Amongst the Natives (for Monique_Minx)

[FaeBites]

Even sleep could bring Saita no relief, her dreams pain laced and vivid red. Losing herself between memory and nightmare in a twisted picture show behind her closed, flickering lids. She was warm at least, cocooned where Karvos had left her, unaware of the night until something tugged insistently on her conscious. The sound of whispered voices, one almost childlike. Something was trying to be remembered, and she relaxed, letting it come to her.

Maja! Catanga!

The bandit was awake instantly; ignoring the throbbing pain in the majority of her body she let her eyes adjust to the dark. It took her a moment to distinguish the form of Catanga with the smaller form of the child. Pure, inane rage replaced whatever gentler emotions she felt earlier. Infuriated that the males couldn’t complete even one task properly. “Karvos! Mati! Natis! Ari! You idiotic pigs, She’s escaping!” Saita staggered to her feet, but realised quickly she would be no help running after the princess.

Karvos awoke instantly at the sound of her voice, never thinking he’d be relieved to hear her sharp, angry tones again. He stood quickly, noticing the cooling absence of the child that he should have woken up over earlier. A swift kick woke the others and with a snarl from Saita they caught the fleeing prisoner in their sight. The two brothers let out a whoop of excitement, mock howling as the hunt began. The four figures followed her, immediate hunting instincts spreading them out. Karvos and Ari took to the trees, showing they to were skilled in above ground as much as on ground. The princess was slowed down with the child, though the girl wasn’t their concern. If they separated she’d realise soon enough they were willing to let the child go instead of split their forces.

The team, for all their differences, worked well together. Silent then suddenly making noise to reveal their position, controlling her escape. They blocked off the route back toward her tribe first, Karvos in the trees and Mati on the ground forcing her to choose another direction. They might have only just woken up, but even Ari was skilled as the rest of them in the hunt. This was, after all, what the bandits were trained for. As they closed in around her, Natis was grinning ferally, following her as closely as a bloodhound on a scent. The glimpses of her through the trees was enough to keep his blood sizzling in excitement, showing no sign of fatigue.

Back at camp Saita fumed, pacing the fire until her weakness nearly made her topple into it. She sat with a huff, her fingers tracing the rapidly darkening bruise the leader had left along the side of her face, not to mention the handprints around her throat, and the rope burns around her wrists. The rest was hidden beneath clean clothes, free of dried blood. She stirred the embers of the fire, unable to settle with her plans starting to crumble around her. Was Catanga required for the attack? No, but the tribe warned of their numbers would be more difficult then with their uncertainty. She distracted herself by imagining the punishments she’d invoke on the males if they returned empty handed.

 

[monique_minx]

Catanga winced at the sounds of their howling as she ran, the trees drawing near but suddenly her path was blocked by Mati and cradling Maja in her arms slowed her down greatly. She would be unable to fight Mati while she was carrying Maja, she steered right and threw Maja up into a tree.

"Run Maja! Go! Do not stop until you get home!" Catanga yelled and tried to draw the bandits' attention away.

She left Maja to run through the trees and could only hope the young one would escape while Cat covered more ground to lead them away.

"Catch me if you can you bastards!" Catanga called, a deep growl in her voice as her heart was pounding with effort.

She rounded another tent, the disturbance waking the occupants and Cat began to fret somewhat but it didn't matter as long as Maja escaped the camp. Catanga smacked straight into Ari and was stunned, he fell back after running at fall speed apparently just as surprised as she was.

She felt hands running over her arms and hauling her backwards, they were laughing and calling out to say they'd caught her. Catanga struggled uselessly, it was over and she still didn't know if Maja had escaped. She felt Natis putrid breath on the back of her neck as he quick marched her back to Saita, she wanted to dry retch!

"Pigs!" Catanga started to struggle again only to have Natis pull her head back by her hair.

"Listen you little bitch! I was sleeping! Shouldn't be chasing you around! But maybe you'll pay me in kind..." He snarled at her, grabbing her ass with his other hand and securing her struggles with the tight grip on her hair.

Natis shoved Catanga back into the tent with so much force that she fell to the ground at Saita's feet, she looked up at her old friend and knew this was a very failed attempt at escape but well worth it if Maja escaped.

"Wriggly bit of fish isn't she Saita?!" Natis growled and kicked Cat in the stomach, she arched and yelped in return as she awaited Saita's deliberation.

 

[Bsquad]

The Scout

The comotion that erupted from inside the tent was suprising. Apparently Catanga wasn't the docile prisoner that they had thought that she was. As teh young woman tore out of the tent, carrying a child as she raced for the trees. The Scout stood and followed as the camp started to rise at Saita's hollered comands and curses. He didn't know just what might be in store for the girl, fleeing unarmed from this encampment...she wouldn't stand a chance. He unslung his rifle, and was ready to fire in defense of the girl, but he watched her toss the child into the trees.

She was willing to sacrafice herself for a child?

Foolish.

