Cages

Freedom. She felt it course through every vein, every muscle, every living corner of her slender, delicate frame as she ran, a wild thing in an even wilder place, smooth, ivory skin sleek with sweat, night-dark hair unfurled in the wind like a beacon, a war banner. Her muscles bunched and stretched as she dodged a upturned root here, lept accross a hidden ditch there- she stalked her prey relentlessly, entranced, its black blood clouding her senses and the call of Balor in her ears, feral and incessant. Blue eyes flashed a reflection in her bright blades, their sharp edges glinting cruelly and hungrily in anticipation of what was to come. She rolled them in her grip as she lept, again, her body nimble and light as it navigated the dark northern forests, blue eyes fixed in determination on the bloody-clotted, hulking figure as it fled before her.

Faster with your blades, Quicker on your feet, Stronger to strike. Cienwyn repeated Amazon's mantra in her head as she kept pace, Don't give up. There it is. A little more.

She didn't have time to think about Him, or Doraster, as she stalked after the great creature, although neither of them were far from her thoughts. "Does it vex you that I love her?", Doraster had asked. Of course not, Cienwyn snorted derisively, tensing her muscles for another jump. "You know how I feel about such things", she had responded with a nonchalant shrug, and again they had settled back into comfortable, mutual understanding. Was that true? Yes, she breathed to herself, her heart pulsing. She dropped back slightly, and immediately chided herself for it. Stupid girl- focus, Amazon's voice rang in her ears. Yesssss, there it was.

Feint, slash, dodge- Cienwyn spun, then drove her boot into the beast's belly. It howled with pain, rolling backwards as it lost balance. Him. Her blood raced as she grunted in response to the sudden image that invaded itself into her thoughts. His lips on hers; his hands on her hips; his breath warm on her neck. She shivered slightly in the memory. Blood spurted against her cheek, marring the smoothness of her pale skin. Almost. She spun again, using the momentum to bring her blades down at the beast's neck, her battle-cry ringing in her ears. Yessss. Keep moving.

It lay in a heap on the ground before her, its wounds leaking, oozing, a steady stream of black blood. She crouched infront of it, mud- and blood-smeared, breathing laboured, eyes narrowed. Love? She tensed her muscles, then moved forward to stare down at the pitifully mess that was the demon beneath her. She saw only one thing as she drove her boot firmly into its face in a final attempt to end its life: freedom.