A Darkside revealed

Location: Deep in Mossflower Woods

Characters Involved: Kolya, Starla

Word Count: 3,403

Its a clear night out tonight...nice...calm...but it is far from quiet. The screams of a dibbun can be heard...Kolya is standing over said dibbun, tying him down to a chair. The dibbun is a mouse who's currently wearing nothing but is undergarments. Once the mouse was tied down enough, the stoat goes though his pack for to find some instruments of torture for the mouse to endure.

Starla was finally starting to show her pregnancy as her belly had started to swell a little. She wasn't

completely out of her dress tunic yet but the garment had started to feel a little tight around her body.

She had searched the Abbey thoroughly for her husband but he seems to be nowhere around. She was a little worried and began to follow his scent, to her it was unmistakable and it had a hint of the pipe smoke she liked so well. She began to follow the scent wondering to herself why he was out this far on his own, yet there was another scent foreign to her the scent of a mouse.

There was a knife, there was a vial of something, there was a clamp, an old pair of pliers, a lantern, and an oddly shaped and filed down reed that was a bit long. The stoat had laid these out on the ground quickly taking the clamp first and clamping the dibbun's mouth open. A few moments later, loud shrieking screams pierce the air as the stoat, very slowly, pulls out tooth by painful tooth with the old pair of Pliers.

Starla was growing nervous, it wasn't like Kolya to be out this late and this far into the forest. She's still following her mates scent. She jerks erect as she suddenly heard the shriek of a young one in pain her ears swivel quickly to pinpoint the sound. With her maternal instincts kicking in she started running toward the sound. What ever was hurting a dibbun she needed to stop it, to protect the young creature.

Kolya wasn't only out to harm this dibbun...was also out to harm anyone in his way...and he was more then able to do so. the stoat just pulls out the teeth slowly, chuckling Deeply and evilly at every small tug. The mouse could do nothing but scream and struggle. Soon every tooth was gone and the mouse's face was covered in blood. The pliers were placed away before he takes out the reed he had, going to the paws which are tied in easy access before he starts to slowly pry the claws off...Very...slowly.

Worry and concern overwhelmed Starla and she dashed on in the direction she heard the screams. Seeing a light ahead she guessed that's where the sound was coming from. She burst through the brush and skidded to a halt shocked at what she found. She stood rooted to the spot she landed staring in horror for a few seconds eyes wide "ARGO KOLYA! What in hells gates are you doing!" she yelled at her mate horrified and completely shocked at the scene before her.

Kolya's ears perk as he hears...someone he doesn't actually know...The reed is left in the poor dibbun's claw as he quickly reaches out for a dagger on his belt which flies though the air at Starla, landing in the tree right next to here"Who are you?" His voice deeper and more quiet then normal...but its still his thats for sure. And then his long sword is drawn slowly.

Starla gasps and duck to the side as her mate suddenly throws a dagger at her. She's now shocked and confused as she watches the dagger quivering as it's stuck in the tree. Why did her own mate just try to kill her? "Kolya, what's the matter with you? It's me Starla your mate, were going to have a baby. Don't you remember?" she asks a worried look forming on her face. When she notices him starting to draw his sword she quickly pulls his knife out of the tree. At least a dagger is better than no weapons at all which she currently has none. "Stop right there Kolya, don't make me hurt you." she said remembering her dark past and tapping into it slightly, she knew she could fight back then. Ever since she met Kolya and he turned her away from the dark path she hardly fights anymore. But as long as she can remember her dark past she know's she can fight and can and will do so if she needs to.

Kolya steps towards her, sword aiming out. "Drop it wretch and tell me the truth" He growls. "Only three people in the lands know my full name....Who are you....tell me now or i will kill you" when he's close enough he goes to smack the dagger out of her paw with his sword, not letting his guard down once. The dibbun is still screaming, but now its sort of just a back ground noise to Kolya as he aims to either hurt, torture, or kill the beast he has no memories of.

