The man held the brand there for a long time. Finally, when it stopped sizzling and burning, he removed it and stepped away, putting the brand back on the fire.
A hoarse scream echoed through the woods.
At War // OxO // Closed
flash_on
Eclipse's breathing was unsteady, and his skin ached everywhere, but somehow he'd managed not to scream. At this point he was impressed with himself, though he supposed part of it was the fact that he was able to anticipate.
"How do they have three screams and we've got none?" One man complained.
The leader snorted. "You see that kid's leg? They're probably prying it apart along that old seam. The kid's a terror in battle, but I'm willing to guess he's never had this happen before."
flash_on
Eclipse ignored them and focused on breathing,focused on not losing it. He knew the men would exploit Nik's injuries, as he was already hurt pretty badly… But he had never done this either….
"This one either. He just has more control, I think." The man replied. He picked up another iron, and jabbed it down into the center of Eclipse's stomach.
flash_on
Eclipse clenched his jaw to muffle the cry of pain that rose in his throat. Mentally he scolded himself for being distracted as he focused on breathing again.
The man smirked. "We got a sound that time." He said. He grabbed another iron and jabbed it down right beside the first. He was smirking as he watched Eclipse.
flash_on
Eclipse's breathing sped up as he fought to stay focused, muffling a second cry ith a grunt, his eyes opening again to glare at the men, still fighting to defy them.
They removed the two irons, and got a third one that was white hot from the depths of the fire, stabbing it straight down onto the already burned flesh. They were watching him with smirks on their faces.
flash_on
Eclipse cried out at again, catching it and muffling it as tears came. He could smell his own flesh burning, and the only thing keeping him calm was the thought that if he screamed, it would mean they'd won. And he wasn't about to let that happen.
They looked at each other and laughed. "Now we're getting through." One said, chuckling.
Another smirked, and grabbed a handful of salt. "We used to do this to particularly rowdy prisoners." He sprinkled the salt on the cuts from earlier.
flash_on
Eclipse let out a low whine, unable to help it as salt was sprinkled into the wounds, again he tugged on the restraints, wanting nothing more than to hurt them back.
One checked the restraints to make sure they were secure.
Another grabbed a burning iron, and pressed it to the soft part of Eclipse's foot, after removing his shoes and socks.
flash_on
Eclipse tried to move his foot away, letting out a cry of pain, knowing that one might be permanent. as he clamped his jaw shut again, determined not to make another sound.
The man laughed. "There we go." He grabbed another iron and pressed it to the same spot, smirking at the sizzle of burning flesh.
flash_on
Eclipse kept his jaw clenched, whimpering in pain, trying to get away from the burning.
The men laughed. They continued with the salt and irons, since those had gotten the most response from the Tesh prince. Another scream from Nik came through the woods.
flash_on
Eventually Eclipse couldn't help it, letting out a loud cry of pain, trying his best to keep quiet.
The men looked at each other and laughed, and did it again and again and again. They would occasionally add more knives into the mix, drawing blood from Eclipse's skin. More screams from Nik carried through the woods. One cut off with the stutter of a breaking voice, and after that there were no more.
flash_on
It didn't take long after that to make him scream, struggling to get away from the burning on his feet knowing he may never be able to hunt properly again, much less walk, without pain.
They continued, trailing up his leg and pushing the burning irons into the muscle. After a while, a broken, cracked scream carried through the woods again. The men laughed softly, and continued on Eclipse.
flash_on
Eclipse couldn't help his cry of agony, the salt in his wounds not helping anything as he tried to focus on anything but the pain.
(I'm just gonna gloss over the rest since it basically goes the same lol)
They continued to use the salt and burning irons liberally, laughing at his screams. After a few hours, someone came over.
"Seren says that that's enough for now." They said in a calm voice. "I'm here to mend the worst of the wounds, and lead him to where he and the other will be kept."
The men stopped, putting the tools they had used away.
flash_on
Eclipse's breathing was erratic and shallow by the time they stopped trying to remember how to think straight again.
Most of the men left. The person who had come gently touched their hands to the worst of Eclipse's wounds, including the ones on his feet, and healed them up with magic. Not completely, but enough that he wouldn't get an infection or anything. Enough that he could move.
flash_on
Eclipse couldn't help the whimpers that escaped every time he was touched, but the healing sensation was comforting, and extremely unsettling at the same time.
The healer stepped back. "Fight me, and you die." They said in a calm voice. They unshackled Eclipse's hands, then tied them behind his back.
flash_on
Eclipse wasn't about to try it, cooperating as the other retied his hands, not bothering to fight him for the moment.
"Come." The healer led Eclipse through the woods, and to a tent. He opened the tent flap, revealing that the inside was a cell. Almost a cage. Nik lay inside, leaning against the metal bars. He was beaten and bloody and bruised, and looked barely conscious.
flash_on
Eclipse was able to walk, but every step on his burned feet was painful. Sure, they'd been healed, but not fully. He made no reaction at the sight of the other,not for the moment, partially because he knew he wasn't much better.