//------------------------------// // In the Warlord's Realm // Story: Daring Do and the Eyes of the Demon // by PegasusKlondike //------------------------------// Grimhide sat in in one of the many medical tents in N'dutu's stronghold. A zebra witch doctor pressed a small poultice onto the swollen bruise along his jaw. Grimhide winced as the healer pressed the stinging compress onto his wound. There was more to his agitation than the simple wounds he had received in that botched raid, there was the humiliation of getting his tail handed to him by a zebra. And don't get him started on what N'dutu would do to him when he finally found out where he was hiding in his stronghold. Glancing with his one good eye out the door of the medical hut, he spied a troop of heavily armored zebra warriors in all black coming his direction, a trio of cats accompanying them. Not good. The warlord himself stepped into the hut, his disfiguring scars turning his scowl into a downright terrifying expression. N'dutu glared over at the witch doctor that was bandaging Grimhide's shoulder. "Out," the warlord ordered. The warlord's hateful gaze turned back to his cavalry commander. "It is a wonder you even decided to come back." Grimhide laid back his ears, cringing under his alpha's gaze. "It not my fault!" N'dutu lashed out with a hoof, striking Grimhide's sore jaw. The gnoll whimpered in pain as he clutched his injury. "And exactly how is this not your fault!? I gave you a simple task, find Daring Do! And did you succeed? No! You lost an entire platoon of my finest cavalry, and not to mention an entire company of warriors with their recruits! Tell me Grimhide, how do I punish failure?" The gnoll fearfully licked his lips before continuing. "Arena." "Precisely. And I know how intimidated you are by our new kasai. I've heard the brute likes to chew on his gladiators before swallowing them." Grimhide swallowed a lump in his throat at the mention of the saurian kasai, one of the few beasts that went mostly unmatched in the arena, even when paired against an enraged bull elephant. The gnoll fell to his knees before the zebra. "Give one more chance, I get her!" Grimhide begged. The warlord's scowling expression deepened. "And why should I? So you can lose the core of my aerial forces or maybe even my artillery crews? Remind me as to why I made you my cavalry commander, or why I even tolerate your pathetic presence, Grimhide." The gnoll shivered under the penetrating stare of the warlord. "I best rider. I win many clan wars. But-but I learn! I think of way to get pony this time! Cannot fail!" N'dutu's eyes narrowed. "And what do you have planned this time, my failure of a dog?" Grimhide stood up, grinning that his warlord was even considering his plan. "Pony clever when given time to think, I spring trap on her! Catch unaware, like crocodile on the riverbank," Grimhide exclaimed eagerly. Shivering on the cot where he sat, he awaited the warlord's answer. N'dutu's hard gaze softened, but only a fraction. Stepping closer to his cavalry commander, N'dutu raised a hoof in front of the gnoll's face. "One more chance. But if you fail this time, I stop hunting the Eyes of the Demon and make my armies scour this forsaken continent for your wasted hide. And the moment you are brought back here, I will spoon feed you to the kasai! But if you succeed, I will forget that you ever foolishly squandered an entire company of good soldiers. I might even give you a damn medal. And to show my dedication to your half baked plan, they will be going with you." The warlord jerked his head at the three cats that had silently made their way around the cot, staring down the gnoll like a house cat might look at a mouse. With the hot breath of a panther on the nape of his neck, Grimhide nodded and gave a salute to his alpha. "Yes, master. I get pony this time." N'dutu snorted at the obeisance, acting as though it were an affront to his person. Turning on his hooves, he exited the medical hut, his Blackguard falling in around him. Though the presence of the silent and dangerous cats raised the hair on his neck, Grimhide felt a certain satisfaction. With an exhale he relaxed, slouching over from his stiffness when at attention. He would get his second chance at that pony, but more importantly, he would get another chance at finishing his little disagreement with that zebra. Damning the rest of his medical treatment, Grimhide strode out of the hut, the trio of cats in tow as he made his way to the nandi stables. ********************************************* The ever burning sun over Zebrica had forced Daring and Timur once again off the road and under shade to rest through the hottest part of the day. Both took refuge under a large stone outcropping on the side of a hill, resting their hooves and leaning their backs against the cool stone of the shaded hillside. Her zebra guide had taken his usual route and lightly napped through the heat. But Daring almost never rested like he did. Her little journal was open and resting in her lap, her pencil held in a