Starla steps back only lowering the dagger to her side when he tries to knock it from her paw. She had a strong grip. Her eyes cold as stone as she keeps an eyee on him. "I'm telling you the truth, I'm Starla YOUR mate. These babes are yours." she said pointing to her slightly bulging belly. "I know your full name because you told me your full name." she growls in reply. She then points the dagger at him "I don't want to hurt you Kolya but I will if I have to.

Kolya has had enough of the things he thought were lies. After taking a sidestep right, he aimed a slash across her thigh, trying to disarm her...he has no intention of killing her...quickly anyways.

Starla side steps as well neatly parrying the slash with the dagger without even loosening her grip, it was obvious she has experience with a dagger and who knows what other weapons. She slowly starts circling him her eyes blazing with battle light. "I'm Telling you Argo I DON'T want to hurt you...I love you... At least the Argo Kolya I know. Your obviously not him, he would never hurt innocent dibbuns." she says still watching him closely for tricks.

Kolya frowns. How does she know his name? "You cant love me...i've never seen you before in my entire life" He growls before finally going on an all out attack. The sword just flies wildly at her...its wild but its not careless, as he makes sure to keep his distance.

Starla growls "Of course you have, You were a Novice in the Order at RedWall abbey before you quit, that's when we first met. You even turned me from going down the evil path." she said trying to say anything that would spark his memory. She gasped as he suddenly attacked. She was surprisingly quick and nimble for being a little pregnant. She shifted, dodged, and ducked his swings parrying with

the dagger where she could and occasionally trying to slash his sword paw or any place she could reach.

Kolya kept moving out of the way of the small blade's reach as he kept aiming to knock her over. "haha...me...a novice? Yeah, now I know your a lying wretch" he growls, backing up to the dibbun now instead of fighting. He puts the blade to the mouse's neck and growls. "Drop the blade or he dies"

Starla chuckles "Is that so, How's this for lying” The stoat then says something to Kolya that only she would ever know before She froze her chuckle dying off as he starts threatening the dibbun. She held up her paws, quickly tossing the dagger behind her "Okay I dropped it, don't kill the young one." she said she was going to say don't hurt it but obviously it was too late for that. She knew he had the upper paw at the moment.

Kolya looks surprised now. "How...Did you know That!? Hm? Tell me the truth or he dies" he growls. That whole thing just really freaked him out now. Then she drops the dagger which gets a grin. "Goooood....good....now...sit over by the tree and don't move at all"

Starla smirks a little at the surprised look on his face "Because we’re mates! Your quite handsome, and all those handsome tattoo's it's like staring at a picture or beautiful tapestry." she remarked starry eyed. She snapped out of her daydream as he orders her to sit by the tree, which just so happens to be where she threw the dagger. She nods and backs against the tree and sat stealthily taking the dagger in her paws and stashing it up the back of her tunic.

Kolya watches her sit down. The stoat thinks for a few moments before slowly sheathing his sword, taking the reed and starting to pry the claws off the dibbun again. "If you move, he dies for sure" he says to The female.

Starla winces as he continued torturing the child. She HAD to do something it was torture to her to listen to the poor dibbun's cries. She shook her head it didn't matter if she would die, she had to save him. She made a decision and stealthily, as not to attract attention to herself, drew the dagger from her tunic. She checked the distance and took the appropriate end of the dagger and in a flash she threw it trying to knock her mate out with the handle. It was fast enough she hoped he wouldn't have time to react.

Kolya had peeled all the claws off the dibbun's right paw in the time it took for her to make up her mind. The stoat looked up as he saw the dagger flying though the air at him. He had a very, very short time to react. He drops the reed and tries to side step but the handle of the dagger smacks his snout hard, making him yip and fly to the ground...his nose was...not really bloodied but it really hurt now. Which just made him mad. The stoat stood up after a few dazed moments before drawing his sword and…falling right back over, dizzy as heck.

