06-07-2017, 09:14 PM
Despite Aten shouting at the top of his lungs, trying to get Jinju's attention, the roar of the flames continued to drown out his voice. The stallion eyed the flames with distaste, angry that they were dissipating his efforts to try and get the dark coated mare under control. Almost as if sensing his thoughts, the flames lashed out at his hooves again, using the meadow grass as a way to get closer. The stallion jumped back, coming dangerously close to the flames with his back hooves.
Aten let out an angry call, clearly fed up with having to dance around these flames so carefully. Here he was, trying to break Jinju from whatever had her trapped in her mind, and the flames were licking at him like the ocean waves. The stallion sidestepped away from the spreading fire, finding a way around so that he was closer to Jinju's front end rather than positioned on her side.
Then, suddenly, despite the roaring heat, a cold feeling spread through Aten's veins, as if someone had pumped them full of icy water. Drawn in by confusion, Aten's head whipped around, trying to see if something had settled on his back, or, not likely enough, a blanket of snow had just fallen on him.
Instead, he didn't really see anything obvious. No white powder, no strange animal or horse on his back. At first, he thought he had just imagined it, but as he started turning his head back around to continue shouting at Jinju, a glittering presence near his flank caught the stallion's attention. Eyes focused, but his vision cloudy due to the smoke, Aten did his best to identify what was now on his body.
It didn't really make sense to him, seeing it like this. He couldn't really pinpoint what had settled over him; it just felt like a cold breeze, comforting him, but not trying to freeze him. Rather, it almost seemed like it was trying to protect him. But from what? If this was he thought it was, it wouldn't stand long against the flames.
And yet, as Aten experimented by taking a step closer to Jinju, dangerously close to the flames, the heat didn't burn as badly as it had before. He still felt it, but it was much more bearable than just a few moments ago. Aten didn't know how far he could push this sudden protective shield, but he would try his hardest to get as close as he could to Jinju without having his skin melt off.
So, taking each step carefully, and starting to call out her name again to bring her back to the present, Aten made his way toward the dark coated mare. The flames burned bright, right in his path, but the heat seemed to be dimming out at the edge. The cold feeling covering Aten's body also seemed to respond to it. Was whoever out there helping the one who had done this to Aten to protect him?
He didn't know a lot of specific gifts here in the Taiga. He figured Ruan had a gift, given that Jinju did. It would also explain the cold feelings he sometimes got around the stallion, on the times they were together.
Could that be the connection? Seconds later, the answer appeared in front of him. Or rather, next to him. Out of the smoke appeared the familiar spotted stallion, Ruan, a stallion whom Aten had come not only to respect and admire but also feel an attachment. Not necessarily one of father and son just yet, Aten thought, but enough of one that he knew he'd gladly give his life to save Ruan should the need arise.
Ruan made his way toward his daughter, silently calling out her name along the way. Aten followed behind, noticing how Ruan didn't seem to be that affected by the flames. The golden stallion, on the other hoof, was beginning to feel the heat of the flames again. The cold feeling - ice, he was beginning to suspect as he looked down at the shimmering on his legs - was protecting him, but that didn't mean he couldn't feel the heat.
Aten looked back up at Ruan to see the stallion sluggishly making his way even closer, his eyes glazing over with sympathy. The stallion was obviously tired from using so much energy protecting himself, Aten, and probably putting out the flames near the edge of the burning meadow grass. Doing his best to ignore the heat, Aten moved closer to Ruan to offer his support, enough that the stallion could lean on him if need be but far away enough so that, if Ruan didn't want help, Aten could move away.
It got to the point where Aten was about three or so yards away from Jinju, Ruan standing right next to his daughter's stomach. Aten couldn't see what Ruan was doing from here, only that steam seemed to be rising from the filly's back. He wasn't as knowledgeable as some, but even he knew that steam was only created when water was poured on fire. Whatever Ruan was doing, it was an attempt to try and cool off his daughter's burning rage.
Ruan continued trying to reach Jinju, his tone so quiet that Aten almost didn't hear him. The only acknowledgement he really got since Ruan arrived was a silent nod, a show of thanks for Aten's efforts.
The golden stallion just nodded back, knowing they couldn't waste time. Even if he had noticed things were a bit different lately, something very bad had to have happened for Jinju to be reacting this way. He had to help in any way he could, no matter the consequences it had for him.
Pushing the coat of ice to its near limits, Aten made his way closer to the dark filly. He could feel the flames trying to penetrate his icy coat, to get near the delicate skin that lay beneath, but he would ignore it for now. He'd only be concerned if the coat actually failed and he felt the searing heat taking off his golden fur.
"Jinju?" he called, adding his concerned words to Ruan's. "Jinju, it's me, Aten. You've got to try and fight this; your dad is worried about you. I'm worried about you. The Taiga's meadow is in flames, and it will spread even further if you don't stop. Whatever happened, we can talk. Please, Jinju, come back, for your father."
Aten wouldn't add for her to come back for himself. It was a selfish thing to say, to have his friend return only to satisfy his need for her safety. She needed to believe that Aten was in this for Ruan's sake, that all he cared about was bringing Jinju back to see her father again. Because even though Aten had feelings for the dark coated filly, he had a feeling another already held her heart. Just a dim gut feeling. It had been different with Sirana, for she held no love for the spotted stallion of her former herd. But he knew when love wasn't present, if that simplified things.