hoof as she carefully traced a sketch of the Nyika chief from memory. Daring's little notebook was becoming quite the gallery, with sketches of beasts, landscapes, and the peoples of Zebrica all taking their place in her newly discovered artistic talent. A slight smile crept up her lips as she shaded the eagle feather mantle of the chief. By the end of this little journey, she might just clear out a room in her apartment just for drawing. This new talent was just so calming, so peaceful. And with a start she realized, so un-Daring Do. Artistry was something that the snobby ladies of Canterlot did, they cared about how things looked and about ladylike pursuits such as simple painting. Her magenta eyes drifted back down to the sketch of the Nyika chief, so bold and yet wise. Ya know, maybe Daring Do is gonna turn over a new leaf, she thought to herself. Then the memories of the dreaded ballroom socials and having to wear ridiculous dresses popped into her head. I'll see what I can do about burning that leaf. Over to her right, she heard her guide take in a deep breath, waking up from his short nap. Quickly Daring stuffed her notebook away, for some reason feeling like it would tarnish her good name. Timur yawned and licked his lips, pulling out a gourd he took a deep drink, then passed it off to Daring. Her zebra guide stuck his hoof out into the sunlight, holding it there for a minute. Nodding his satisfaction with the current temperature, Timur rose up and swatted a fly on his flank with his monochromatic tail. "Let's be going Ms Do. The sooner we get away from the heart of N'dutu's territory and into Din'Jaro land, the better." The zebra shouldered his saddle bag and a new spear, steadily making his way back to the road. Daring cinched on her small pouch, spreading her wings and lazily flying next to her guide. The mention of the most powerful tribe in Zebrica brought a thought back to Daring. "So, what did you do that makes you so apprehensive?" Timur rolled his eyes as he walked. "Kwa upendo wa.... this again? Can't you let sleeping dogs lie?" Daring hovered in front of his face, her forelegs folded and her smile mischievous. "Nope. Besides, I have to do something to break the silence." "I would prefer silence." "You're no fun. Oh! Did you at one point have too much fun and wreck up something? There was this filly I heard about in some town called Ponyville that did that alot." Timur continued to walk forward, trying to keep his cool. "No." Daring tapped her chin with a hoof, falling back to his side while flapping her wings just enough to stay airborne. "Hmm, let me see. Did you taste the 'forbidden fruit'?" she air quoted with her hooves as she flew circles around the zebra. The zebra shifted his gaze and lifted an eyebrow at Daring. "What? What forbidden fruit? Why would we hold fruit sacred?" Daring landed with a small puff of dust under her hooves. "Not literal fruit. You know, like the chief's daughter or something." "Yours is a foul mind, Daring Do," Timur said as he continued his trudge, shaking his head at the pegasus. Daring stomped a hoof in frustration, running to catch up with her guide. "Don't you think that you're any better than me buster. I've seen the way you look at me when we stop." Her eyes looked over the zebra, admiring his masculine build, taking in his sleek muscles. "Undressing me with your eyes." The zebra rolled his eyes, slapping a hoof to his face and muttering something in possibly a half dozen zebra languages. "I have been checking you for ticks. A single bad tick bite can leave you paralyzed, or worse. And what is there to undress? All you ever wear is that jacket and your little helmet!" Daring took a few side steps closer to Timur, letting her full feminine sway attack him. "Aw come on, don't be that way. A few glasses of whiskey and I'm honey in your hooves, sugar." She was enjoying this game of twisting him like twine around her hoof. Unfortunately, Timur seemed to be made of tougher stuff than twine. Placing a hoof on her shoulder, the zebra bodily pushed her a few feet to the side. "I applaud your enthusiasm. But you are not my type, Ms Do." Daring stood back, mildly stunned at his stalwart nature. Normal stallions would be quivering at her hooves right now. Well, it was a fun game to try out on her guide and kill some time, but it made her wonder as to what his preferences actually were. Letting the awkwardness of the situation pass, Daring continued to pelt him with more questions. "Shame your family?" "No." "Break something important?" "No." "Forget to lock up the hut one night and get robbed?" "How does one even 'lock up a hut'?" "I'll take that as a 'no'." ******************************************** It would work. Grimhide kept telling himself that, over and over again. It would work, not only because it was an absolutely genius plan, but because it had to work. If he failed, his sorry hide was food for some of the arena beasts. Looking out over the horizon from behind his hiding spot, he peered through a spyglass, searching for any sign of his