Starla frowns as it wasn't the direct hit she was hoping for but it had the desired effect. She was horrified at first but looked relieved . She quickly stood running to the dibbun and picking up the dagger quickly cut the dibbun loose and removed the clamp holding his mouth open "Go quickly, RUN!" she barked trying to shove the dibbun toward the bushes. She growled eye's blazing down at Kolya as she stuck the dagger away. She ran back to the tree before he got up ripped a strong limb from the tree she was under which formed a very stout staff. She charged him knowing the way he was stumbling and dazed she might have a better chance of taking him out. If this WAS her mate then she wasn't going to risk him torturing their own kits like this when they were born. She first struck the staff against the sword blade knocking it out of the way as she ran full tilt to try and head-butt him in the gut. Her battle blood was flowing now after seeing such a cruel treatment of an innocent dibbun who barely begun to live. It was vengeance time and she planned to dish it full out now.

Kolya Stands up slowly, still dazed. The sword is knocked away easy but the head-butting thing doesn't work out as well as she may have hoped. The Stoat frowns and goes to grab her head when she is in range before kneeing her in the forehead.

Starla couldn't stop him from grabbing her head in her mad dash of a charge. She grunts seeing stars flashing before her eyes from the impact. Breaking free from the grasp and stumbling back a few paces shaking her head to clear her vision yet still not releasing the grip she has on the branch/staff she had. She checked briefly to see if the dibbun had listened to her and was well gone from the clearing by now before returning her gaze to her so called mate.

The Dibbun was gone from view, but a trail of blood was left. So If Kolya wins, he'll follow it. The stoat Just backs off a few meters before pulling his bow from his shoulder and an arrow from his quiver before aiming it at her. "Drop your weapon" he growls

Starla vision had cleared significantly and when she saw him pulling off the bow. She charged forward before he could get the arrow pulled back. She wanted to get into close quarters so it wouldn't be easy to use it. "Whats the matter can't face a proper fighter in close quarters? You have to hide behind a bow?" she growls eyes cold as stone, body tensed for a quick dodge if he tried to loose the arrow.

Kolya Shot the arrow where she was running to when she charged at him, The stoat throws the bow aside and draws just an Arrow instead, aiming to jab her with it as she gets close enough. "Oh when I'm done with you, you'll know the meaning of Pain" he hisses though his teeth.

Starla was grazed in the arm with the arrow as she Slowly she advanced on him and circles him. However, from the adrenalin rush, she hardly felt it at all. "Oh we'll see about that. I won't give you a chance to hurt that dibbun again." she said with stern tone as her paws grip the staff tighter. "I told you once, I don't want to hurt you Kol, But I will if I have to." she said watching him closely ready to counter what attack he would give her.

Kolya watches her and turns, following her movements. "If you dont want to hurt me, put down that staff of yours and lets talk this though then...hmmm? unless your too much of a bloody coward not to talk it though of course..."

Starla glances just briefly at her staff, reassuring herself of the dagger still secretly concealed in her tunic as a back up. "Okay I will as long as you do the same. I don't talk to armed beasts either. Put your arrow away and I'll put my staff down." she replies watching him closely for tricks.

Kolya nods and puts his arrow back in his quiver. "There...Now, throw your staff to the side..." he eyes her...plotting.

Starla nods "And your quiver." she said nodding to the said object "Can't risk you pulling another one out while I'm unarmed. I'm not putting mine down until you do." she said her eyes still watching him

coldly.

Kolya Frowns and pulls off the heavy leather quiver, tossing it to the ground. "there...happy Wretch?"

Starla growls "I have a name, It's Starla! Enough with the 'wretch' or I'll end this NOW!" she barks

eyes blazing but still doing her part by lowering the staff.

Kolya points to the staff then the ground. "Drop it all right now..." he mutters the /wretch/ part under his breath.

