To The Dust You Shall Return

[Koal]

Ashes to Ashes.

Dust to Dust.

Koal crouched down, dragging the tips of his fingers through the thick layer of ash on the ground, staining his skin with black powder. It seemed to permeate everything in this verse, finding its way into every niche and crevice available. He rubbed his fingers together, feeling the gritty substance grins beneath his digits. Bracing a hand on his knee, he rose from hair crouch, caring his gaze to the horizon. The wasteland was dotted with jagged cliffs and lava flows. It would be hell to navigate, but Seraph insisted this was a good place to set his plans in motion. 

"No time to get started like the present." He mumbled, his footsteps throwing up a small cloud of ash. He looked around, his mind automatically forming plans and attack patterns, defensive positions, and potential hideouts. This world would do. It might have been rough around the eyes, but The Demon was determined to bend it to his will. A distant rumble echoed past Koal's ears, signaling yet another volcanic eruption. As if this world didn't have enough lava. He chuckled as a thought leapt to mind.

'Hell is a much scarier place than this, Koal.'

Koal continued to chuckle anyways, the sound deep and gravelly, akin to rocks grinding against each other. He stepped off of a drop off, bending his knees and rolling as he hit the ground. As he got up, he noticed that his left leg glistened with something dark... and wet. Koal gently touched his leg, his fingers coming away red as he pulled his hand back to gaze at it. Blood. As he reached his conclusion, A voice made itself known, calling out to the young man.

"Take another step and we'll end your worthless life. Don't think about trying to run either." Koal heard the metallic clacks of several guns being readied to fire. The voice was feminine and elegant, not fitting in with the ragged look of the Plains.

"We have you surrounded." The Demon looked around him, his eyes searching for any sign of the woman and her comrades, and sure enough, in the dim light, he saw several gun barrels trained at him. Their owners crept forward with the practiced movement of soldiers, and the Demon was impressed. Koal raised his hands above his head, moving slowly, as if they were dangerous animals. Which, in a way, they were. 

"And why should I listen to you? I could end every single one of your lives right now if I wanted." He heard a laugh, a high and pure sound, like chiming bells. Then he felt a presence behind him, and words resounded next to his ear. 

"We're not strangers to killing primes, friend. But I like your spirit. Maybe I'll keep you as a pet." Those words made Koal snarl, and as he twisted to rip her throat out, he felt the barrel of a gun slam into the back of his head, and his vision went dark.

[Koal]

The world was fuzzy and muted, and as he tried to move,his limbs wouldn't budge. His heartbeat throbbed and his ragged breathing echoed in his ears. I'm the background he heard pained screams and insane laughter. Then, as another moment passed, his world snapped back into clarity.

Koal found himself in a small, scarcely decorated room. That wasn't to say it didn't look comfortable; it was still more than he had available in his own world. His violet eyes regarded the heavy chains that bound him. Dark iron, rusted and jagged, dig into his skin and made it practically impossible to move. His mouth was kept shut by a muzzle, and he could barely even shift his jaw. He could feel the caked blood on the right side of his face from the blow he had received prior to losing consciousness. Amid his self-diagnosis of his injuries, he heard the ear-splitting sound of rusted iron being forced open. After his ears stopped ringing, he looked at the doorway, and regarded a woman. 

She was fairly average in height, maybe about 5'6", and she had chestnut hair. Her rosy skin was stained with ash and dust, and her eyes were a piercing green, as with a look, she was gazing into your very soul. Her clothes consisted of a mottled pattern of black and shades of grey, suitable for camouflage in the dark and inhospitable landscape of the Ashen, When she saw him shift his head towards her she smiled and began to speak.

"So you're finally awake."

Koal recognized the voice immediately, and began to try and thrash in his chains, straining to get to her somehow, to show her just how much he wanted to return the favor. She began to chuckle as he did so, her voice cool and collected. She wasn't fazed in the slightest, by his thrashing, and continued to approach him. Her body posture was proper, but relaxed. 