allied cats or the pony. His warlord might have just sent those cats along as a way to keep an eye on him if he failed and decided to run, but he would use his strengths. And key among those strengths was the element of surprise. N'dutu's cavalry commander sat hidden behind a rock on top of a narrow pass. A twin set of ridges divided the short scrubland for miles in both directions, cut through by this one gully that he and an entire company of slavers and archers were watching over. If that pony and the zebra passed through this territory, this was the only way through. Grimhide was rather pleased with himself, both times before he had been too blunt in his approach to getting Daring Do. But not this time. No, this time he used a different tactic. One he had learned from long hours of watching the great cats hunt on the savanna. Something that the books his master owned called 'subtlety' and 'planning'. Sure, they were fairly alien concepts to the gnoll, but it was better than trying a head on attack for a third time. For some reason the typical gnoll tactic of 'scream and leap' didn't seem to work so well. Running a claw over the blade of his sword, he yearned for a second opportunity at fighting that zebra. He had been challenged, and since neither had come out on top with the first round, gnoll tradition required that somebody die in the second round. It was just the way things worked. And while he did want to parade Daring Do back to N'dutu, his personal primary objective was to fight that zebra on equal, honorable terms....and then rip his skeleton out. After some very awkward signing and trying to command the cats in every language that he knew, Grimhide got the basic idea across to them that he wanted them to herd the pony this way and into the funnel. As they stalked off into the bush, he had the strangest feeling that they knew what they were doing better than he did. Sometimes those damn cats made his skin crawl with how much intelligence sat behind those cold eyes. And so he sat under the burning Zebrican sun, feeling the skin slowly cooking under his fur. Splayed out on a hilltop while camouflaged as best as he could be, as well as the entire company of archers and slaver infantry that lay hidden behind bushes, rocks and in the shadows. No doubt, if the cats did their little job, this would work. ***************************************** "Okay, how about this one? You fled Zebrica because some witch doctor placed a curse on you which threatens to turn you into a zombie if you place your hooves back on Zebrican soil to reclaim your place as rightful ruler of your tribe." Timur sighed, his head hung much lower in annoyance after the past four hours of Daring trying unravel his great secret. "Oh no, you got me Ms Do, my deep dark secret is revealed." Daring fluttered up to his face excitedly. "Really!?" "No. But you have quite the imagination. Maybe you should write a book. It will keep your mouth shut," he muttered under his breath. "What was that last bit there?" Timur grinned sheepishly. "Oh, it was an old saying in Gochano. It means, 'best of luck in your ventures'." "Really? Because it kind of sounded like you said I should write a book because it will keep my mouth shut," Daring said with a touch of snarkiness in her voice, glaring down the zebra from her slight altitude. Timur had stopped and stood stark still, his head up and his ears twisting to pick up a slight sound he had heard. Daring poked him with a hoof. "Well Mr Stripes? Got anything to say to that?" "Quiet Ms Do," Timur whispered. "BE QUIET?!? Seriously! No, now you've gone and pissed me off! I'm singing it out loud baby! I PUT MY HOOF UPON HER FLANK, YA HO! YA HO! I PUT MY HOOF UPON HER FLANK, YA HO! YA HO! I PUT MY HOOF UPON HER FLANK, SHE SAID 'HEY NOW ROOKIE I AIN'T A SKANK!' GET IN, GET OUT, QUIT BUCKIN' ABOUT-" A hoof in her mouth silenced the pegasus. She backwinged away and began to protest when she noticed Timur unsheathing his spear. Timur gave her a look that could kill a weaker creature. "I said quiet! Now shh! Hear that?" Out in the bush came the sharp crack of twigs snapping. Daring slowly pulled out her own replacement spear, holding it parallel with the ground. Slowly backing her way down the road, Daring tried to assess what was stalking them. "It could just be one of those little gazelles." The crack of twigs and the sounds of panting came from either side of the trail, as well as from in front of them. Timur's practiced blue eyes caught the flicker of movement in the bushes. "Gazelles do not hunt in packs. Nor do they hunt at all." Daring slowly swung her spear back and forth between all three of the hidden targets. "What do we do?" "If we run, they will attack. Back away slowly." As the pair began to back down the trail, the cats surrounding them in the bush moved with them. Daring's chest heaved as her magenta eyes picked through the dense thorn bushes and undergrowth. A tinge of orange set her heart to pounding like a drum. "I think we better run, Timur," she whispered to the zebra next to her. His