Of Beast and Bloodlines

Syrin watched her charges as they sat crossed-legged on the ground, intense focus on every face. Syrin could sense the magic swirling within them, an achievement, considering their previous states. Deep breaths being inhaled and exhaled in unison, the connection to Xandrada and each other strengthening with each breath.

Though the rabbitkin were often found in the plains and woods of the world, their knowledge of nature magic, and in fact, any magic was limited. Their mixed blood shackled their power, perhaps a punishment from the Gods themselves, for mixing their blood with the beast of old.

Descended from the beast of old, who rose from the dirt of Xandrada, a creation of the planet itself. Mighty creatures that roamed the lands and preyed upon those that caused Xandrada harm. They were neither mortal nor monsters, looking more beast than man, beings possessing great strength. They, like the Blessed, were creations of the first cycle. During the first invasion of the abyss, the world became aware, the incursion was a threat to all that lived upon it. Seeing the danger posed by the abyssal invasion, she used all that she was to defend herself. The very world rose in defiance against the corrupted. The Beast were her champions, rising from her flesh to combat the enemy that dare exist in her realm. A surprise to be sure, especially to the Masks and Elves, who had been pushed to the brink fighting the demons for well over a decade.

That would mark a turning point in the war and the rising of the Goddess Zigtia, the avatar of Xendrada. The only Goddess to rise since the dawn of time. As the years went on and millennia passed, the beast and mortals began to mix. Giving rise to the Beastkin, a race of halfbreeds, a mix of beasts and mortals. But that was an age long past and now these mighty watchers were all but legend. One heard of sightings from young children of these mighty warriors but they were often ignored as a child's imagination.

In the current day, many debated the existence of them altogether, so long had it been since the first cycle. For a mortal, such times were as stories and myths. Many texts from the cycles past are considered to be more legend than fact. The Clans held no such misconceptions, there were a few Blessed that remained in their ranks that had been around since the clashing of the planets. There was no doubt in their text of the validity of those stories, or what had come of it. Lady Lust, Matriarch of the House of Love, being one of them.

As most Blessed only tolerated the Beast as necessary allies, they simply let the secret of their existence die with them. But now that their descendants were to be a part of the Thousand Masks, Wrath thought it best to give that ancient power to them once again. Syrin found herself once again impressed by the Xal kissed girl, Monica the Lady of Wrath reminded herself, though it was Regan this time that stood ahead of his kin. A second girl also showed promise, a flighty thing that went by the name Lexi.

The magic coming off of them was far greater than those around them, in legends, there were a select few of the Beastkin tribes. Much like the Blessed and the holy warriors of the church. They were chosen by Zigtia to be protectors over her lands, given an aptitude for magic. Lady Wrath considered that they may be the next to be blessed, though she had no proof of this. The Lady of the Thousand could not help the smile that twitched the corner of her lips as thought crossed her mind. Oh, the carnage that would come of such an act, those who enslaved the Beastkin would get a rude awakening if that came to pass.

Syrin was drawn from her thoughts by little Regan, the girl's fluffy ears swaying on her head with a look of concentration on her face. The adorable little thing had her eyebrows scrunched together in her efforts to draw the magic from the world around her. That was another tool at her disposal, many of the Rabbitkin occasionally glanced at the young lass with gratitude as she had, after all, been the one to lead them here. Mayhaps she might use the girl's crush on the prince to her advantage, leaving a suggestion here or there that only someone powerful could qualify to bed the prince.

It would help to keep her focused on her training at least, she could see how hard the little rabbit girl tries to be worthy of Galliard. Though Syrin knew that the girl would never be good enough in her lord husband's eyes. A cruel perhaps, but she needs the child to increase her strength as soon as possible as someone to lead the Rabbitkin by example.

The mark on her arm lights up as the thought of Wrath crosses the Queen Consort's mind. She smiles fondly knowing that he could feel her thoughts wander to him. The ethereal bond heated up slightly as the blue light shone brighter, letting her know that he noticed it and the thought of her had crossed his mind as well.

Syrin enjoyed the company of her husband, though was not yet certain that love would make an appearance between them now or in the future. Truly, love was an emotion that she was unsure was capable of lingering in her heart. Wrath was quite amusing at times and Lady Wrath secretly enjoyed the way he lusted for her, though she would never tell him outright. But to call it love would be an exaggeration, it was beginning to feel like she wed what would be her best friend.