He didn't fire a round, instead deciding that perhaps keeping the focus of the attention on Saita would give the child enough chance to escape. It went against his nature to scarafice expedience and opportunity to honor the sacrifice of a woman, but if she was willing to do it, the warrior in him demanded that he honor the sacrafice of another warrior. He slung the rifle as he saw Natis tackle her and wrestle the young woman to the ground. He stalked down the path towards them, the bandit oblivious to his approach. The scout heard the words, and vanished into the shadows as he noted that the bandit was lifitng her up and heading back to Saita. He watched as the man passed by him, and he resisted the urge to kill him. He trailed along, back to the tent, back towards where Saita waited. The scout wasn't sure just what he had in mind, but he knew that he'd have to be there, observing the girl for as long as possible before drifing away into the night. As the hulk Natis shoved her into the tent, the scout waited in silence...hidden in shadows. The activity inside drifted out into the night air, and he could see the silouttes of Catanga and Natis standing there just inside the entry...and the sight of Saita standing there and watching. The motion of Natis, shoving Catanga to the ground and kicking her was what pushed him to act. He drew the native blade and twirled it over in his hand.

The weapon was entirely local, no one would know who had thrown it...but he had the disturbing suspicion that Saita had seen the glint of the blade as he'd twirled it, but she couldn't move fast enough. The scout's arm snapped forward in perfect motion and the knife seemed to materialize squarely in the back of the brute. As he fell he could see the outline of his blade buried in the man's back...and that was the last he saw. The scout turned and vanished into the night, heading after the fleeing child.

War was coming, and unfortunately, the life of one woman was insignifigant when weighed against the thought that if the Schniders struck hard enough the bandits could be scattered and perhaps the Kamiski village could be saved from destruction.

 

[FaeBites]

Saita stood as she saw them return, relief and fury warring on her face. The bundle of princess that was dropped at her feet incurred a curl of her lip, and she might have kicked her herself had not Natis beaten her to it. The image brought another vividly to her mind, a woman rising from the ground, a bandit striking her down, red hair blaring against the blue sky, a protective rage so instinctual she’d forgotten it. Her head shook, clearing the memory, her eyes darkened. Any of her physical weakness wasn’t on show, though the bruising on her cheek, neck and wrists could all be glimpsed in the night.

Saita might have done something stupid, she might have done something she’d regret, anything to wipe the softer emotions from her memory. But there was a glimmer, a deadly glint, her eyes flickered past Natis to see it, her pupils dilating in surprise. The world seemed to slow down. She snarled a warning… To late to late! Leaping over Catangas form to shove Natis out of the way. She knew by the wet sound of torn flesh she’d moved to slow, her body slamming into his with a flare of pain as her stitches tore. They crumpled to the ground, and she felt his life snuff out before she even looked into his face.

There was a shriek, uncanny and broken as Natis’ brother saw it unfold, to far away to do anything. Mati landed beside them on the ground, while Saita was already staggering to her feet, leaving his prone form to step outside, where rain had started to fall. The attacker was gone though, and she had nothing more but a glimpse of his face. The woman swore, stomping back in as Karvos tried to comfort the grieving man. He cried, his hands rocking the dead man as though the motion might bring him back. She grieved for the loss, really she did, but in a shut off way that saved her from anymore pain.

“Take him away, Karvos.” She ordered, only to be confronted with the form of Mati, his face contorted with grief and agony. “Where is my justice, Saita? What did my brother die for but some spoilt, stupid, whore!” he snarled the words, his foot lashing out to kick the tribal woman again, but Saita shoved him back, making the blow swing wide. “Pull yourself together! Your brothers assassin will be killed for his efforts, but this, right now, does nothing for us. You have to focus on the bigger plans!” She told him feircly, the brother swung to strike her down, but his wrist was caught in Karvo’s steel like grip.

“You and your damn plans! We’ll all die for them. Western devils or not. That bitch deserves to die!” He spat on her, Karvos’ hold the only thing keeping them both from the large mans revenge. “Get him out of here – Karvos!” She snarled, watching the brother dragged away out into the rain. She eye’d Natis’ remains sourly, she hadn’t liked the brother, but she respected his skills. “Ari, get it cleaned up.” She turned then, looking at Catanga. In two quick steps she was before her, dragging her up with a fist in her hair. “Try anything, anything so stupid again – and I’ll give you to Mati.” She hissed, backhanding her former friend. She recovered the rope, and bound her wrists tightly, tying her to the post again before lifting her shirt to reveal the extent of the damage.

There was a quick glimpse of puffy scars, bites and welts, blood dripping down her ribs from a particularly nasty stitched cut, then she turned away. She swabbed it with a clean cloth, then let it be. Karvos returned without Mati, and soon enough one of the medicine men returned with Ari to remove the body. Saita had kept the dagger though, and looked over it silently.

“Change of plans, alert the squads. We attack at sunset.” She felt him hesitate, her eyes narrowed at him dangerously until he reluctantly left. “You always had to make a mess, didn’t you, tanga?” She hissed at the other woman, her eyes blackened with fury and managed pain. “They’ll die for it. All of them. And the children will grow to know nothing but the bandits way.”

 

[monique_minx]

Catanga saw the flash of steel before it ever hit Natis, she kept her head down though and let Saita run to aid him. She didn't feel anything for the man that had been so cruel to her and when he hit the ground with a sickening thud she merely flinched at the sound. Mati was distraught at the loss, Cat felt the air pass by her as Saita pushed him and his kick missed her.

“You and your damn plans! We’ll all die for them. Western devils or not. That bitch deserves to die!”

Catanga felt the spit slide down her back, she didn't move; too afraid that she would enrage the grieving brother further. She heard Saita ordering Karvos to take Mati out of the room and telling Ari to 'clean it up' which she could only assume meant Natis. Catanga yelped as Saita gripped her hair and pulled her up, Cat's face was defiant and as sour as the woman before her.

“Try anything, anything so stupid again – and I’ll give you to Mati.”

