Foretelling of a Monster. [Sabaoth]

[Erebos]

The water clung to him long after he surfaced on the other side, immediately releasing his prize so that his aching jaw could locate some solace. Pale eyes searched the vicinity of land with extreme intensity, and he wasn't the least bit surprised to find that nothing had really changed in the months he'd been gone. Not that he had expected anything different. Ina'mos was as unchanging as its Emperor's viewpoints and, after a much anticipated return, he found himself eager to turn around and make as though he'd never come back in the first place. There was nothing here for him. Especially not after his encounter with Morrigan.

Her offer had enticed him, and there was no doubt in his mind that he would find her again. He hadn't lied when he said he had some last minute business to attend to, but just as well he hadn't been entirely truthful: she likely assumed the worst, as any wolf was entitled to do when it concerned him, but perhaps not even she was so imaginative as to believe he would do something so . . . horrific.

Needless to say the outcome of his actions didn't bother him. As soon as his egg was delivered to Sabaoth, his life hereafter prophesied, he would obtain a sizeable carcass and rejoice in the celebration of his successful Agoge - except he would be celebrating in accordance with a much more sinister agenda.

Gathering his egg, he set off in the presumable direction of his uncle, keen to find him and, at last, sever what ties still connected him and Kairos.

Sabaoth
OOC: No rush to get to this~ feel free to ghost him a little so that he finds Sabaoth, greets him maybe, so we can get on with the most important part.

[Sabaoth]

Once more the herculean brute found himself upon the shores of Ina’mos, the water that clung to his pelt just beginning to dry after his swim. Today marked the beginning and the end for many young wolves who’d chosen to take their places in the agoge, for soon they would flock to the shores carrying their eggs in their mouths – if, of course, they had been successful. Sabaoth had risen with the sun much earlier that morning, and for some time now he’d lounged in the shade of the nearest tree, his bulk sinking into the sand as he waited to see who would come ashore.

Lo and behold, as the shadows began to shift across the ivory sand, so too did a shape much more tangible. Across the beach trotted a familiar form, but one that Sabaoth was admittedly surprised to see. He had not expected Erebos to be the first to return with his egg, but then again the General supposed that the young male was eager to be done with the entire affair. He rose to his paws and shook the sand from his pelt when it became apparent that Erebos had spotted him and was undoubtedly headed in his direction, the comically large egg clutched gently between his massive teeth. Silently Sabaoth watched him, and it was only once Erebos had halted before him that the General dipped his head a fraction of an inch in welcome.

”Welcome back,” he rumbled, a glimmer of amusement streaking briefly through his gaze before it was gone, his solemn expression seeming more appropriate for the occasion. Today he would bear witness as Erebos broke his egg before him, revealing the chick within – and ultimately his fate. While Sabaoth did not place quite as much weight on the whole affair as others did, he knew that it was particularly important to the Emperor – who was also Erebos’ father. It was with much severity – although he had the sneaking suspicion that Erebos might know him well enough by now to realize that Sabaoth was not as invested in the entire outcome than he seemed to be – that he finally spoke once more, his voice quiet, meant only for his nephew’s ears.

”Place your egg in the sand before me,” he instructed Erebos, absentmindedly marking a place with his paw, ”and break it. Push aside the eggshell when you have done that so that we both may see the outcome.”

Then, with a wry twist of his lips that he could not resist when he recalled their first conversation regarding fate, he added a mildly sarcastic, ”And may the gods favor be with you.”

tag: Erebos
words: 442
notes: hope this was alright! 

[Erebos]

His uncle's welcome was met with a harsh exhalation of air under his breath, finding it most entertaining that he'd be happily accepted back into a place he had no true desire of being. Of course, there was no reason for him to be turned away, having fulfilled the requirements of his return. As Sabaoth had so readily stated - he hadn't missed the sarcasm in the brute's voice or the glimmer of understanding in his eyes - his fate rested on whatever lay hidden beneath the fragile eggshell; and how pitiful it was that someone so large and powerful could be predetermined by something he could crush with a single paw.