Whether she cared for him as a friend or even perhaps like a brother, it didn't matter. Aten was just going to keep trying to get her back, for Ruan's sake, and that of her lover, if anything else.
Aten let out an angry call, clearly fed up with having to dance around these flames so carefully. Here he was, trying to break Jinju from whatever had her trapped in her mind, and the flames were licking at him like the ocean waves. The stallion sidestepped away from the spreading fire, finding a way around so that he was closer to Jinju's front end rather than positioned on her side.
Then, suddenly, despite the roaring heat, a cold feeling spread through Aten's veins, as if someone had pumped them full of icy water. Drawn in by confusion, Aten's head whipped around, trying to see if something had settled on his back, or, not likely enough, a blanket of snow had just fallen on him.
Instead, he didn't really see anything obvious. No white powder, no strange animal or horse on his back. At first, he thought he had just imagined it, but as he started turning his head back around to continue shouting at Jinju, a glittering presence near his flank caught the stallion's attention. Eyes focused, but his vision cloudy due to the smoke, Aten did his best to identify what was now on his body.
It didn't really make sense to him, seeing it like this. He couldn't really pinpoint what had settled over him; it just felt like a cold breeze, comforting him, but not trying to freeze him. Rather, it almost seemed like it was trying to protect him. But from what? If this was he thought it was, it wouldn't stand long against the flames.
And yet, as Aten experimented by taking a step closer to Jinju, dangerously close to the flames, the heat didn't burn as badly as it had before. He still felt it, but it was much more bearable than just a few moments ago. Aten didn't know how far he could push this sudden protective shield, but he would try his hardest to get as close as he could to Jinju without having his skin melt off.
So, taking each step carefully, and starting to call out her name again to bring her back to the present, Aten made his way toward the dark coated mare. The flames burned bright, right in his path, but the heat seemed to be dimming out at the edge. The cold feeling covering Aten's body also seemed to respond to it. Was whoever out there helping the one who had done this to Aten to protect him?
He didn't know a lot of specific gifts here in the Taiga. He figured Ruan had a gift, given that Jinju did. It would also explain the cold feelings he sometimes got around the stallion, on the times they were together.
Could that be the connection? Seconds later, the answer appeared in front of him. Or rather, next to him. Out of the smoke appeared the familiar spotted stallion, Ruan, a stallion whom Aten had come not only to respect and admire but also feel an attachment. Not necessarily one of father and son just yet, Aten thought, but enough of one that he knew he'd gladly give his life to save Ruan should the need arise.
Ruan made his way toward his daughter, silently calling out her name along the way. Aten followed behind, noticing how Ruan didn't seem to be that affected by the flames. The golden stallion, on the other hoof, was beginning to feel the heat of the flames again. The cold feeling - ice, he was beginning to suspect as he looked down at the shimmering on his legs - was protecting him, but that didn't mean he couldn't feel the heat.
Aten looked back up at Ruan to see the stallion sluggishly making his way even closer, his eyes glazing over with sympathy. The stallion was obviously tired from using so much energy protecting himself, Aten, and probably putting out the flames near the edge of the burning meadow grass. Doing his best to ignore the heat, Aten moved closer to Ruan to offer his support, enough that the stallion could lean on him if need be but far away enough so that, if Ruan didn't want help, Aten could move away.
It got to the point where Aten was about three or so yards away from Jinju, Ruan standing right next to his daughter's stomach. Aten couldn't see what Ruan was doing from here, only that steam seemed to be rising from the filly's back. He wasn't as knowledgeable as some, but even he knew that steam was only created when water was poured on fire. Whatever Ruan was doing, it was an attempt to try and cool off his daughter's burning rage.
Ruan continued trying to reach Jinju, his tone so quiet that Aten almost didn't hear him. The only acknowledgement he really got since Ruan arrived was a silent nod, a show of thanks for Aten's efforts.
The golden stallion just nodded back, knowing they couldn't waste time. Even if he had noticed things were a bit different lately, something very bad had to have happened for Jinju to be reacting this way. He had to help in any way he could, no matter the consequences it had for him.
Pushing the coat of ice to its near limits, Aten made his way closer to the dark filly. He could feel the flames trying to penetrate his icy coat, to get near the delicate skin that lay beneath, but he would ignore it for now. He'd only be concerned if the coat actually failed and he felt the searing heat taking off his golden fur.
"Jinju?" he called, adding his concerned words to Ruan's. "Jinju, it's me, Aten. You've got to try and fight this; your dad is worried about you. I'm worried about you. The Taiga's meadow is in flames, and it will spread even further if you don't stop. Whatever happened, we can talk. Please, Jinju, come back, for your father."
Aten wouldn't add for her to come back for himself. It was a selfish thing to say, to have his friend return only to satisfy his need for her safety. She needed to believe that Aten was in this for Ruan's sake, that all he cared about was bringing Jinju back to see her father again. Because even though Aten had feelings for the dark coated filly, he had a feeling another already held her heart. Just a dim gut feeling. It had been different with Sirana, for she held no love for the spotted stallion of her former herd. But he knew when love wasn't present, if that simplified things.
Whether she cared for him as a friend or even perhaps like a brother, it didn't matter. Aten was just going to keep trying to get her back, for Ruan's sake, and that of her lover, if anything else.