Her slap hit Cat like a tonne of bricks; not because it hurt which of course it did but because it had been Saita that slapped her. Catanga bit back the yelp and remained silent as Saita bound her wrists and attached the rope to the stake once again.

Catanga saw the marks on Saita as she lifted her shirt to assess the damage and Cat bit back the gasp, she didn't want Saita to think she cared about her after all the woman had done! Cat looked away as Natis' body was removed, it wasn't her fault, she didn't kill the man and she didn't know who did.

“Change of plans, alert the squads. We attack at sunset.”

Catanga looked up, her eyes wide with shock and anger; she wouldn't really do this would she? Cat knew the answer even if she didn't like it.

“You always had to make a mess, didn’t you, Tanga? They’ll die for it. All of them. And the children will grow to know nothing but the bandits way.”

"Don't do this Saita! Don't do this just because you hate me for not coming with you! Don't do this just because you hate yourself!" Catanga snarled furiously at her old friend as her eyes welled up with tears.

"Can't you see what this has done to you? Can't you see how they've corrupted you?" Catanga's eyes flooded over and she looked away so Saita wouldn't see her tears.

 

[FaeBites]

“Corrupted me?!”

The bandit spun around, the words bordering on a shriek. Catangas voice echoing in her head. Her body shook, her eyes wild, she glimpsed something wet in the other womans eyes but was to far gone to process it.

“This has nothing to do about you not leaving! You wanted to stay with the precious fucking tribe, fine! You wanted to stick with your liar of a father, that’s your choice. But what I’ve become is just as much your fault as anyone else’s! You abandoned me, the one time I came to you for real help and you didn’t even bother to show up!” She couldn’t stop the words, her body ached, throbbing in time with the festering wound inside of her that had refused to heal after all these years. Something warned her though, perhaps the vague expression, the blankness that led to someone really not knowing what you were going on about. Saita scowled, hating to have to delve into this now, but having come far enough to not stop now.

“I couldn’t find you, so I left the message with Demascus. But you never showed up. I waited for hours! I was going to admit that I’d made a mistake. But no, you proved to be just like your father. I needed your help and you left me to die.” She ended in a snarl, the dagger flicking from her hands to embed into the dirt by the fire. “When the bandits came to find me, Yushak, the leader, thought I was betraying them like I had our own tribe. They had me tortured to insure I spoke the truth.” Her voice had lowered, but the pain at the memories, and her hatred for the other woman remained there, glittering like a wall of daggers around her to keep the world away.

“The western taint is why I lead this attack. But that is why I’ll show no mercy, Tanga. So fuck you, judge me all you want but this is on your shoulders.” She glowered at the other woman then turned away, a messenger came to the tent and she went to deal with him, sending him scurrying off into the predawn rain once more. She stood in the opening of the tent, watching the rain fall over the barely visible tents and figures. Yushak would call her soon, smiling every time she winced, and ask her why she had ordered the attack. But Saita didn’t care anymore, just a few more hours then the pain would go away. That’s all she wanted.

 

[monique_minx]

"Domo never gave me a message Saita..." Catanga muttered confused, she looked up at Saita from where she knelt before dropping her eyes again.

Cat ignored everything else Saita had said in her insults as they didn't mean as much as this did. She had no idea why Domascus wouldn't pass on such an important message but suddenly found herself wondering if Saita would lie about such a thing, it seemed frivolous and she seemed adamant.

Saita froze, but she’d had years to obsess over that moment, she just threw an icy glare over her shoulder, "Don’t try to pull that on me now! He was always your little token, puppy dogging after you and your father"

Catanga looked up at her old friend and glowered at her, "If I take your words for truth, why do you seem to think I'm the liar?! Which of us is the bandit anyway?!"

Saita opened her mouth, then paused, seething silently. Unwilling to admit she might have a point there. She finally turned back to face her, throwing her arms out in an annoyed gesture. "But why wouldn’t he tell you? That makes no sense, he-" She paused, as though remembering something in a different light, the hardness of usual soft eyes, a tightness of his lips, too upset to notice..

Saita shook her head to clear it, "There was nothing to gain from it!"

Cat was confused, "What are you talking about?"

Saita shook her head again, her dark hair falling around her face. She clung to her anger, "I told him I had to see you. That I’d made a mistake. I told him! What does he gain from not telling you?!" The answer was there, somewhere, it came to her slowly, bringing a painful surge of hate with it. "Your father!" She hissed, her wayward actions and betrayal had made her a liability to the tribe. He could easiliy turn a blind eye and command Domo to silence.

"My father wouldn't...couldn't..." But Cat knew he would if it meant preventing Saita from potentially corrupting Catanga and drawing her away from the tribe.

Catanga stared at the ground wildly, she had no idea what to say to this as she had never known of it until now. She looked up at Saita, tears running down her cheeks now as she thought of the time wasted.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know...." She gasped, her cheeks stained with salty tears.

Saita dragged in breaths, ragged and painful, her chest heaving under the emotions. Her green eyes couldn’t seem to pull away from Catangas form. She did care. She hadn’t known. It wasn’t her fault. The words screamed in the back of her mind, she flinched at the tears running down her friends face, flinched away from the possibilities.

Her eyes glimmered with something long thought lost, some redeeming feature she refused to believe still existed. “Catanga…” Her voice was tortured, she took a step forward, her hand out stretched as though to come to her. Her voice broke through though. And the other woman shook herself.