eyes still searched for the predators stalking them, waiting for them to break their cover and attack. "I'm telling you, that is a bad idea. They are hunting us, waiting for us to show weakness." Daring scooted closer to the zebra, spear held ready. "We need to leave, NOW!" She grabbed his head with a hoof and pointed his face towards a wall of thorn bushes. Just barely visible through the thick, dead branches was a round, black face staring at them with gold eyes. In the blink of an eye the face of the panther melted back into the brush. With Daring's hoof still wrapped around his face, Timur nodded frantically. "Okay, on three, we run." "Yeah, okay. On three....THREE!" she shouted, bolting to the only open space the cats left them. Timur scrambled after her, throwing up a cloud of dust as he struggled to keep up with the aloft pegasus. Slowing down so her guide could keep up with her, Daring heard the crunch and snap of branches as the cats stayed in their formation around the pair of travelers. Turning her head to the left, she saw a streak of spotted yellow jump through the bushes, the cheetah easily keeping pace in its natural habitat. Turning her head to the right, the orange blur of the tiger crashed through the brush, using its bulk to force its way through. And behind them she could hear the hungry pant of the panther, practically nipping at her tail as it stayed just out of sight. "There is a pass ahead Ms Do! If we can make it through there we can bottleneck them and stand a chance!" Daring looked ahead and saw the cut through the ridge that divided this entire plain. Something inside of her protested, that this all seemed too convenient. She knew these cats better than this. They wouldn't chase her down with such a clear avenue of escape. The roar of the tiger a few yards to her right snapped her out of those thoughts, and Daring forced down the instinctive need to pour on as much speed as she could. They neared the pass, and as the brush thinned near the base of the ridge, the cats broke cover. Now visible to the zebra and the pegasus, their hooves and wings powered them forward. A wall of gleaming teeth and rippling feline muscles swiped at their flanks and herded them straight to the pass. Daring dropped out of the air, pulling out her spear with her teeth as they entered the narrow passage. Both pegasus and zebra whipped around to face their pursuers in combat. But the cats had stopped dead a hundred feet back. Her sharp eyes looked out to her old enemies, and something about their faces seemed a little too smug. They had planned this from the beginning, and Daring had ignored her instinct and just played right into their little ploy. "IT'S A TRAP!" Daring shouted. From atop the ridge around her came a howling cry, a howl that chilled her blood. Tossing down her spear, Daring spread her wings and jumped into the air. As soon as she tried to climb, a whistling object wrapped itself around her waist and wings like a python. Trapped neatly by the bola, Daring fell from the air with a crash. From the shadows around her came the form of N'dutu's slaver infantry, brandishing weapons as they leapt at the two that had fallen right into their trap. Struggling to stand, Daring lunged for her cast aside spear. Another of the thrown bolas painfully wrapped itself around her front hooves, and Daring fell face first to the hard stone of the gully. Forcing her face out of the dirt, Daring looked desperately for her guide, the great warrior who could solve this problem like he solved everything else. Timur fought for his life against three slavers wielding swords and spears. Ducking a spear thrust, he sliced open the belly of a slaver with his bush knife, deftly spinning on his hooves to block a chop with a sword. Bashing his opponent with the butt of his spear, Timur screamed as an arrow emerged in his back. From somewhere nearby, Daring heard a rough and growling voice scream in anger. Falling to his knees, Timur's eyes began to glaze over. But he stood with a roar, deflecting another sword thrust and impaling the slaver. As he ripped his spear free, another arrow slammed into his chest. Struggling just to breathe, Timur wrapped a hoof around the shaft of the arrow and began to pull. But his strength faltered, and Timur fell to the ground, splashes of scarlet blood trickling down on the rocks around him. Several of the slavers ran in to finish him, but as they raised their weapons, a tall red furred shape tackled the slavers, throwing them aside. "NO!" shouted Grimhide as he stood over the bleeding form of Timur. "He mine!" Turning back, he grabbed Timur by the neck, hauling him to a sitting position. "You no die yet, we finish our score. I the only one allowed to kill you!" A weak laugh came from Timur as a trickle of blood dribbled from the corner of his mouth. "I go to Yeye, our duel will-" he coughed a small stream of blood, "Will have to go unfinished," his voice rasped. Grimhide's lips peeled back in a snarl, turning his head to the slavers binding Daring he screamed, "Bring medics! We