queen. But now you are nothing." he growled out another series of syllables in his language as he tore away her chestplate, holding it aloft then tossing it over his shoulder and into the fire. He raised his arms, encouraging his allies, whose cheers had dimmed as he spoke her language.

The cheering rose as she was hauled up to her feet again. Finally, her final piece of clothing and equipment was torn away, tossed into the fire as the lord roared primally. Victory was his! Spoils were his! The tribe was his!
 
Her reaction was to be briefly surprised by the dragon's sudden ability to talk, though she was distracted as her headband was taken from her head, making her snarl even as she was held tightly while it was tossed into a small box. Clothing and armor were stripped from her as he spoke, his people cheering with each piece that burned. Nudity was not one the tribe shared as a taboo, for it allowed them to hunt and gather in their own comfort, so even with the chestplate torn from her body, she had no shame for that. Only that fine equipment was being destroyed, that took many weeks to craft by her own hands.

Brought to her feet again after all but one piece remained, she growled as it too was ripped from her, wincing as the dragon roared in triumph. But he was wrong as far as she was concerned. Clothing meant nothing to one's origins. Her right hand clenched tightly to the point of her own claws piercing into her palm, blood dripping slowly from the self-inflicted wounds. "As long as blood flows through my veins, I am still princess of the Asimi Tribe, and I am not spoils of war as long as I breath," she said, her words lost to those that were cheering and roaring. She didn't care, for it was to herself that she vowed. Whether she escaped or died by her own hands, she would not let these creatures have their victory for ruthlessly destroying her tribe.
 
He laughed at her words, picking her up and leaping from the litter, holding her up as the cheering ensued, into his stone hut, where he threw her into a cell. She landed on soft straw, and he admired her after shutting it for a moment. "We feast tonight." he said. "Some of the food will be brought to you." he added. "Eat it or not, it is no statement of your weakness - food should not be wasted and we have much." he said, stripping from his armor. He was impressive to witness, in truth. His body was strong, powerful, and he was rather... gifted. Arms rippled with power. "If you desire clothes, they shall be provided." he added, looking over the headband in thought - placing it onto his dresser where it was joined with other crowns.

He looked over his shoulder.
"My name, if you care, is Harumda." he said, "It means 'To devour the great'." he said, "And yours, I do not know, but..." he smiled at her, bowing in his nudity, "You are indeed royalty. That firey heart belonged to few of your warriors. At least - not in such a blaze." he added, strapping on clothes and pulling them on - a regalia. His hand wandering over the crowns before selecting one - made of dull iron and looking very heavy with chains and thick build.

"I shall return shortly." he said, stepping out to cheers.
 
Growling in a low voice that merely vibrated in the back of her throat as she was picked up and held as though she was an trophy, she merely squirmed in discomfort as she was carried from the litter toward a hut made of stone. She would catch herself with her hands as she landed on the bed of straw, the stalks pricking into her skin as the dragon shuts her in before she had time to stand back up. Merely turning her head to glare at him, she didn't much care to listen but did anyway as he spoke about a feast. There was no response from her whether he expected any or not, though there was slight reaction as the male undressed to prepare for his feast, eyes widened only a few seconds before returning to the hardened glare she had been giving since before being brought here.

With his name mentioned, she only thought that now she knew a name to curse even as he bowed to her, complimenting her on her fiery heart before beginning to dress himself. Her eyes wondered to the crowns that were on his dresser, hers included among them all as he selected one and made to leave, promising to return. 'I hope you chock on your victory feast,' she thought with anger as the door closed. Limbs ached from the fight as she forced herself to move, moving to sit against the cold wall of her cell with the straw beneath to at least provide some protection from the floor. Fiery or not, she was stuck in a cell as a prisoner in the dragon's house, forced to wonder if anyone even survived... Gods she hoped that at least her younger sister escaped...
 
Food was brought in short order - a succulent meal of stuffed fish, seasoned meats, And rich drinks and pastries. A sampling of them all was brought before her. As time passed, the festivities outside dimmed and quieted, until finally, he returned, taking off the cloak and tossing it aside. He gave a glare to a guard nearby who he caught leering at her, shooing him off as he took off his heavy iron crown. He leaned back, looking over at her, pulling out a few drawers of the dresser, a scroll and a quill. Balancing an almost comical pair of spectacles on his nose, he looked down at it in thought before writing on it briefly. He set it aside to dry, then changed into something looser - a long robe.

"There. It is done." he said cryptically. "Only a few more tribes to go." he nodded, mostly to himself, then looked at the woman he had brought home, wondering if she had bothered to eat.
 