"NO! No, No. This changes nothing! It’s already planned; it’s already going ahead. So long I’ve waited for this. He left me! He left me to this fate as surely as though it was him that raises the lash every time, or breaks my skin, or threatens my body and life! This doesn’t change anything"

But the woman was horrified to find she was crying as well, tears that burnt her cheeks and condemned her, she wiped them away furiously, backing away from the woman who had the power to bring everything crumbling down around the bandit. “No, no, no!”

Catanga yearned to stand and take Saita in her arms but bound as she was she had to be content with pursing her lips and trying to stem the flow of tears. She shook her head sadly, looking down and then back up at Saita.

"I didn't leave you Saita, I would have come if I had known but please don't do this....don't let them decimate our families and our homes. My father made a foolish mistake, he must have thought you would try to take me away..." Her voice trailed off, she wasn't certain but it was the only reason she could think of.

"If you do this, it's forever. You can never take it back..." Her voice cracked, unable to go on; her eyes pleaded with Saita.

Saita backed away until one of the sleeping mats tangled in her feet and brought her to the ground; she suffered in silence as the fall jarred all her wounds. Her head was still shaking, tears still dripping down her cheeks. "I can’t stop it, it’s already done, I was just a tool, a way to a means, he wont stop it now that I’ve unleashed it! But it’ll be okay. It’ll be fine. I’d have saved you, you were the only good to come of that tribe anyway!" Her eyes had a faint crazed light to them, the sudden loss over everything she was fighting for leaving a emptiness inside of her that threatened what remained of her sanity.

Catanga shook her head sadly, "Saita..." She had no idea what to say to her old friend but breathed in deep as a thought formed in her mind.

"Take me to him then, take me to the leader please Saita? The tribe cannot stand against so many, you and I are warriors and even with us...the tribe would not stand a chance! Take me to him so I may bargain for the Kamaski's..." Catanga bit her lip, this political stuff was all new to her but she'd do it to save her home.

The words broke through the slight slip into insanity, and pure unrequited horror over took the younger woman’s face. "What?! No! No! Tanga you don’t understand what that would mean to him." Her hands ran self-consciously over her covered arms, flinching from memories.

She pushed herself to her feet, shuddering like someone had thrown ice cold water over her. "I can’t let you do that, he’s already got me, he wont get you too. No, no, no" She shook her head vehemently, trying to think. The change in her was sudden, but not complete, she was walking a daggers edge and didn’t know which way she wanted to fall.

"Saita." Catanga spoke quietly, her voice glittering dangerously as her tears stopped and she looked up at the woman with a serious expression, one of royalty and expectance.

"I will not request it from you, I'm his captive and not your's. I'm not afraid of him, I'm not afraid to fight for my home." Cat's eyes levelled with Saita's as she issued an order to her, "Take me to him."

OOC: Great collaboration between Faebites and myself! Thank you Mistress!

 

[Bsquad]

OOC: Just a note, I'm abandoing all pretence of real world history, so nobody start getting aggrivated. This is fantasy.

IC:

Vincent Schnider

Vincent's night was not filled with the luxury of sleep. Too much was happening to quickly. He had been forced to consume coffee with the same gusto that a man dying of thirst would consume water. His elegant suit was rumpled, some blood that lingered from either Saita or Cantanga smeared his jacket pocket where the fine golden thread now resided. He'd sworn to himself that he would return it to her...the power of that emotion within his heart was disconcerting. He had never felt such a determined emotion flow within him, and it scared him somewhat. The young buisnessman had banished the tought, some things were better saved for different times. He stood inside his uncle's office...his office and opened the folding french doors onto it's balcony, letting the haze of cigar smoke drift out and allow some fresh air in. The wind that blew through ruffled the papers stacked on his desk. Instead of looking out he turned back and his eyes examined the mess.

A small decanter of brandy sat there, the crystal glass half empty beside it, a crystal ashtray held the smouldering remains of a cuban cigar, leaving a long curl of gray smoke rising from it. He examined the pages that were laid out on it, maps, telegraphs and couriered messages. After Catanga's capture, after Saita had stood on his walls, there had been both good news and bad. His guards were fewer than he would have liked. They were excellent soldiers however, from India, the West, all of the veterans of the US army, many of them Ghurkas, Apache, Mamlukes and otherwise. They were excellent soldiers, but they were gravely outnumbered. The governmor had pledged his support, being told that there was a rebellion in the making, he was more than willing to commit forces. The War Department had seconded twenty divisons worth of soldiers to these lands, all of them veteran forces from the wars in the far east and the South American campaigns. They were some of the best equipped and best trained, incorporating native troops whos loyalty was beyond question.

He lifted one of the pieces of paper, the layout of the official telegraph was familar, he'd read it enough.

With all possible haste Mr. Schnider, Colonel O'riley is being dispatched via the main rail line with elements of the 53rd Infantry divison. Their combat team will include their 9th Infantry Brigade 'The Glorious Bastards' the 10th Brigade 'The Mule skinners' and the 11th Brigade 'The Shalangei'. Along with that the 98th Apache Scout Company, 12th and 13th Dragoon Regiments and the 34th Artillery Regiment are being sent. All these forces will be arriving within three to four days. Also, one batalion of the 7th Calvalry Regiment is being dispatched from the River port of Benzadi to your town and mannor. They will be arriving before noon tomorrow. Colonel O'riley had been given overall command of this force, though at your discression any forces which arrive before that point shall fall under your command. You're being granted the honorary status as Major, but will differ to the command of Colonel O'Riley upon his arrival. Good luck to you Mr. Schnider, deal with this rebellion before I am forced to dispatch more troops and a general revolt occurs in the country side. -Governor General William G. Pershing.