take them both prisoner!" Roughly he tossed Timur back to the ground, stalking over to the bound and gagged form of Daring Do. "N'dutu will appreciate my gift. Sleep little pony." The last thing Daring saw was a red furred fist crashing between her eyes, and her world went black. **************************************************** Her head throbbed with her heartbeat, each pulse threatening to split her skull apart. Something under her was moving in a pattern, and there was an uncomfortable pressure on her stomach. The creak of leather and clink of metal filled her ears. Weakly opening her eyes, the first thing she saw was a gray furred canine flank rhythmically walking along a dusty road. She tried to move her legs and her wings, but she was trussed up like some holiday goose in Kali'Gryph. Moving her head up from the nandi's flank, she looked around herself. Night had fallen some hours ago, and only the light of the moon and the stars illuminated the path of the war band. All around her walked N'dutu's slaver infantry, looking fairly tired from their march. A warm, furry wall of muscle sat against her side, and Daring took in the predator stench of the gnoll who captured her, bearing her back on his saddle like a trophy. Slung across another nandi lay the still form of Timur, his face pale and his breathing shallow. They appeared to have saved him, but barely. The gag in her mouth had been moistened to keep her from dehydrating, but it would not be enough if they didn't stop and give her some water. An infantry zebra wearing an ivory badge on his armor pulled close to the gnoll sitting in front of Daring. He chattered to the gnoll for a moment in some language. The gnoll responded by snarling in some guttural, growling tongue. From what she gathered, the two seemed to be having a disagreement. From the way the zebra was moving, she guessed he was tired and wanted to make camp for the night. But the gnoll was determined to get back to their stronghold as soon as possible. After a few minutes of fierce debate, most of which comprised of Grimhide snarling and barking, the cavalry commander gave in to the infantry sergeant's demands. The wagons and the nandi pulled off the road and circled up. After a few minutes of clearing away sticks and rocks, the infantry zebra started a small fire and spread out their bedrolls. Only a few actually slept, most others passed around a small pipe and took turns puffing on it. Others brought out a deck of strange cards and began to play some odd game. Daring felt herself being lifted effortlessly by Grimhide with a single paw. With no gentle move he dropped her on the ground near his bedroll along with the unconscious Timur. Sighing at the comfort of finally being able to relax her stomach muscles from riding that way all day, she worked at getting her gag out. Glancing over towards the fire, she noticed a few of the slaver warriors looking her direction with a very familiar look in their eyes. A few gave wry smiles and even puckered their lips at the bound pegasus. And in her current position, she was awfully convenient for anypony looking for release. Taking another drag on the pipe, one slaver stood up and sauntered over to Daring, a sway in his step from the narcotic. Leaning close to Daring, the stench of his drug reeked in her nose. "I like a mare with a bit of color, zebra girls are so much duller." He greedily traced a hoof along her exposed and unprotected flank. Daring desperately tried to work the gag out of her mouth, she tried to struggle against her bonds but to no avail. Her unwanted suitor turned back to his companions. "They say a pony mare is like a virgin! Tight and fresh all the way in." The other zebra warriors laughed at his pun, waiting patiently for him to get it over with so they could have a turn. Forcing her tongue behind the gag, Daring managed to spit it out. "HELP! HELP! SOMEPONY HELP!" Daring screamed to anyone that might be listening. Her cries were only met with laughter from the warriors, but somepony thankfully wasn't amused. Grimhide stepped back into the campfire ring, bearing an armload of firewood. Dropping his wood, he walked calmly over behind the drugged zebra. Balling up a fist, he punched him in the back of the head, grabbed him by the mane and tossed him back towards his bedroll. Laying back his ears, the gnoll snarled at the rest of the company, who promptly lay down and stopped their shenanigans. Daring looked up at her odd savior. "Thanks," she said to the gnoll. The brutish gnoll responded by leaning down, grabbing her by the mane and bringing her to eye level. "I get better reward if you unspoiled." He let go of her mane, letting her head fall back to the ground. "If you're just keepin' me fresh, how about some bucking water?" Grimhide laid back his ears and curled his lips to show the sharp predator teeth. Snarling, he reached to his saddle and pulled out a bowl and a skin of water. Throwing the bowl in front of her face, he filled it with lukewarm water. Daring glanced at him before sticking her muzzle