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  • Beqanna

    COTY

    Assailant -- Year 226

    QOTY

    "But the dream, the echo, slips from him as quickly as he had found it and as consciousness comes to him (a slap and not the gentle waves of oceanic tides), it dissolves entirely. His muscles relax as the cold claims him again, as the numbness sets in, and when his grey eyes open, there’s nothing but the faint after burn of a dream often trod and never remembered." --Brigade, written by Laura


    tyrna, any
    #1
    Ruan
    Something settled over her eyes when he brought up the forest. They clouded into a look of the wilderness for a moment, just a shade more feral and raw. Beautiful. A crooked grin split his face in spite of himself. Yes. Home. And his eyes brightened with a matching eagerness, more than ready to be away from this place and returned to the towering woods.

    It was still a little unsettling, the way she made his wolf more present than the man, even in this body. He dismissed it for now and stepped to her, ears forward, and nosed at her cheek. Meeting, memorizing her scent though it felt already burned in his mind, bumping her a little playfully. Then he bounded away and the confident Alpha smoothly replaced the awkward-speaking man, the tension melting from his limbs as he set a steady pace for them.

    His gait was even and light, knowing she would follow of her own will and didn't need prodding, but he slowed as they entered the Forest that lay before the Taiga. Blue eyes were more alert and watchful, uneasy. His black velvet pushed softly at her neck in silent direction to be wary. He wasn't sure if the demon still resided here, the reason for the dark, violent scars down his pale sides. They passed over the place that reeked of the wolf-man's blood and screams, and he did not hesitate. Pushed them further. A bad memory, nothing more. One that made his heart harden in lingering anguish and his blood burn with rage, but he kept it within. He wouldn't allow it to effect his Dominance.

    As they got closer, he could smell the ice-cold river that marked their border, hear it trickling in the distance. Home.  He reached over and clipped at her shoulder, urging her faster, challenging her speed to match his, to pass his. And when they reached the water, he leapt across, landing in a thunder of hooves and a toss of his head. His feet danced as he came to a stop, and settled again to his stoic image, eyes on her. Waiting to see if she accepted the forest for home. But perhaps she would need more time.

    The Taiga, he introduced. The relief and comfort was clear in his voice. This, too, was his element, their Taiga. The tall redwoods filled the air with their familiar musk, and deeper within he could smell the traces of his pack. Home of the wolves, the Tiger, adopted children. Everyone played their part, tended the forest and each other, and by night he would hunt again as the Wolf with Reagan's magic.

    His eyes watched her in anticipation, hoping that she would love it as much as he, and stay.



    @[Tyrna]



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    #2
    Tyrna

    Like a shadow dancing on the edge
    She likes the way he relaxes after she agrees to come. His shoulders straighten and he radiates confidence now that they are on his terms. Headed towards his territory. She responds to his good spirits with some of her own, returning his playful nudge with one of her own. Ruan set a steady pace, which she is thankful for. Her limbs burn from disuse, but the memory of speed and freedom more than makes up for it. It's a good burn that reminds her she's still here. She was a creature of the wild and shadowed places. And as they entered the treeline it all came back to her.

    The shadows beneath the boughs whispered lovingly to her, and the sharp scent of the evergreens teased at her nose. She slowed slightly to take in the scents and sounds before catching back up to Ruan. Each stride deeper into the forest eased the tension she hadn't realized she had carried. Her steps were quick and certain, though theses trees were new to her. She kept close to his side, a hairsbreadth behind to allow him to lead her home. They moved easily, and in sync, until they passed a point that carried the iron tang of blood. Ruan slowed further and pressed a gentle warning against her neck before moving on, a new cautiousness to his posture. He did not offer an explanation, and she did not ask. A quick sniff committed the strange scent to memory and once more they were moving.

    She could smell the river before she saw it, and the longing that it brought with it for her home in the Falls threatened to overwhelm her. A light nip at her shoulder pulled her from her memories and a challenge issued brought a grin to her face. They ran, winding through the trees like twin spirits, manes and hooves flying. She kept pace with him, the burn in her lungs and ache in her legs bringing a laugh bubbling up through her lips. She was home, and she had known it from the instant her hooves had touched the dirt separating the forest from the field.

    With a leap, the duo crossed the water, landing in the soft bank sending mud flying in all directions. She laughed again as they paused a minute, her eyes dancing as they took in in the sights. Sunlight filtered through the branches of the towering redwoods, and dappled the water and the pair in gold. She let loose a relieved sigh before turning her gaze to meet his glacial blue one. He seemed so serious, and taking in his stiff posture and scarred hide, she couldn't help but wonder why? A softness filled her features as she heard the warmth that seemed in short supply fill his voice. The Taiga. Well it certainly had a nice ring to it, and it felt like home.

    She watched  him carefully, both comfortably silent beneath the soaring trees, before speaking softly so as not to disturb the spell that had fallen over them. "I love it. This place is more beautiful than I could have ever dreamed." Tyrna ducks her head in uncharacteristic shyness before whispering again. "Would you mind terribly if I stayed?"

    Silver dapple sabino|Mare|Andalusian Hybrid
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    #3
    Ruan
    There was a ready eagerness in her step, and a light in her eyes. Even if she chose not to stay, it was clear to him that she belonged in the forest. He hoped it would be the Taiga.