Vincent looked at the paper, both good and bad. He would have two batallions of calvalry here tomorrow, a much faster response than anything his company could manage. He'd recived word from his offices in the Capital city that three Regiments worth of mercenaries had been raised, but before they could be sent inland they'd need to be properly organized and equipped, and that would take a week at most. Professional soldiers from the Army were an excellent tool to have at his disposal since this Colonel O'Riley would more than likely take the 'recomendations' of his own personel to heart since they knew the region. He'd have almost a division of veteran soldiers here...but they wouldn't be here for three days at best, four at most. He'd be on his own with some calvalry and his own mercenaries. He turned and looked out the french doors, the cool wind that was blowing in had sent a chill down his spine.

"Mr Schnider?" A voice called. He looked back to see one of the household staff with another pot of coffee in a silver serving set.

"No, not now Jakta. I think I've had enough for this evening." He said and stretched. He'd done all he could, and as the young native girl bowed and left he headed out of his study and instead walked towards the gymnasium. The room was small, but it posessed a punching bag and that release of directed violence was something that his body needed. He passed through the halways, flanked by a pair of men who looked ready for war. Both in khaki outfits, both holding the boxy bulk of Thompson submachineguns in their hands, one was as black as midnight and had a pair of aseagi resting on his back, the other was short, asian and with the steely eyed lethality, a long curved Katana on his back. He paid them no mind, they were warriors and they were very good at killing, that was why his family paid them for their services. Vincent walked into the gym adn the bodyguards stood silent vigil at the doors.

The young man walked across the room and shurugged off his jacket, transfering the golden chain from his jacket and wrapping it around his throat so he wouldn't lose it. He removed his undershirt and stod barechested in the room. The sight was not what you would expect for the pampered son of a rich family. He was muscled, he was practically carved in the vision of the gods of old. As he shifted his weight he droped into a fighting stance that would have been alien to an uneducated eye. It looked somewhat like the stance of a boxer, but slightly different...his fingers were curled at the first joing forward of his knuckles, his feet were poised beneath his shoulders and his body was bladed. It was the stance of Savate, a martial art that was older than any practiced in Japan or China. He began to punch the bag, and with each motion his stance was fast, faster than any boxer could manage. The blows were powerful, bone shattering in their intensity against the rough canvas of the bag. It was supposed to be the sport of a French Gentleman, but Vincent had know it's use as a deadly weapon, and had fought with it on many occasions. He'd learned it in his youth, something different than simply fencing or boxing for a sport. The French sport had been the style of the day, but for Vincent, he had seen the potential in the technique, relying on bodyguards and protectors was well enough, but being able to rely on oneself was much more important. As he beat out his tension on the bag, he felt the euphoria and relaxation that came from a good workout creeping into his body. There were many things that he should have been worried about, but for the moment he could ignore them with the grim determination of a fighter.

 

[FaeBites]

The sun was rising; Saita knew that should mean something. But her world buzzed brokenly, confined to the tent that surrounded her. Surrounded them. She reached for the anger, the pain, the sense of betrayal and revenge – knowing she was secure; she was defended when wrapped within it. But for the first time in years, she couldn’t reach it. Something held it at bay, listening, waiting. Her head thumped painfully, stress confounding her senses. Her eyes were forced back to her old friend as her name was spoken; she looked reluctantly… the tone making her skin prickle with ill-ease.

"I will not request it from you, I'm his captive and not your's. I'm not afraid of him, I'm not afraid to fight for my home” Saita flinched under both glare and words; the ring of authority - of command was distinct. The bandit trembled, just slightly. "Take me to him."

Silence followed in the tent as she struggled with herself, her eyes skittering away from the princesses own. For that was what she had become in so few words, royalty, barely recognisable to the girl Saita had run through the fields with, chased, laughed and danced with. As a Kamaski, she knew she could not disobey. Her mind struck gold. As a Kamaski. Slowly, very slowly, the bandit looked back up. Her expression was blank once more; her eyes seemed steely in their resolve. She met Catangas expectance without flinching.

“Once upon a time you were everything to me. Things change though, Catanga. You don’t own me anymore.” Her voice was quite, but bottomless with their indication. She turned without another word, and prowled outside into the growing dawn. Nothing was present to give away how the lie resonated through her being the moment she had said it. She might no longer be a Kamaski, but the bonds of loyalty to people are so much stronger then to things. No one stopped her as she moved, the rain falling down, sticking her hair to the sides of her face. No one looked up as she passed, some barely rousing from sleeping off their drunken stupor. So as she headed towards her own personalised hell, her chin never fell, and no one could pick the raindrops from the tears.

*****

It wasn’t until the sun had fully risen, and the camp was alive with movement, that Karvos stormed into the tent. His eyes were dark with anger, and something that seemed disturbingly like pain once more. “What have you done?” He hissed at the captive, yanking her up with a strong hand wrapped around her upper arm. “Are you so willing to hurt? To scream? To die? And to drag Saita down with you? Your plight is hopeless! You foolish girl. You have no idea what you’ve invoked on yourself. On us all.” He shook her lightly as he fumed, throwing her a look of disgust, something that seemed foreign on the face that had been so neutral in the past. He dragged her from the tent though, without giving her a chance to respond. The rain had stopped, though the air was still damp from it, even as the sun glowed warmly on the horizon.

