62 Swords in the Stone

[excalibured]

[Since horses rather require daily care, and being let out of their stalls either to graze or run about to stay healthy, this is generally the first place he visits after breakfast or lunch, depending on prior committments. He's come to recognize every single animal within the stall, and which stall should not be empty.

So the sight of a stall door

Comments

[newgothamoracle]

[sickened shock widens Barbara's eyes for an instant when they settle on the tree, but it doesn't stall her, and when she's beside Arthur her expression is hard and analytical] This looks...sadistic. They didn't die quickly.

[excalibured]

[He nods] I know. The cut was not nearly deep enough for a quick death. And they bear no other markings, they were not wounded with the intent of death before this.

The purpose for this however, I cannot discern.

[newgothamoracle]

It might be a warning. [her lips curl in a slight scowl] Or it might not have much point at all, just someone's sick idea of entertainment.

[withnopowers]

[Kate's been thoroughly exploring the castle, and it's no trouble to alter her route when she hears the dire direction; she slows abruptly when the tree comes into sight, staring in stunned revulsion

then she swallows hard and moves forward, eyes narrowing as she examines the corpses]

[excalibured]

[He'll hang back and watch her a little bit. The steely nerves seems like she's used to this kind of thing and could probably do this without destroying anything that might be found, but he's just going to make sure.]

[withnopowers]

[it's an effort to keep her gaze steady as she walks round the tree, careful to avoid the blood spatter; she does turn away a few times, steeling herself for a few moments]

The cuts are shallow, so - they wanted this to last.

They must have been strong, not just to string them up, but - I think they were hung before they were cut. Or maybe they have some power over animals.

[she allows the grimace, then] What a way to use it.

[demonologist]

[Wesley takes a while to get there, having come from town. He gazes up at the new additions to the tree, his expression rather grim. Moving closer, he begins a more thorough examination of the animal corpses, although he doesn't disturb anything.]

[excalibured]

[At least someone who seems to be taking this seriously and isn't flailing about how gross this is, because while it definitely is, they're getting nothing done fast this way. And since he's not disturbing any evidence, he'll let him be and hang back, watching curiously, since he looks from the future so might have...A better way of examining things]

[clarklike]

[... Huh. Clark's been reading the replies, so he knows what to expect, and having grown up on a farm he's not particularly disturbed by dead animals. These are more brutal, and more gruesome, obviously, but at least it's not a human. At least, at least, at least.

What he doesn't expect, though, is which horse.]

Spot.

[excalibured]

[Oh...Man, this is like one of the most awkward moments of his life. What do you say to someone who's just lost an animal that they probably loved?]

...It was a good animal.

[clarklike]

[Well, at least Clark doesn't put farm animals quite so much in the same categories as beloved pets. So it's awkward, at worst, and he feels bad that it happened, but the chorus of "at least it's not a human" runs through his head again.]

He was.

What would do something like this?

[excalibured]

[Excellent, because he would have been lost otherwise. He scrubs at his forehead in slight frustration]

Nothing that kills for sport. Two other residents and I feel it is far more purposeful, more similar to a ritual of some sort, however, they have pointed out that this is unlike any that has ever been recorded on...A typical Earth. Making this even far more unlikely.

It must have had great strength, speed, and it certainly can get in and out of places without doing any sort of damage. There was no sign of forcible removal of the horse at the stable... [If you have theories he would be happy to hear them]

[beltbucklerebel]

[he'd gone out early for a run...but despite the running-wear, he's all business when he approaches the scene, face grim]

Great. First human sacrifices and now...what? Blair Witch 2.0?