"Settle down, those chains were designed to hold primes a helluva lot stronger than you. There's no point." Her words made Koal pause, before he grudgingly stopped his movements. She smiled, and placed a hand on the top of his head, running her fingers through his ebony locks, like he was a pet. Her next words all but confirmed that thought.

"See. Some part of you already senses that you belong to me now. I told you that I'd make you my plaything." She scanned him with her eyes, and the Demon felt oddly vulnerable under her gaze. Her words seemed to hold a degree of control over his actions. She grabbed a hold of the collar that constructed his throat, hoisting him up with surprising strength. His face was inches from hers, her eyes never breaking contact with his. In a word, it was... intimate. She rested a hand on his face and began to whisper to him.

"You are my weapon, to use against our enemies. You may be determined to maintain your freedom, but you lost it the moment I captured you." She threw him back to the ground, and Koal let out a fierce snarl as he hit the hard floor. She punctuated each of her next words with a kick to his ribs.

"You. Are. Mine."

[Koal]

Koal twitched again as the voices started up again. His body was covered in a plethora of different injuries, ranging from bleeding cuts, to burns from white-hot iron rods. They made sure to take off his muzzle before beginning their torture, so his screams would be heard loud and clear. Blood caked his body, and his wrist were torn to hell from the shackles. His dead gaze rested on the ground in front of his, his face devoid of any and all emotion, when on the inside, he was broken.

His violet eyes rose to meet the approaching figure of Kilandi, his most frequent tormenter. She-along with the rest of them-drew some sort of perverse pleasure from his screams. His pain. Adding to his already extensive collection of scars. 

"Ready for round three, kiddo?" She also liked to call him "kiddo" because of his somewhat youthful looks. He simply lowered his gaze back to the floor and prepared for the next torture that awaited him. Not a moment later, he felt a sharp rod of iron enter his left shoulder, and exit through the middle of his back, pinning him to the stone wall, he let out a muted gasp of pain. Expecting the pain, and feeling it were two different things. The metal was shockingly cold, the contrast in temperatures the only thing he could register before it was brutally ripped free, wrenching a scream from Koal. His voice broke halfway through the scream, replaced in a moment by an almost sensual moan by Kilandi. 

"Damn, kid, this is the most fun I've had in a while. Though I kinda wish you could've shown up sooner. I've been bored outta my mind these past few weeks." She brought the rod up to her mouth with a wicked grin, her younger flicking out and tasting the essence of his life. A shudder ran through her, and her eyes became unfocused, her smile even more wild. 

The Demons face whipped to the side as she brought the sharp weapon across his face, a long cut marring his otherwise unblemished face. He felt his jawbone crack, and he spit out a large amount of blood. A moment of insanity took over Koal, and he met Kilandi's wild black eyes, and grinned himself, his fangs bloody and sharp. 

"That all you got sweetheart?"

She let out a loud laugh, a true laugh. She held her sides, her eyes ringing with mirth. She knelt and smirked at him, placing the rod down.

"I like you. Actually got a decent sense of humor." 

Koal eyes were unfocused as he began to chuckle, making Kilandi slightly confused. It was a type of laugh you would hear when a child beloved they got away with something. Then she heard the sound of a chain breaking, panic setting in almost instantly. Koal grasped her with his now free hand, claws digging into the sockets of her eyes, giving him a very secure hold. She let out a scream, and Koal let out an insane laugh at the noise. He tightened his grip further, a fresh wave of blood gushing out into his obsidian claws.

"Such a sweet sound. No wonder you enjoyed it so much."

[Koal]

"Well...you certainly are a messy eater."

Nisha's smooth voice ring through small room, distracting Koal from his current meal. The corpse that was once Kilandi lay on the floor, mutilated and torn to pieces, her lifeblood covering the floor. Koals teeth and the area around his mouth was stained with the crimson liquid. He snarled at the Raider Commander, his claws extending once more. She held up her hands in a sign of peace, snapping her fingers at the person behind her, who handed her a bundle of black clothing. 

