The Black Moon Curse [SDB]

[Incandesa]

As the sky darkened and the moon failed to rise, dread began to seep into Attina's bones. It was time for the curse to set in for the night. She gave an unearthly scream pain. Her beautiful teal tail dulled to a grey brown color, her teeth lengthen to sharp points, and from her back emerged a set of large bat wings. Worst of all, she could feel the compulsion to shred apart the first living thing she saw just to make the pain go away.

This time, she had tied herself as best she could to a large boulder in a secluded place on land during the day. It was difficult securing it with one hand, but it was better than nothing. She had to ensure that at the very least, she was kept far away from her family tonight. She ripped and pulled at the rope, twisting this way and that, until finally a knot slipped loose and she was on the hunt.

She flew high in the air, searching for prey, and spotted a lone traveling man not too far away. Attina hid behind a tree and began to sing her enchanted tune-

"Won't you come back to me, My Love?
It's been so long, My Love,
Since I felt your touch and kissed your lips
Come back to me, My Love!"

As expected, the traveling man neared her hiding place in search of the singer. When he was just within striking distance, Attina pounced him. With tears in her eyes, she lunged for his throat, eager to suck his life force and make the pain finally end for the night.

[Celegwen]

The night was his favorite time to be near the sea. Sunlight had a habit of being abusive to the eyes, so he enjoyed simply walking on the sand, as he watched a moon's fluid reflection with small waves lapping at his ankles. Only that night was different: there was no moon to guide him, so the elemental walked with his friend, enjoying casual conversation with the warrior.

It was interesting for most people to see the tribe's shaman being close with one of their best warriors, but Otikoro knew Ka'kinoi since childhood and treated him like a brother, as he did with everyone in his tribe. Oti sat on the sand, his wings tucked against his back, while the other man continued down the beach alone.

The elemental's serenity was severed at the sound of his friend's shout. "Kinoi!" Oti called, leaping to his feet and sprinting in the direction of the plea. He rounded the beach's curve and watched what appeared to be a mermaid in flight towards Ka'kinoi in an aggressive manner. "Get away from him!"

His already piercingly blue eyes began to glow, the ocean awakening to its master's whims and hurdling towards the mercreature which was then attached to the Yoreiqi.

[Incandesa]

Just before the mermaid bit down, her head snapped up at the sound of another man's voice. She wanted to hide, but he had already seen her. As much as she hated to do it, she would have to kill him as well. Witnesses were far too dangerous to keep alive. Luckily, her first victim was still paralyzed on the ground and she could focus her attentions on the second one.

However, as the stranger came closer, Attina could feel the pain in her chest start to ease, as though being near him had a soothing effect. It did not receed entirely, but it was far more manageable now than it was before.

Her eyes moved to his and she hissed. Though she did not know his name, she knew the stranger's name, she knew his face far too well, for it was in her nightmares each night. That handsome face, that dark hair, those piercing blue eyes, he was the spector who had cursed her to begin with! The one who had trapped her in this life of perpetual murder. Rage began to course through her veins and she lunged at him as well, grabbing him by the collar and pinning him down as well.

She glared at him, ensuring he could see the full hatred in her eyes. "Well, well, well, look who it is! I hope you're proud of yourself, you bastard! Because all this is your fault!" she screamed. Then she went in for the kill.

[Celegwen]

Though his watery defense had succeeded in getting the mercreature away from his friend, he had accidentally turned her attention over to himself. Oti found himself pinned against the sandy ground beneath her winged body with her hand at his throat.

The creature hissed accusations at him, which he couldn't fully understand. What was his fault? Why would she call him a bastard? What was he missing?

As she went to bite down on him, the water elemental suddenly whipped away, rolling awkwardly to the right and bending one of his wings in a slightly painful manner. "What are you talking about?" He cried, jumping away from her with his hand extended in defense.

Though she probably wouldn't have known it given just his position, Oti's stance was more than just symbolically defensive. If she moved more than three feet towards him, she would feel the water in her body begin to freeze inside of her.

[Incandesa]

Attina was far too angry to care about what he was saying. She pounced again, only this time when she get near him, she could feel herself getting unbelievably cold. She screamed and jumped back in surprise. "So you're a bastard and a coward," she snarled.

The night was no longer young, and the pain in her head was pounding. She could taste a bit of blood trickling out of her mouth, an early warning sign of the punishment that was to come if she did not fulfill the terms of the curse by the end of the night. Attina looked back at the prey she had caught earlier, but with this powerful man seemingly protecting him, she would have to find someone else, and soon.

She weighed her options. If she took to the sea, a fish's soul would only last her the night. She would need a humanoid to last her the full month. Attina glanced from him to the ocean, unsure if he would chase her if she went after other villagers. At least if she went to the sea, she could change hunting grounds the next night. And now she knew where to find her revenge. She dove for it.