Nevertheless, he followed instruction carefully. Erebos had no quarrels with Sabaoth, and despite what he already knew, despite what would happen regardless of what the insides of the egg foretold, he didn't want to give the older wolf any reason to fracture the unspoken, mutual trust between them. He hated to be so hypocritical as to care about this ceremony when he couldn't care less about Kairos, but curiosity couldn't be helped. There was a shine in his eyes as he broke it, his teeth causing it to crumble under the most delicate pressure.

Something was squirming inside, he could feel the almost nonexistent movements before he lifted the top of the eggshell, and in the hopes that acting swiftly would keep him from accidentally dragging this out any further, he moved his head out of the way so that Sabaoth could have a clear view. Dropping the scraps, he searched his uncle's expression. It didn't matter what was said, whether it was good or bad; either way, there was something he needed to say before he moved on, and he needed to say it before he changed his mind.

Sabaoth

[Sabaoth]

Silence stretched between the pair, heavy but comfortable. In the brief moment before Erebos commenced with the breaking of the egg, Sabaoth allowed himself to consider how much his nephew had grown. Though he did not reach the height of his uncle or father, Erebos was no small beast, and his darker pelt made him look all the more fierce coupled with his strikingly cold eyes. Sabaoth had never been one to place much weight upon appearance – how could he, when his own visage was a gnarled wreckage? – but in this moment he realized just how closely Erebos resembled his father Goliath.

All silly sentiments were brushed from his mind as if they were naught but a breeze as Erebos broke the egg with his fangs, a soft cracking filling the air before silence followed once more. The shell was pulled away, Erebos’s gaze falling upon Sabaoth’s face as he craned his neck to peer into the wreckage of what once was a safe haven for the chicken. The creature was bald and pink, stirring feebly but certainly alive. Never would the chick prowl the skies or learn to fly; never would it grow feathers or let loose the striking call of its kin, for although it was alive, it did not stand a chance. Sabaoth knew without having to wrack his mind what this meant; he’d familiarized himself with each outcome, each meaning, and without delay his gaze lifted to meet Erebos’s. He had not expected that the first chick he gazed upon would be one so unusual, and yet it certainly stirred things up – for better or for worse.

”Your outcome is either a great blessing, or a grave curse,” he informed his nephew monotonously. ”You hold favor in the eyes of some gods, and yet your presence infuriates others. Your fate is essentially unknown; only time will tell.”

Satisfied with his own description of the meaning, Sabaoth observed Erebos for some time before finally speaking once more. ”You have completed the agoge, and so I bestow upon you the rank of Gladiator. Sometime soon, you must evaluate which higher rank you wish to achieve and choose your mentor from said rank accordingly.”

But the question is, Sabaoth thought as he recalled their first meeting once more, is he interested in staying at all?


Erebos

[Erebos]

It was only natural that some of the gods would be keeping an eye on him, suspicious of what bad thing lurked around the next corner he turned. He acknowledged his prophecy with an unamused huff under his breath, but was considerate enough to lower his head in a form of respect for having taken an amount of his time. Now he was a Gladiator, but the title was useless to him - he could undoubtedly be a killer, and spend the rest of his days as such, but it hardly showcased his true talent.

Despite his disbelief, his willingness to be finished with this, he consumed the insides of the egg with one low swoop of his jaw, the fully formed chick soon dead.

"Thank you, Sabaoth." Although polite in essence, his tone was dull. The Agoge was finished, and he could practically taste the severing of his ties to Kairos. However, something didn't feel right about turning his back on Sabaoth just yet. He was of Kairos, and that wasn't about to change, but that didn't mean Erebos wished the same fate upon his oddly understanding uncle as he did wolves like his mother and father.

There was something unusual shining in his pale eyes as he considered his next course of action; Sabaoth would, with great ease, be able to observe that there was something remaining unsaid. His body was tense, and when he finally parted his jaws to speak, it was to issue an indirect warning. "I am going to catch a nice meal to bring with me to my mother and father so we can celebrate my success. All will be welcome to feast." Erebos brushed by his uncle, pausing with his mouth close to the older wolf's ear. "I suggest you do not take a bite."

He didn't offer any goodbyes, but his parting words made it relatively clear to the perceptively minded that what he was about to do wasn't going to be good and that, afterwards, they would not be seeing each other again for some time.

Sabaoth