Admittedly, the food that was brought to her was much more delicious than she'd ever admit to anyone. Her stomach growled hungrily for it as she looked to the plates and cups, since she hadn't eaten for some time. The tribe's harvest and hunting had been poor as of late, though considering the march of the dragons, she had little to wonder why it was that prey was suddenly so scarce. Rather than refuse the food, she had moved to the plates once the dragon that delivered the food had left, slowly eating the fish and meats so as she didn't make herself sick. The pastries though, she was more cautious of, she hadn't ever encountered such things and after the first bite, she did like it but found it too rich for her to eat it all. By the time Harumda returned, there were half-eaten pastries but the rest of the food as well as a drink was consumed.

Sitting in the furthest corner of the cell at the time, she only glanced up before looking away, otherwise ignoring him even as he entered once having the guard leave. She didn't want anything to do with any of them... Hearing his clothes ruffling, she realized that he was changing again, which just didn't make much sense for her, as clothes were for practical reasons in the tribe. Talise still hadn't asked for any clothes, merely sitting on her legs on top of the straw bed while against the wall. Her ears twitched lightly as he spoke to himself after the long moment of scribbling a feather at the dry flat thing. Few more tribes...? He was planning more attacks?
 
He spared her a smile. "The night draws near." he said. "I would not be so base as to force myself upon you, as tempting as it is. Should one of my men make the attempt, merely let me know. I have very good hearing." he nodded to her, pulling a bed down from the wall. "Tomorrow, we will talk more." he said, "And take heart, I am not as stupid or brutish as my brothers." With that, he undressed and laid down to sleep, strong back to her. The night had a chill, but nothing biting, and it seemed his movement of shucking the thick robe near the bars - within reach - was intentional. Perhaps there was more to him than it seemed.
 
With her eyes darting to him when he suddenly spoke to her, she merely narrowed her eyes at him. Like it really reassured her that she was in a good situation. She watched him pull the bed down from the wall, making it rather baffling to her that these dragons had stuff like this and yet still attacked other villages and people. With a soft tch, she wasn't looking forward to any sort of talk that would come the next day as he laid down on the bed and had his back to her. Soon after he was asleep, she shivered softly as the night began to give its chill, though she refused to move from where she was to the robe that seemed to have been placed conveniently nearby. After about an hour of watching him as he slept, she eventually curled up in the straw bed, her back to the dragon as she was settled into the straw, falling into a light sleep for until the morning to come.
 
He rose with the sun, smiling at her as he went about preparing for the day. He met with a few of his brethren, speaking with them quietly, as food was prepared for him and her. He backhanded one of the bars to wake her, then set the food into the cell, picking up his robe. "Good morning." he said, nodding to her.
 
Talise slept rather horribly as she had nightmares through the night, though upon feeling the sun's rays, as well as the sudden noise of the bars, she jolted up and turned toward the front while Harumda made to set the food within her cell. In response she merely growled in a somewhat grumpy way as she sat up against the wall. She didn't exactly enjoy being woken up in the fashion he had done. There was no greeting to return.
 
"Hrmph. Apologies." he said. "I am not very good at politeness, in the morning." he said, seating himself. "Eat, please." he gestured to the food with a smile. Eggs, more fish, all seasoned well. He ate quietly, Having trouble taking his eyes off her. She was so different - so new, interesting. His men cajoled him for dallying with something so thin and weak, made of curves rather than strong, solid lines, covered in softness rather than scales. But... He couldn't look away. She was hypnotizing.
 
Not answering to his apologies, she looked to the plate and frowned softly before she eventually moved to accept the plate and began to eat at a slow pace. "Thank you," she murmured against her will, as the dragons could had very well have her starve instead. Aside from that, she had many lessons about respect, even to one's enemies. As she ate, she glanced up at the dragon on occasion who's eyes were on her, uneasy about being watched as she was but not raising it up as protest since she didn't wish to have more attention than she had right now. Most likely it was just her figure, though why it would interest him when he had females of his own tribe was something that she didn't quite understand. As she still glanced at him, she could see why he was so popular with his people... not to mention having seen his full figure last night.
 
"I apologize if I stare." he said, tearing his eyes off her. "You are... interesting. You have fight, fire, in your heart, but all the women here are submissive harlots." he grumbled. "You are different. New. Interesting." he said, "A new person to talk to. Is there anything you need?" he asked. "I... Do not wish to release you. You would flee. But... anything else you wish, it is yours. Food, jewelery..." he thought for a moment, then found her crown, handing it back to her.
 