Starla growls under her breath she heard that mumble but does drop the staff. She takes a few steps toward him still ready for action if he should try anything. "Alright lets talk..." she said but at the moment not for the life of her knew where to even begin.

Kolya slowly steps forward as well, but he aims to go right up to her, only like...one inch or so away. "So...What is there to talk about hmm?" he gets in her face...

Starla met his gaze "For one...Who in hells gate are you? Your my mate, on the outside anyway but you keep acting like you don't know me. Yet I know YOU intimately." she said prodding her finger into his tattooed chest gently "WHO are you?" she asks glaring at him.

Kolya smirks. "You already know who I am...Argo Kolya...Though I still have no idea where you think you can get off with calling me by my First name" He says. The prod goes unnoticed. "Now...tell me how you know me, and I may...let you live"

Starla nods "Yes I know your name but your NOT the Argo Kolya That I fell in love with, HE would never hurt innocent children. He's not like the sick beast that you are. I also know that you don't like being called by your first name. I already told you. I know you because your my mate at least the

Kolya I know, AND we're engaged and soon to be married. Thats how i know you. We talked alot about each other but he never mentioned YOU." she growls Hearing the last three words she reassured herself of the dagger concealed in her tunic. If she has no other choice she WILL kill him.

Kolya has had enough. The stoats right paw flung up quickly and wraps around her throat, squeezing hard, and even raising her off the ground a little. "There is No he...I'm the only one that's ever been" the stoat growls. "And you know what? I dont take well to being called names" this stoat is a lot more evil then the other guy. "Maybe I should snap your neck and be done with you"

Starla gags and quickly reaches inside her tunic drawing the dagger and presses it to his throat gripping the back of his head to hold him like that. "Pu-ut...m-me...d-d-down...or..I-I'll..sl-lit... Y-your...t-th-throat." She croaks pressing the dagger harder to his throat to where it's just biting into his hide.

Kolya's eyes glance to the Dagger and his Grip gets tighter. The paw that is free, goes to the dagger, starting to try to push it away, while attempting to twist it out of her paw...though if she fights back, he could find himself Distracted for a well aimed kick....

Starla her eyes start getting redder as the anger rises. She feels him tightening and starting to try and pry the dagger from her grip. She tweaks the dagger as it starts to slice his skin a small trickle of blood starting to flow but her air was escaping. She realized if she knew if she kept this up she would surely die. Finally out of desperation and with her last remaining strength she gripped the dagger handle tighter and raised her footpaw back trying to land a very hard and swift kick between his legs, a weak spot she knew every male had.

There was now a slight stinging in his neck...but it didn't really last long as he kept trying to choke her...and then every thought was driven from his body by sheer pain that originated from that well aimed kick. He drops her and stumbles back, bent over, groaning in pain. "oh....you...gurr...." he ends up on his side on the ground now.

Starla falls to the ground gasping for breath and coughing as she's dropped. Still holding the dagger she got up stumbling a little toward her staff she discarded. The time for talking was over now. She retrieved her staff and made her way over to him but still remaining clear from his grasp "I'm sorry about that Kolya, we may not ever have kits again because of that but I wasn't about to let you kill me." she croaks out stowing the dagger and holding her throat. As she continued to gasp for breath. While he was down she also went around gathering up all his weapons still watching him. "Why don't you go soak yourself in a stream, it will help with the pain." she said and ran into the brush following the dibbuns blood trail. She was going to do her best to protect it, and possibly take him to the abbey. When she was out of sight she threw all his weapons into a bush and continued.

Kolya growls and just groans in pain. After a little while though the pain is gone down, and he slowly starts to stand. The weapons were gone and that made him angry. Slowly he heads off in the direction she did, starting to look for his weapons. After a few minutes of looking he found them and put them on properly before wandering back to collect his torture instruments...but before he got there...he collapsed onto the ground with a loud THUD. After having a seizure, and then being out for a while, he slowly woke up, and wondered..."Where the heck am I?"