He dragged her through the camp, towards the tents in the not so distant, distance. At the entrance he didn’t even bother looking at the guards, just shoved her through and followed. They stalked through the second screen and into the Leaders domain. The area was much like it was the previous day, a gaudy replication of a thrown room. The other bandits that were present reclined around the room, watching with smirks and condemning interest. There was no softening in these expressions, with lines of cruelty around their lips and eyes. It was soon realised these were the fanatics, the devoted to Yushak, elitists in their own way.

Loot and treasure was scattered in piles around the room, gold coins, jewellery, utensils and fine cloth. The man himself lazed in his thrown, as relaxed and arrogant as the previous day. He wore a black calfskin vest, open and revealing the planes of his muscular chest. Black leather pants, with a dagger and sheath adorning the belt, decorated his lower half. Heavy boots rose to just below his knee, the glittering glimpsed were cruelly skied spurs on each heel. He had a heavy gold chain around his neck, more loot, and rings on four fingers. He had one leg draped over the armrest again, the spur gleaming coldly as the leg hung, his other rested on the ground, by Saitas’ form.

Her own were curled beneath her on one side, so she was forced to lean into him. One of his hands rested against the back of her neck, his fingers glimpsed curling around her tanned skin. Her face was turned away to the right, though she didn’t seem to be seeing anything. The profile of her face was expressionless, but her body seemed impossibly tense, as though it was only his touch that kept her so still.

Yushak’s gaze travelled over Catanga slowly, each measure of skin seemed examined, as though weighing her flaws and beauties. Eventually, an amused smile twitched his lips. “Yes Karvos, you may leave. Pleasure ensure your grieving comrade does nothing stupid we’d all regret, and remind him to report to me later.” His voice was the same dangerous drawl, and without a word Karvos left, his pained expression having grown at the sight of Saita.

“Who does she remind you of, luka? Standing there so proud and defiant? Hmm?” He cooed nastily to the woman at his feet. She didn’t reply, and his brow twitched. Yushaks’ hand twisted viciously in her hair, yanking her head to look at her former friend. The right side of her face was revealed, dry blood having leaked from two parallel cuts, matching the rings on his right hand. Emerald eyes had loss their gloss, and the light that had appeared earlier was gone from them. “Or should I say… who reminded you of her? It is so clear now.” He continued, provoking the barest flinch.

“The girl I killed for.” She replied to him softly, knowing to remain silent would be the worse option. She tried to look away, but his hand tightened, forcing her eyes to remain on the other woman. Yushak smiled, and relaxed back once more. “So… Preena,” the word twisted darkly on his lips, “you wished to speak to me?”

 

[monique_minx]

Catanga watched in shock as Saita stormed from the tent, her words were like a knife; a knife that had been plunged through Catanga’s heart and the tears began to roll down her cheeks before she realized. Cat sat back on her heels, completely devastated that Saita would say such things.

“I never owned you Saita…” She whispered into the deafening silence, unheard by another.

For hours Catanga sat alone, the tears finally stopped coming and she shook her head at what seemed like a very hopeless situation. Karvos stormed in and Catanga’s forehead creased with confusion as he wrenched her up, she neglected to respond as it took little to realize that whatever was wrong had something to do with Saita. She didn’t struggle or cause Karvos trouble as he led her across the camp, her expression remained defiant throughout. Cat saw the guards as Karvos shoved her inside, she knew where she was long before he marched her past the second screen and sure enough there it was – that god awful excuse for a throne room.

Catanga could feel leering eyes on her but kept her own trained on Yushak with a practiced ease. She recognized some of the ‘treasure’ in the room as belonging to the Kamaski’s but kept the loathing for the man in front of her from her face. Cat’s eyes darted to Saita for an instant as Karvos released him grip on her arm, she felt a pang of pity for her old friend and anger for the one that caused such pity in Cat.

Yushak’s eyes traveled over Catanga but her expression remained that of a defiant royal who would not allow an emotion to appear on her face. This was not at all like Vincent’s gaze, Catanga felt appreciated by his wandering eyes. No, this time Catanga felt stripped to her skin; her scant clothing was falling to pieces in the reflection of his eyes and she really hated the shiver it sent down her spine. She held her chin high as Karvos was dismissed and watched as he addressed Saita.

Catanga’s brow furrowed slightly and her bound hands clenched as Yushak forced Saita to look at her. Cat could see the cuts on Saita’s cheek; she filled with fury and glanced away for a moment to get herself under control, that was a mistake and a weakness she shouldn’t have shown but could not help it. She ignored their conversation as her eyes leveled with Yushak’s once again, the conversation was irrelevant and it had to be; Cat needed to focus in order to keep her fear and anger at bay.

“So…Preena, you wished to speak to me?”

Cat near rolled her eyes at his tribal use of ‘Princess’ but instead she nodded slowly and kept her face as blank as possible.

“I do, I wish to bargain for the Kamaski’s, for my home and…” Her eyes made brief contact with Saita’s “…for my people…” Catanga’s gaze returned to Yushak’s face as she drove her point home with Saita.

 

[FaeBites]

Yushak

A flicker of her eyes, the observation was registered behind eyes so dark they seemed black. Yushak let himself smile, a predatory reaction, instinctual as weakness is revealed. The acknowledgement made him that much more aware of the warm bundle against his leg, he could feel the strain of her muscles, impossibly wound with disgust – and fear – at being so close. He knew his luka… knew her better then she cared. But there was other prey this night, trapped within his den, with wolves baying for her blood outside.