into the bowl and gladly drinking down the sour tasting water. Noting that his charge was satisfied, Grimhide lay back on his bedroll and fell asleep. Daring tried as best as she could to get comfortable with her legs and wings bound so tightly, safe in the knowledge that she might get out of this alive, as long as she stayed close to Grimhide. ************************************************** Daring's rest was broken by her gnoll captor bodily throwing her back onto the saddle of the nandi. Stepping into a stirrup and swinging a leg over the saddle, Grimhide seemed more a little more confident today. Glancing over at the bound and unconscious form of Timur, some of the color had returned to his face and he breathed more easily. The sun began to heat the dry air of the now open savanna that had replaced the low scrub brush. Her gag had been replaced, but not before the gnoll watered his trophy. He wanted her in top shape when he laid her down at the hooves of the warlord. On through the burning heat of the day the company of soldiers and a small detachment of cavalry marched along a dusty path. Even through the scorching midday heat the soldiers marched without qualm, though some panted and swayed as they stepped. Eventually, the explorer pegasus spotted something through the desert heat, a huge wall that looked to be made of wood, stone, mudbrick and anything else that lay around. Atop the massive gate flapped a pair of black pendants in the hot breeze. Meager farms surrounded the walls, and downtrodden looking zebra tribals wearing steel collars milled about, expressions of fear and despair on their faces. Lifting up a paw, Grimhide halted the column, leaping out of the saddle and reaching into his saddlebags. All around Daring, the soldiers quickly polished their armor and got into parade formation. So that was it, pomp and circumstance, bringing her in was some great victory and they wanted everypony to know about it. Grimhide fitted on his armor, tugging it on with disdain. Though a polished black, he didn't seem to like it. Reaching into his saddlebag again, he grabbed two small jars. Popping them open revealed a set of black and white war paints. Walking over to the unconscious zebra, the gnoll slathered the white paint onto his flank, and then traced a snake mark on there to cover the spear and shield. He knows who Timur is, but he doesn't want anypony else to know, Daring thought to herself. There's dissent in the ranks. With the soldiers in proper rank and file, dressed in their armor with weapons sheathed, the column began to march to the gates of the warlord's stronghold. Grimhide once again reached into his nandi's saddlebag, pulling out a curved horn of a kudu. Placing it on his mouth, he took in a deep breath and blared a braying call to the zebra soldiers working the gate. For a minute the gate sat still, then began to shift its way open. Daring noticed that all the zebra and other creatures doing the work wore those metal collars. Putting away his horn, Grimhide spurred his mount onward through the gate, head held high and a toothy smile on his snout. From her perch atop the saddle, her glimpse of the tent city was one of despair and hopelessness. Everywhere she looked zebras and other creatures wore the collars of slaves, wearily going about their tasks as the warlord's loyal soldiers stood watch. Tents and huts of dozens of makes and styles stood shabbily along the street. Everywhere Daring looked smiths worked at their small anvils, churning out spears and arrows. Slave soldiers practiced in large regiments under the watchful gaze of black armored drill sergeants. As the column neared the center of the massive encampment, the sounds of roars and bellows came from a huge palisade circle, with zebra soldiers and lesser lords in N'dutu's army standing atop ramparts cheering and exchanging bets. Farther behind the arena stood the stables, huge pens holding beasts of gigantic size and indeterminate lethality. Huge green skinned elephant creatures, what Daring thought were called grootslangs, rammed their heads into the walls of their pens, eager to challenge the strange dinosaur looking creature in the next pen over. Passing by the gladiator arena, the column of soldiers led by Grimhide stopped in front of a massive tent of silk. Grabbing Daring by the mane he dragged her out of the saddle, throwing her on the ground. The flaps of the great tent parted, and the soldiers all dropped to their knees in obeisance to their leader, Grimhide among them. A pair of striped legs stopped in front of Daring, clad in solid gold bracelets, a leopard-skin shoulder mantle and a massive sapphire on a necklace. Peering up, Daring looked at the ugliest face she had ever seen. The cold, grey eyes of N'dutu stared down at the bound pegasus. The zebra warlord began to chuckle. Leaning down to Daring, he smiled as he gloated over her. "Welcome, Daring Do, to my Zebrica." *********************************************** You deserve some kind of reward if you know what 'scream and leap' is a reference to.