The dragon was rather baffling to her the more she spent time with him, whether or not she wanted to. She was supposed to be the spoils of war, and yet he spoke to her as a person and would even apologize for what others wouldn't consider offensive. Even offered to give her almost anything she'd want if only to ask for it. "I have no need for jewelry..." she said, though when he turned to grab something from the dresser and presented it to her, she stared at the headband that was hers. At least her eyes changed from hard and cautious to surprise as she looked up at him for a moment before reaching forward to take the headband, resting back on her legs as she looked down at it though made no move to place it back on her head.

After another minute, she gently folds it and placed it in the corner of the cell where she slept, turning back to the front after that was finished. "....Thank you.." There was no asking for anything even though he said he'd get her anything; he probably already knew what she wanted and he cannot/will not give it to her. So there was no need to even bother. Sighing softly, she pushed the plate back toward the bars, half eaten and yet full. All the food was far too rich and filling for her right now. It seemed that she was a little more relaxed now though, which may help her be more talkative.
 
He relaxed at her reaction to the headband. "We place great stock in ceremony." he said, "But I feel that things need to change." he said, "Great white apes came not long ago. They had sticks that shouted with thunder, and great wooden boats the size of towns. They taught me many things." he said, "And when they sought to take advantage of me and my people we slaughtered them to the man. It was not hard." he smiled, tapping his head. "But I a no stupid lizard. I remember their words-on-paper. Read their books."

He leaned back. "And so I... Have a plan."
 
Listening, her ears tilted forward a little bit as he spoke about apes that had came, hearing of what they could do and what they had attempted to do. She had heard of those apes, but none were ever seen and were told in a way that said that the teller didn't believe them. With a soft frown as he smiled and leaned back to relax, she didn't understand what it was that he had planned. "Did your plan had to involve my tribe?" she asked rather bluntly. She recalled his vague statement the previous night about tribes, and likely the mention of them had something to do with his so-called plan.
 
"...I am sorry about your friends and family." he said softly. "But I spared your strongest, and your sister." he said, "My people itch. They desire war. If I did not hold them back, they would roll over and utterly destroy each tribe. As it stands, I only take half." he said. "With a common foe, the tribes will unite, and grow stronger. Strong enough to face the White Apes, strong enough to defend us when they come in force." he said, "And... peace follows."
 
Despite hearing that her sister was spared, she still clenched her fists tightly in her lap, her hand from last night that she injured before already aching a little from her scabbed puncture wounds. Perhaps it made sense, but it didn't make it any better that her tribe was part of the casualty of keeping his people from ruthlessly destroying all tribes. It ached her that she was the princess and yet she couldn't do anything to keep her tribe from being overtaken. "How will there be peace if your people seeks war..?" she asked after a minute to calm herself.
 
He sighed.
"The tribes of this land will fall upon us." he said quietly. "We will be a sacrifice upon the altar of the future. I may live, I might not - it is up to them." he said quietly. "I am nervous, but I am adamant - this needs to happen, if we are all to survive." he rose. "I know my people. They will not stop. I cannot stop them. So I will bring hell upon them, because they deserve it."
 
Her eyes widened as he answered; it was just so foreign that he would ensure peace by sacrificing his own people that it was rather shocking for her. Shuddering softly, she glanced away from him, unsure of what to think of him with this information. This was all to ensure that all the tribes would unite... Closing her eyes in thought, she slowly brought her tail around herself as her hands laid on top of it. "I see..."
 
He smiled sadly to himself. "Now then. I have some hunts to oversee. I will return shortly." he said, bowing out. He wanted her to think, to reflect on this. If he was to die - if his people were to die - then... Well, he wanted not to be alone when he was vilified and hated.
 
It was certainly a lot to take in as she sat there on the straw bed some time since he left. Talise felt so conflicted, there was nothing but thoughts running through her head. Again she shuddered as she pulled her legs up so as to wrap her arms around them, her chin resting gently on her knees as she rewrapped her tail around her feet, covering her more exposed part of herself. What is she to do, to think? She should be trying to escape, maybe find what was left of her tribe, but can't... 'So why tell me?' she then thought, her thoughts shifting in further confusion. He explained the reasons for her being there, more out of his curiosity as well as just because she's someone/something new to talk to.
 
It was some time before he returned, laughing with his men. There were directions to cook, there was plans made on the spot, celebrations planned. He matched into his house, smiling upon her. "We have felled a great beast! It is a wonderful day. Shall you like to join the festivities?"
 
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