His pupils dilated in amusement as she spoke, his gaze still revelling in the thoughts of her skin, stretched out before him, her body contorted with pain. He felt his little hellcat stir by his legs, something to do with the mix of words and look, a tortured hiss had formed beneath her teeth, her muscles bunched, her head moving so slightly. It was enough to test the mans patience… his ever tempered patience. Her head snapped backwards by the grip of his hand, hard enough to crack against the solid surface of his chair. Her voice yelped, her hands twisting against his leg as her gaze went vague for a second. The same tortured breathe faded out on a tattered whimper.

“You’ll be nice, Luka. Your princess wishes to make ‘bargains’” he chuckled breathily, his voice an exotic purr accented with the wilds they were all a part of. Saitas’ lips had tightened to the point of paling, the blood forced from beneath those luscious curves. Yushak found himself pleased with even just the memory of each tortured scream he’d wrought from them. He relaxed his hold on her, but before she could relax he thrust her forwards, with the effort and disdain of one dealing with the subhuman. She was sent sprawling against the ground, unable to catch herself. Saita choked in a soft gasp of pain, sniggers having ignited from the tent around them. Yushak leaned back, observing his luka as she pushed herself up on shaky arms. She didn’t even glare up at him anymore; her eyes remained on the ground. Broken.

Lovely, he purred to himself, his fingers drumming softly against the armrest. “Very nice, I should think.” He added, with the casual air that was spiked with vivid malice. His cronies, as though picking up on their masters’ thoughts, began to stir, smirking and grinning, tapping each other and nodding towards the two girls. Their voices to soft to distinguish, but their hum punctuated with growls of approval, and nasty catcalls. His lips curved at the bandits noise, the slightest upturn as even he himself leant forward, resting his chin in his hand.

“Here’s how it’s going to go, preena.” He drawled after a moment, his eyes flickering between her and his luka. His anticipation almost malleable in his calculating gaze. He paused for dramatic effect, his eyes roaming undisguised over Saitas body. He un curled himself from his chair. His muscles tensing then rippling into graceful movement. Yushak stood, his hand taking up the rod that rested against his throne, before he stepped down onto the ground. His hand snapped forward, the motion unloosing the bullwhip he’d taken up. The leather shattered the air with a vivid CRACK, falling to the ground beside Saita. She froze.

The tip was capped in silver metal, and his eyes trailed from it to Saita, who trembled briefly, but didn’t turn around to look at the predator behind her. “What’s going to happen, is Saita here, my luka, is going show us what you have to offer. The first time you refuse, I am going to split her back with this – five times.” He glanced at the whip, it lurched forward once more, but this time made contact. He watched his beauty control her scream as the metal tip left a quickly filling cut through the skin of her back – her clothes having become little more then rags beneath his abuse. Her silence irked him, but he did not let himself get distracted, he could make her beg for mercy soon enough.

His eyes flickered to his new captive, observing how she was taking it in. “The second time you refuse to participate, Saita will have your name, branded into her thigh, one letter at a time.” Those lips twisted further into their horrific parody of pleasure. He felt his luka tremble as he took a few steps closer to her body, her face remained parallel with the ground, her heaving breaths a fraction away from silent sobs, hair falling in a wave of dejected curls.

“I am lenient... I am understanding of pride and hatred, you will see. Your first refusal will do little more then make her bleed - she’ll live. After your second… she might wish she wouldn’t. After that… well. You let me know if you’d like me to show you just how much my luka can take.” He grinned, his canine teeth seemed feral in the dampened sunlight. “For every flinch away, every expression of disgust, or refusal, your fallen friend will feel for it. In return for your cooperation though… you will enjoy yourself. If she lacks in that department as well… well… I will see to your pleasure myself… however much of that I am willing to give you.”

At that threat, he was pleased to see Saitas head snap up, her eyes shadowed as they fell on him. They flared briefly, but faltered and withered under his deepening glare. He watched the defiance flame, then flicker out again as her head hung with the knowledge of what she was condemned to do. His arousal stirred at the flush of shame that tinged her skin, he fell back into his chair, grinning and reaching for the bundle of grapes a serving wench held out for him.

“Don’t let us down, luka.” His broken toy shuddered, just once, before her shoulders slumped. Without looking up she picked herself up off the ground, the chuckling and anticipation of the men in the room quadrupled. He watched as she moved towards her princess, each step precise, gentle, as though the world was crumbling beneath them. Her hand raised, hesitated, then lifted to curl against the material cupping the other woman’s chest.

She must enjoy it, the words seemed to have echoed in his toys mind just as he repeated them silently, for her touch softened, stroking against the caramel shade to draw the to females’ body closer. Some men caught their breaths. His toys’ mouth was close to Cats neck now, her ear, she brushed it against both, the slightest quiver of them revealing Saita spoke, though to low for any but the princess to hear.

“Best to appease him.” Her hands stroked up the other woman’s stomach, lingering against her skin. A shiver of reluctance quivered the bandits’ hands, but he noted they didn’t pause. “But he will use me against you until you have given him all he wants.” Her lips kissed the line of the others throat, as though seeking to relax her, even her dark words were soft, her anger and insanity lost within the mannerisms of her broken will. “Then I will die, just as slowly as I would if you refuse.” One hand twined around Tanga’s back, brushing erotic, comforting strokes down her spine. Yushak found himself growing harder, the swell making his cock strain at his leather pants.

