02-16-2019, 12:12 PM
During all his time spent in Beqanna, there was one place Aten had not gone very often despite his own curiosity: the Mountain. The reason for this was not the imposing sight of the large monument stretching for the sky high above his head, or the numerous amounts of horses that gathered there, who for all he knew could be the enemies of his home. No, it was something else entirely; he knew there was a source of magic there, something intimidating, not necessarily dangerous, but something he would not want to mess with.
He preferred to stay at the foot of the mountain, where others dared not tread, only watching with curious eyes as others climbed the trail that led to the top to confront the magical force that existed up there.
But one day, when he once again drifted away from Taiga, his curiosity got the better of him as it did when he was a foal. He followed a large group of horses up to the top, feeling an imposing presence settle on his heart as he got closer. But once he reached the top, the intimidation disappeared, replaced with something... almost warm, comforting, like the feeling he used to have when he was with his dam during a scary time.
Whatever was up here, it was powerful, but it had called others here, Aten having answered unwittingly. He listened to the voice as others did, surprised by what was going on. They were working on a cure for the Plague? And he had been blind to it this entire time? He could've been out here helping to find a cure, instead of waiting around in the Taiga, but he'd sat around and done nothing. Never before had the stallion felt more unworthy of his kingdom home.
So, when the force spoke of the final ingredient needed to cure the Plague, Aten did not hesitate to partake. He followed the other numerous horses down the Mountain and in the direction of the Island resort, a journey that took quite some time since they had to travel a great distance. That wasn't even to say about the swim, but Aten would cross that ocean when he came to it.
Every hour he spent on his travels was another that stripped energy from the stallion's body, but still he pressed on. When he got to the ocean along with other horses, he, for a moment, hesitated. He had swum before and was not afraid of the ocean, but a distance that massive to travel? Seeing some of the gifts the others possessed, he was suddenly jealous that he'd been born a normal horse. Maybe with a gift he'd have a better chance of survival.
Shaking his head to steel his resolve, the stallion stepped into the ocean, feeling the slight tingle of his burn scars all the way up on his belly when he got deep enough, and began swimming. He was tired by a small point into his journey, so the stallion adjusted himself to try and preserve his energy while still going on. He was a good distance in when he felt a bit more normal, not as fatigued, and was enjoying his swim.
But anything can change in a moment.
Aten, at first, thought it was seaweed of some kind, that brushed against his leg, until he felt it again, and this time... well, he couldn't really describe it. To his attuned senses, the way whatever had brushed against his leg did... it just didn't feel like seaweed. It was a little more aggressive, tight, as if whatever brushed him had been trying to grab him and pull him under.
Not trying to think about worst case scenario, Aten pressed on, but then he felt it again. Swimming a bit slower so he could look around, the stallion felt a chill run through his body, for he didn't know of any dangerous sea creatures that could cause the sensation he felt on his legs. He'd figure it out soon enough... like in, right about, now.
Without warning, something suddenly grabbed the stallion's hind leg and pulled, hard. Aten felt his entire back half go under water, doing his best to paddle with his front legs and keep himself above to breathe. Whatever grabbed him didn't hold on at first, so Aten had a chance to start swimming. He could see the island in the distance now, and tried to push himself, but also knew if he did so, he might get tired faster and succumb to whatever was attacking him.
It was a tough situation indeed.
Several times the same thing happened, with either Aten's front or back half going under the waves. About five times into whatever was happening though, a new sensation was added. After whatever grabbed him let go, Aten felt a sharp, tearing sensation on his left gaskin, indicating somthing had either bitten or clawed him. It wasn't extremely deep, but it was quite painful, and slowed the stallion down immensely while the wound was fresh.
The ocean water did something to calm the sting, but very little in the long run since now, he was receiving multiple wounds on his body. His legs, two on his belly, one near his breastbone. Now it wasn't just fatigue from the swim that was tiring him out, and the longer it was taking him to reach the island shore, the more Aten feared for his life.
Aten was now roughly 30 yards from the island shore, and still being attacked. At least now, some of them had subsided to a grab and not clawing at him, but that didn't make him any less fearful. His eyes lit up with hope when he saw how close he was, but in an instant, all that hope vanished as the stallion's body disappeared beneath the ocean's surface with the quickness of a bolt of lightning.
Aten was not a creature built to see underwater very well, but shapes and slight colors were all that mattered. All around him, he could see little creatures swimming, a few feet in length at most and skin that was flashing like the ocean's surface in a storm. Aten had no knowledge of what these creatures were, but could tell they were the ones that attacked him since they seemed to be circling him, assessing him.
