Thread: Past meets future! (Celeste's Daughter & malmshodes)

The leaves above wrestled as the tiny things streaked across the tree tops in a mad dash for blood. Each of the tiny things was no more than a foot high, with a small black tail that ended in a tiny spike, and clawed fingers. Their eyes glowed black with a light that shouldn't be. On each of them, somewhere, sometimes on their necks and other times on different limbs, there was a pair of black marks that stunk of rotten flesh, where dark black veins moved into the rest of their bodies. They moved like apes, and spiders, shooting from branch to branch without any fear of falling. They tried to remain silent at first, but as the blood grew closer, and their chance of freedom from flesh drew near with it, their excitement got the better of them, and they all let out excited chirps and screeches that sounded like birds being attacked by injured cats. Despite the need to taste their victim's blood, and the excitement which had all but gotten the better of them, the creatures were still capable of thought, and knew a head on assault would only end in failure. As much as their flesh pained them, they did not wish to discard the mortal shells by destruction. Only the freeing touch would be enough. They broke rank, and moved so their bodies were circling a particular spot over the thick forest canopy. It took a second, but they were in position to attack, and so they did, because the target knew they were there, and would only continue on if there was even a second's hesitation. The first one to jump was old yellow, who was named so because he was the first to turn, after trying to run. He let out a strangled, crazed scream before he jumped into the leaves, which moved aside for him, and landed with a soft thud on the ground floor. Within seconds, the others followed suit, landing likewise till all forty of them were on the floor, grinning like killers at the individual, trapped in their circle. They didn't move right away, enjoying the feel of superior position and numbers far too much to let the moment pass without savoring it, if only for an instant. All their dark eyes glared with smugness at their prey. He was large, but only compared with them. To touch his peak, only six of them would need to stand on each other's shoulder. They weren't worried about his size difference. Forty of the tainted were more than enough to deal with all but the strongest of demons. Even a single could be a threat, if given enough of a surprise advantage. They were a great deal stronger than they looked. His face was pale, and his eyes were grey. They had seen his type before, and knew he wasn't a higher demon, and so wasn't a threat, or even a challenge against their miniature horde.. Their grins all widened. Well? He said, taking his hands out of his garments pockets, and showing his palms to them. Are you all going to come at me, because I know that's what she wants, or stand there, staring at me like cowards too anxious to follow through? He challenged their smiles with one of his own, and motioned them to come. They did, with a scream, and it was the last mistake any of them would ever make. The prey put his hands in his pockets and closed his eyes. Unseen to most of the tainted, and unnoticed by the ones who were in position to see, something began to happen. Along the back of the lower demon their were little bumps, clear which jutted out like stalagmites, started glowing a fain, ominous grayish purple. Just before the the things were able to reach him, the prey opened his eyes, and a burst of purple light shot from around him, and turned every tainted into ash. He took a moment to smile at the dust, scattering to the wind before his eyes narrowed, and he turned his nose to the air to sniff. She's here. He growled, before spinning on his heels, and taking off after the scent. The scent was close, and he was upon her in a matter of brief seconds. Just as she came into view, the lower demon howled with rage, and shot himself in the air, claws outstretched before him. It wasn't till the last second that he caught a look at her face, and a better scent of her, he realized it wasn't who he was searching for, and forced his body to veer off to the right, hitting a nearby tree.