"I came with some fresh clothes, as well as an offer, if you'll hear it." Koal glanced warily at the clothes before he straightened to his full height, standing a good five inches above Nisha. He wiped the mouth with the back of his hand, not that it did much good. He reached forward tentatively, grabbing the clothes, and waiting a moment before cautiously pulling them close to his body. 

"What....offer." The words were hard to growl out, the damage in his throats catching up to him. Turns out screaming as hard as you can isn't conducive to a healthy vocal chords. Noah's smiles, taking another step forward.

"You've definitely shown your readiness to kill... in a very entertaining way, I might add." She pauses, as if searching for the right words. "I want you to come work for me. A champion against rival gangs." 

Koal ripped off the tattered remains of his shirt, baring his lean muscles for a brief moment, before a plain black tee covered it up again. He adjusted the shirt a bit awkwardly, before letting his gaze slide up to meet Nisha's. His eyes were pitch black, filled with an unholy hatred. 

"What's gonna stop me from killing you right now and just leaving?" Noah's smiled and took a step forward, entering Koals personal space. She then punched him in the gut with enough force to send him to his knee, gasping for air. As he floundered for a breath, she knelt down and spoke, an audible growl present in her voice.

"That would be me."

[Koal]

Koal growled and paced around the makeshift market, jagged and splintered wood made up various stalls that sold weapons armors, hallucinogens, and anything else a raider might ever want. Koal glanced down at his new outfit, violet Iris's appraising the black armor with an appreciative gaze. It split and segmented over his body, providing maximum flexibility and a certain degree of protection. He looked in a cracked mirror that lay, broken and discarded, on the ground. Despite his little amount of time here, he had changed. His hair was slightly longer and had a messy, outlandish look to it. His right eye was marred by a scar, his right eye White and blind, yet Koal felt he could still fight without it. He had an amazing record in The Pit, and had earned a degree of respect among these savages that he now served.

He turned as he felt the approaching presence of Nisha, his mistress. He had learned that she preferred that she be called that, and he was eager not to get in her bad side... he touched a burn scar on his stomach in pained remembrance. Her green eyes pierced him, not looking at him, looking through him. It never failed to make him feel like someone was running an ice cube along his spine. Her ruby red lips curled in a small, yet cute smile. It was hard to believe someone so unassuming and stunning was as cruel and powerful as her. She was a summoned being, no less. Not even a prime, which made him even more scared. She placed a slender and flawless hand on his shoulder and tilted his face to the side, inspecting a cut he had received in his last match. Her eyebrow whirled up in a show of rare humor and affection. She tried to hide it, but a spark of genuine concern flashed in her eyes, before they gained back their deep and seemingly endless depth.

"You're not hurt, right? I know you can't die permanently, but it still can't be pleasant." Lynch grinned, showing off white fangs, stained slightly gray from the ever-present ash in the air. His violet eyes lightened a shade to a deep pink, displaying his amusement.

"Wow, the infamous Nisha, leader of The Heart Of Ash, showing concern for a slave?" He let out a faux laugh, winking at his mistress as he did. "I truly do appreciate it. I'm fine, nothing more than a scratch. I heal quick, and my next match will be a piece of cake." He pulled up a holographic image of the match list, his name displayed next to another. Daima Kain. "Quite honestly, I don't know why they haven't thrown him to the wyverns yet. He hasn't won a match in months. If he were in my place, he would have been long dead." Nisha nodded, affirming his statement, her face serious as stone. She touched his forehead, drawing a geometrical pattern, a sign of luck and a way of wishing good hunting. Koal bowed his head and muttered his thanks, his voice layered with emotion, despite the fact that it happened all the time. She had become so much more accommodating and compassionate towards him, to go as far as checking up on him when he was injured or lost in though. He glanced over at her, then splayed his claws as the piercing, nails-on-chalkboard noise of the rusted iron gate of the arena grated open. He let out a deep breath, feeling the tension in his stomach harden into determination. The sharp and jagged edges of his mind smoothed, and he clenched his fists, the bones cracking like hot glass in snow. Black, bubbly liquid poured over his arms, covering them in a muscular structure, claws protruding from his fingertips. His eyes shifted from their vibrant violent to a radiant red. He strode through the arena, the announcer making his presence known. He looked to the crowd, and held up a hand. The raiders in the stands went wild, yelling in excitement and anticipation, slamming each others backs and throwing back drinks like there was no tomorrow.