Instantly, Aten knew they were not sharks, otherwise they would've torn him to shreds at the smell of his blood. He wracked his brain for an answer, but came up empty-hoofed. One of the creatures swam toward him and lashed out with something that Aten could only guess were it's legs. It was fast, too fast for Aten's liking, and he tried to break for the surface to avoid it. Unfortunately, he was nowhere near fast enough, and he felt the creature latch onto his neck with two of it's legs. He felt a tearing sensation in the skin as the creature held on, and then let go, which gave Aten the time he needed to get to the surface.
He breached and sucked in a huge breath, coughing up a small mouthfull of water. What in the world had just happened? He could feel the new wounds on his neck... what the hell could've caused that? In shock, Aten did nothing for a moment, which allowed the creatures to attack again.
This time, it was faster, and harder. Multiple creatures grabbed Aten's legs and pulled him under again, this time more than just two feet. At least a few yards down now, Aten's ears were starting to hurt as he realized the creatures were trying to...
Drown him...
Panicking, the stallion kicked out with his legs, managing to strike the creatures holding him. It wasn't a hard kick, given he was in the water, but enough to stun them to let him go. Aten made a mad swim for the surface, feeling his lungs deprived of the air he so desperately needed. The creatures chased after him, unknown to the stallion, and latched on again. This time, Aten swiveled around with his teeth and grabbed one by it's abnormally large head, biting down hard enough for it to let him go. He did the same with the other three and continued his break for the surface.
Getting above water again, Aten didn't even think about the breath he needed. He started swimming for shore as fast as he could, overcome by fear and adrenaline to get out of the water. Every time he thought he saw a creature come near him, he would lash out with his teeth and hooves to chase them off, having to do this maneuver many times by the time he got to the island shore.
By the time he hit the banks of the water, far too shallow for the creatures to follow him, the stallion was absolutely exhausted. Not even taking the time to assess his wounds, Aten dragged himself to shore and all but collapsed on the sand, briefly nothing other horses had also made it to the shore before he laid his head down and closed his eyes to try and rest.
OOC: Aten was attacked by a shoal of humboldt squid (I'm sure there is other species that would do so, I'm just a fan of them).
Also, tried to hash this out as fast as I could to partake in the quest; I found out about it last minute. If I am not allowed to participate because I passed the deadline for the post required please let me know.
He preferred to stay at the foot of the mountain, where others dared not tread, only watching with curious eyes as others climbed the trail that led to the top to confront the magical force that existed up there.
But one day, when he once again drifted away from Taiga, his curiosity got the better of him as it did when he was a foal. He followed a large group of horses up to the top, feeling an imposing presence settle on his heart as he got closer. But once he reached the top, the intimidation disappeared, replaced with something... almost warm, comforting, like the feeling he used to have when he was with his dam during a scary time.
Whatever was up here, it was powerful, but it had called others here, Aten having answered unwittingly. He listened to the voice as others did, surprised by what was going on. They were working on a cure for the Plague? And he had been blind to it this entire time? He could've been out here helping to find a cure, instead of waiting around in the Taiga, but he'd sat around and done nothing. Never before had the stallion felt more unworthy of his kingdom home.
So, when the force spoke of the final ingredient needed to cure the Plague, Aten did not hesitate to partake. He followed the other numerous horses down the Mountain and in the direction of the Island resort, a journey that took quite some time since they had to travel a great distance. That wasn't even to say about the swim, but Aten would cross that ocean when he came to it.
Every hour he spent on his travels was another that stripped energy from the stallion's body, but still he pressed on. When he got to the ocean along with other horses, he, for a moment, hesitated. He had swum before and was not afraid of the ocean, but a distance that massive to travel? Seeing some of the gifts the others possessed, he was suddenly jealous that he'd been born a normal horse. Maybe with a gift he'd have a better chance of survival.
Shaking his head to steel his resolve, the stallion stepped into the ocean, feeling the slight tingle of his burn scars all the way up on his belly when he got deep enough, and began swimming. He was tired by a small point into his journey, so the stallion adjusted himself to try and preserve his energy while still going on. He was a good distance in when he felt a bit more normal, not as fatigued, and was enjoying his swim.
But anything can change in a moment.