When wedding him Syrin had assumed that it would be a marriage based only on duty to their people and that alone. Yet the more time they spent together the more leaving his side brought up a feeling of disappointment. Syrin knew that Wrath felt the same thing, in part because of their bond and for how the lord always sought her out the moment his responsibilities lessened.

The reason for her attendance at the choosing of the brides was her determination to win to pay back the kindness that was shown to her by Lord Envy. The clan of Envy had always been one of the strongest of the One Thousand, but It had never been summoned into the inner circle of High Lords and Ladies. Her father was so excited about the first meeting he was invited to she could practically feel it bleeding out of his very pores. Granular had stayed up for many an hour preparing himself to keep a cool head while attending.

Lady Wrath had seen her husband a few times growing up but had never spoken to him until that day. Being such a quiet child, he kept to himself and brooded over his lot in life often, it was rather a surprise to her to see how he had grown as a man. Gone was the perpetually pouting youth replaced with a, frankly rather sarcastic, young man with a strong will and a stronger blade. Though being that he had the weight of all the clans on his shoulders from the day of his birth, Syrin could not rightfully wrong him for his mannerisms.

She found herself wondering what he would be like with their children, blushing slightly at the fact that the thought had even crossed her mind, she shook it from her head. Having children with the Lord of Wrath was a duty she could not avoid, but the thought of having children of her own had always repulsed her. Being raised to become a deadly killer made you less caring and nurturing, as a general rule. It was no great secret that slaughterers did not always make the best parents, stunted in emotion as they often were. However, she found herself enjoying the thought of kids as time went on, but she could not understand why.

"Class dismissed," Syrin spoke suddenly, turning on her heel, to follow the tug of her bond.

Syrin walked swiftly, leaving the startled Rabbitkin behind to be escorted by the Sentinels. Through the winding keep she strode, following the bond to its anchor. Soon enough, Syrin rounded a corner and spotted her beloved exiting the war room with the master blacksmith he had introduced her to a few days before. A smile graced her pale lips as she increased the speed of her stride. Having Long sensed her approach Wrath turned himself in the direction of his Lady Consort. Though his face was covered by his mask, as it always was where any but her could see, she could almost feel the smirk that arrived upon his face.

When she reached him, Wrath grabbed hold of her waist and pulled her into the room that was just deserted, the two of them ignoring the chuckles of Hunter as he kicked the door closed. As the door shut, the lord pushed his lady up against it with her arms restrained above her head, quickly moving his mask out of the way to take her lips in a kiss of passion. Syrin slumped against the door as her knees became weak. Finally, he came up for air and looked down at her with mirth in his eyes.

"Were you trying to entice me while in the middle of a meeting you naughty vixen?" He joked, a tone of teasing in his voice. "Our marriage brand lit up so bright you would think I was trying to keep away a horde of wild parasite imps."

A blush crept slowly up her chest and softly painted itself across her defined cheekbones. Her pale complexion flushed a bright pink at his words. Syrin bit a plump bottom lip by habit, the action drawing the lord's attention to it, leaning in to ravish her lips once again.

"It was not my intention to distract you from your duty, my love," Syrin whispers, pulling a hand from his grasp to hold against his chest, halting his actions. She sighs dramatically as mischief fills her gaze and the slight smile on his face widens a little more. "I guess since I am such a distraction I should leave you be for a few moons until the Kingdom is overthrown."

Syrin pushed him away from her and he let her without the slightest hint of resistance. Dramatically turning towards the door, she rests her hand on the handle with another distraught sigh.

"Since it is your wish as well as for the good of the clans I suppose I can endure it and join you in your vow of celibacy." She spoke, opening up the door slightly without turning her head to look at him, a faux sob at her lips. "I can be strong if you wish to go without my embrace."

One of Wrath's hands slams on the door above her head, closing it quickly with a thunderous sound while the other is wrapped around her, drawing her closer.

"I say damn them all to the abyss, let us do it right here and now," He growled, placing a kiss on her shoulder, making her shudder. "Your moving speech has convinced me, alas I am feeble to your feminine wiles and you are indeed a temptress trying to corrupt my innocent mind."

Syrin let out an echoing laugh, unable to control it, she turned back around their faces only inches apart. "You, innocent?" She laughs again. "There is nothing even the slightest bit innocent about you."

"That is because you have sucked it all out of me." He brought his hand up and pulled her silvery hair out of the braid she had had it so neatly in. "I fell victim to your vile powers of seduction."

"Oh really?" She smiled up at him, walking him back until the back of his knees hit the table. "In that case, you are about to fall victim once more my Lord..."