He met Nishas gaze, nodding to her, giving her a two finger salute, before settling into a relaxed stance, not really expecting much from his soon to arrive opponent.

He grinned and spoke, his voice dark and augmented with dark magic, making it louder and raspy.

"Tick Tock, Kain. Take as much time as you'd like, but death is patient."

[Koal]

Koal growled and shoved open the door to Nisha's "office", his fury blazing. The room, as per the usual, was small yet comfortable, decorated with a gothic theme. The figure behind the desk raised her eyes to his, daring him to speak out. He didn't catch the unspoken warning.

"WHO THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?!" His voice rang in the room, the smirk that worked it's was onto her ace making his blood boil even more. She calmly set the pen she had been using to the side before standing, her face growing serious and deadly. She walked around the desk, and Koals instincts screamed for him to attack first, to not just sit there. He stayed his hand though, trembling in fury. Nisha walked to him, stoping a few feet shy of his reach.

"This assignment is not negotiable, Koal. I don't care what you think, we need primes. Not just for the Pit, but so we can take territory." She paused for effect. "And keep it."

Koal's upper lip curled in disgust, not caring what her motives were. It was bad enough he was forced to fight for his life on a daily basis, but for them to expect him to force someone else into that lifestyle. They must have been crazier than he thought. He stepped back, shaking his head, tempted to take her on.

But that wasn't a fight he could win.

Not yet at least.

[Koal]

Koal ran his hands over the worn grey leather, admiring the craftsmanship that went into the equipment. Nisha was going to great lengths to ensure that he would cooperate. Even going as far to have new weapons another for him. He reached around and touched the double scabbard on his back, feeling the blades that rested there, ready to kill any for he might encounter. It was almost as if they had a personality of their own. The saddle in front of him was a tell-tale of another gift: a wyvern. Several of the Raiders had them as pets and steeds, and Koal had previously expressed an interest in them. He might not like her, but damn, she made a good argument.

Hmph. Look at me, crumbling in the face of bribery." He chuckled, hauling the saddle up and carrying it out of his room, into a large stone atrium, filled with the winged beasts. His eyes shone with a deep appreciation for the creatures. They weren't quite dragons, and yet, they had almost... bird-like qualities. It was truly something to behold. He walked to a small alcove, where his new beast lay, curled into a coil. It's, or rather, her body was lithe and aerodynamic, and he scales were ash-grey. Her eyes were the exact same shade as his, a vibrant purple. No doubt the reason, she was given to him. Dropping the saddle, he rubbed his palms together while his steed poked and sniffed the equipment.

"This is gonna be fun."

The Wyvern huffed in agreement.

It didn't take long for the rest of the "Welcoming Party" to show up, each sporting patchwork armor and weapons as bizarre as their personalities. They seemed pretty excited about the whole thing, but Koal just wanted to get going and get it over with. Mounting the saddle, Serra, as he had named her, turned and blew a short jet of fire to get their attention.

"I don't have time to waste, you inbred SOB's. Get your shit together and let's go." Koal growled, staring each and every one of them down. They had seen him in the arena, and they didn't want to get on his bad side.

"Yes, sir." They replied in unison.

Koal smirked.

"Damn straight."