Aten, at first, thought it was seaweed of some kind, that brushed against his leg, until he felt it again, and this time... well, he couldn't really describe it. To his attuned senses, the way whatever had brushed against his leg did... it just didn't feel like seaweed. It was a little more aggressive, tight, as if whatever brushed him had been trying to grab him and pull him under.
Not trying to think about worst case scenario, Aten pressed on, but then he felt it again. Swimming a bit slower so he could look around, the stallion felt a chill run through his body, for he didn't know of any dangerous sea creatures that could cause the sensation he felt on his legs. He'd figure it out soon enough... like in, right about, now.
Without warning, something suddenly grabbed the stallion's hind leg and pulled, hard. Aten felt his entire back half go under water, doing his best to paddle with his front legs and keep himself above to breathe. Whatever grabbed him didn't hold on at first, so Aten had a chance to start swimming. He could see the island in the distance now, and tried to push himself, but also knew if he did so, he might get tired faster and succumb to whatever was attacking him.
It was a tough situation indeed.
Several times the same thing happened, with either Aten's front or back half going under the waves. About five times into whatever was happening though, a new sensation was added. After whatever grabbed him let go, Aten felt a sharp, tearing sensation on his left gaskin, indicating somthing had either bitten or clawed him. It wasn't extremely deep, but it was quite painful, and slowed the stallion down immensely while the wound was fresh.
The ocean water did something to calm the sting, but very little in the long run since now, he was receiving multiple wounds on his body. His legs, two on his belly, one near his breastbone. Now it wasn't just fatigue from the swim that was tiring him out, and the longer it was taking him to reach the island shore, the more Aten feared for his life.
Aten was now roughly 30 yards from the island shore, and still being attacked. At least now, some of them had subsided to a grab and not clawing at him, but that didn't make him any less fearful. His eyes lit up with hope when he saw how close he was, but in an instant, all that hope vanished as the stallion's body disappeared beneath the ocean's surface with the quickness of a bolt of lightning.
Aten was not a creature built to see underwater very well, but shapes and slight colors were all that mattered. All around him, he could see little creatures swimming, a few feet in length at most and skin that was flashing like the ocean's surface in a storm. Aten had no knowledge of what these creatures were, but could tell they were the ones that attacked him since they seemed to be circling him, assessing him.
Instantly, Aten knew they were not sharks, otherwise they would've torn him to shreds at the smell of his blood. He wracked his brain for an answer, but came up empty-hoofed. One of the creatures swam toward him and lashed out with something that Aten could only guess were it's legs. It was fast, too fast for Aten's liking, and he tried to break for the surface to avoid it. Unfortunately, he was nowhere near fast enough, and he felt the creature latch onto his neck with two of it's legs. He felt a tearing sensation in the skin as the creature held on, and then let go, which gave Aten the time he needed to get to the surface.
He breached and sucked in a huge breath, coughing up a small mouthfull of water. What in the world had just happened? He could feel the new wounds on his neck... what the hell could've caused that? In shock, Aten did nothing for a moment, which allowed the creatures to attack again.
This time, it was faster, and harder. Multiple creatures grabbed Aten's legs and pulled him under again, this time more than just two feet. At least a few yards down now, Aten's ears were starting to hurt as he realized the creatures were trying to...
Drown him...
Panicking, the stallion kicked out with his legs, managing to strike the creatures holding him. It wasn't a hard kick, given he was in the water, but enough to stun them to let him go. Aten made a mad swim for the surface, feeling his lungs deprived of the air he so desperately needed. The creatures chased after him, unknown to the stallion, and latched on again. This time, Aten swiveled around with his teeth and grabbed one by it's abnormally large head, biting down hard enough for it to let him go. He did the same with the other three and continued his break for the surface.
Getting above water again, Aten didn't even think about the breath he needed. He started swimming for shore as fast as he could, overcome by fear and adrenaline to get out of the water. Every time he thought he saw a creature come near him, he would lash out with his teeth and hooves to chase them off, having to do this maneuver many times by the time he got to the island shore.
By the time he hit the banks of the water, far too shallow for the creatures to follow him, the stallion was absolutely exhausted. Not even taking the time to assess his wounds, Aten dragged himself to shore and all but collapsed on the sand, briefly nothing other horses had also made it to the shore before he laid his head down and closed his eyes to try and rest.
OOC: Aten was attacked by a shoal of humboldt squid (I'm sure there is other species that would do so, I'm just a fan of them).
Also, tried to hash this out as fast as I could to partake in the quest; I found out about it last minute. If I am not allowed to participate because I passed the deadline for the post required please let me know.