Yushak frowned as the touches continued, growing quickly bored with the teasing show, but he eyes remained on Catanga. Waiting for her to reveal where the lines of loyalty were drawn. Whether in blood, pain or pleasure.

“I am sorry, for the part I’ve made you play in the bloodshed that will come.” Yushak frown deepened, still unable to hear what she said, nor to know her words reflected the growing anxiety of one who lived on borrowed time. He was appeased though as his pet didn’t let her friend reply, instead, pressed their lips together with a growing urgency, tempered only by the broken expectance of pain.

 

[monique_minx]

Catanga’s eyes flickered as Yushak pulled Saita back against the arm of the chair, the violent crunch and Saita’s resultant whimper reverberated through Cat’s mind but she steeled herself against her weakness. She could only watch as Yushak addressed Saita and sent her sprawling across the floor, it only made Cat more determined to see this through and show him no fear. She would not become what Saita had; it made Catanga sick to think that this man had broken one of the strongest women she had ever known.

“Very nice, I should think.”

The room began to stir, Cat wanted to edge away but she forced her feet to remain planted although it was apparent that the men surrounding her knew what she did not – what would happen next.

“Here’s how it’s going to go preena.”

Catanga watched him carefully, her fingers itching nervously as he stood and she took a deep breath to release some of her tension. He gripped the bull whip and it unfurled on the floor, Cat’s eyes widened and she flinched as he struck the ground between her and Saita. She quickly smoothed the fear from her expression but couldn’t keep the quiver from her body.

“What’s going to happen is Saita here, my luka, is going to show us what you have to offer. The first time you refuse, I am going to split her back with this – five times.”

Cat’s eyes flickered dangerously as he cut into Saita’s back, he had caught her weakness after all and her forehead crinkled in self hatred. She nodded as he looked at her again, she needed no further explanation of ‘what you have to offer’ and Cat was supremely resolute in her decision to show he could not do to her what he had done to Saita.

“The second time you refuse to participate, Saita will have your name branded into her thigh, one letter at a time.”

She watched him move closer to Saita and fought the tremendous urge to go to her old friend’s side, she fought the need to snarl and scream at Yushak for tormenting Saita so horribly. The need to protect the other woman grew to an amazing level and it tested all of Tanga’s self restraint to stand still as Yushak continued to speak.

“I am lenient…I am understanding of pride and hatred, you will see. Your first refusal will do little more than make her bleed – she’ll live. After your second…she might wish she wouldn’t. After that…well. You let me know if you’d like me to show you just how much my luka can take.”

Cat fought her anger with every last bit of her strength, she loathed the man before her and it etched into her tone as she spoke.

“I don’t intend to refuse…” She said quietly, venom in every syllable as he continued.

“For every flinch away, every expression of disgust or refusal, your fallen friend will feel for it. In return for your cooperation though…you will enjoy yourself. If she lacks in that department as well…well…I will see to your pleasure myself…however much of that I am willing to give you.”

Catanga swallowed hard, the enjoyment would be the part she would suffer with and the surrounding eyes would make sure of that. She saw Saita’s glare falter and it only caused Tanga’s to harden, she would be certain Saita would not suffer this man because of her refusal or otherwise.

“Don’t let us down luka.”

Cat watched Saita get up and step towards her, she lowered her eyes for a moment and her expression softened and changed to become one of encouragement. This would change whatever was left of their friendship and Catanga took another deep breath to ready herself for this. The men surrounding the pair were obviously enjoying the humiliating position Yushak had placed them in and Catanga found herself wondering how many women had stood in her place previously. Kamaski’s were strong, tough and trained; Catanga intended to prove it.

Saita’s hand reached out hesitantly and cupped the scant bright red wrap Cat wore around her breasts. Catanga was thinking along the same lines as Saita in that moment but moreover she wondered how she could possibly enjoy this in front of so many lecherous eyes.

Cat caught her breath in her throat as Saita pressed close, her warmth sent shivers down Cat’s spine and her eyes flickered as Saita whispered in her ear.

“Best to appease him.”

Cat watched her hand drift over her stomach, her own hands twitching against their bonds ever so slightly as she swallowed.

“But he will use me against you until you have given him all he wants.”

Catanga closed her eyes, quick to catch Saita’s acting as she pressed a kiss to her throat and Cat moaned softly.

“Then I will die, just as slowly as I would if you refuse.”

Her eyes fluttered open and her expression creased slightly but it was gone as quickly as it appeared as she found Yushak’s gaze was upon her; watching for a flinch, some hint of refusal or disgust but Tanga would deny him that. The idea that he would not get what he wanted from her caused a smile to light Catanga’s face momentarily but she carefully collected herself and the smile evaporated from her lips.

“I am sorry for the part I’ve made you play in the bloodshed that will come.”

Catanga had no chance to respond as Saita pressed her lips to Cat’s and she made a show of the kiss herself. Her eyes closed and her tongue slipped into Saita’s wanton mouth, their breasts thrust against each other as Cat tilted her head slightly to deepen the kiss, she moaned softly, her eyes opened a fraction and she broke it off. Catanga’s mouth moved swiftly to Saita’s ear, she was careful with her movements but she needed to reassure her old friend.

“Don’t you worry about me Saita, I’m not going to break and he would have to kill me before I would cause you pain descu.” She whispered softly to Saita, using the tribal word for darling as she pulled back slightly to regard Yushak and glared defiantly for a moment before she pointedly returned her attention to Saita.