    They'd traveled in such balance, as though they'd known each other for much longer, had hunted together. It stirred his wolf's curiosity, that easy way of falling in step together, and again he was tempted to question her why that might be. But he wouldn't. He was content to let things come to light in their due time, if there was more reason for it than simply a form of chemistry.

    He stood now, waiting to see how she would accept the new land around her. Her laughter filled their immediate area, played in the canopies like a flutter of birds and for a moment he was entranced. A faint smiled tipped the corner of his mouth, enjoying the sound of it. Her face turned to him, her expression so gentle and calming, and his face carefully blanked again as he waited for her judgement.

    She said she loved it, and his face instantly relaxed. Relief. He found himself drawn closer, even as she ducked her head and, in a soft whisper, asked to stay. Black velvet reached for her from a polite distance, sweeping lightly against her nose experimentally before retracting again. Curiosity still lingered in his eyes when he finally answered her verbally, a warm smile in place.

    I would love if you stayed, he said quietly. He let a comfortable pause settle before speaking again.

    Stay as long as you like. There are no laws, save for the laws of the pack. Everyone helps where they can, when they can, and should the need arise, come to the defense of the forest. And, he added with a mischievous, wolfish grin, the weak get culled for dinner. He winked, snapped his teeth at the air, and chuckled softly.

    Would you like to see more on your own, or shall I join you?




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    #4
    Tyrna

    Like a shadow dancing on the edge
    This was nice. Light warmth from the early spring sun, the gurgle of the river, and acceptance. Though she missed running through the underbrush on soft paws, and feeling the strength of tooth and claw, she was ready to start living again. Her missing memories bothered her, but it gave her the chance to start over. And where better to start than the shelter of the old woods?

    She stands comfortably still, a statue of flesh and bone, feeling the gentle brush of velvet against her muzzle. She breaths him in and sighs him out, entranced by the effects of the river and sunlight. She smiles at him, soft and bittersweet, at the warmth in his voice. When the silence settles around them it is comfortable and familiar. He welcomes her into his home with kind words, and she returns his gentle touch with one of her own.

    She returns his wolfish grin, with a predatory one of her own. "Hmm, I like the sound of a pack." She flicks her tail against his side playfully as she steps forward deeper towards the woods. Her blue eyes spark with joy and warmth as they seek his out.

    "Do you mind giving me a tour?"

    Silver dapple sabino|Mare|Andalusian Hybrid

    ooc: sorry for the lateness!
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    #5
    Ruan
    He couldn't deny the thrill of pleasure and excitement that flushed through him at her acceptance of his home and the offer of joining him for a tour. But suddenly he didn't feel much like showing her around on a boring tour. Sometimes he felt the traditional way of doing things was stifling and dull, even more so than himself. So his eyes lit instead with a play of mischief as she ventured forward deeper into the forest and turned to seek his gaze.

    She was both soft and warm, and also powerful. Strength and grace complemented each other in every move of her muscles, and he found he craved that slip of laughter from before as they had raced and soared across the water.

    He lurched forward, nipping playfully at her shoulder before bounding off at a gallop. They fell in sync with each other again, and he wished they were wolves running with the pack from the Valley. But they were dead and gone now. The movements lulled him, soothed the ache in his heart, and soon he was running simply to feel the burn in his limbs and the shortness in his breath. He glanced to her, memorizing the brightness in her eyes, the wildness.

    The pulse in his veins thrummed strong but steady, this activity almost feeling more like a meditative state than exertion. Perhaps it was her at his side, the easy way he settled in her presence. That strange way she pulled his wolf to the fore and didn't think him odd for his lack in conversation. Didn't seem to judge him for it or his wildness. And so he paced at her side, as though they had done this a million times before.

    He pushed them until they came to a shallow creek, slowing to splash along it, dance within it. Water cooled his sweaty hide, and he halted, dropping himself unceremoniously into the creek with a wet slop. His sides heaved and painted in mud without a care, a welcome sensation as he turned bright blue eyes to her again. Had he been wolf, his tongue would have lolled out the corner of his mouth at the lopsided grin he gave her.

    He felt like he should say something, but suddenly wasn't sure what and so he said nothing. Only watched her curiously, intent on her enjoyment. Redwoods stretched to the sky around them, the canopy open and sprinkling rays of rippling light across the earth. Some glittered on the surface of the water, some lit and warmed random patches of her coat to a radiant glow. It was mesmerizing, that sense of a hidden power to her, a strength of character even when she appeared so gentle to him. Strong, but soft. Could he be both too? Or was he cursed to be chill and distant, hard and cold.




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    #6
    Tyrna

    Like a shadow dancing on the edge
    A soft gasp slipped past her lips as she felt the brush of his teeth against her skin. Her surprise at his gesture only lasted long enough for her to laugh before she raced after him. The trees sheltered them, seperated them from the rest of the world and casting a strange spell on the duo. The trees seemed to move out of their path, and the earth welcomed their strides. Soil flew from beneath frantic hooves as the pair raced headlong through the forest, and Tyrna was happy.

    Her joy was sharp and sweet, the pull of her muscles and labored breathing, all of her being working together to fill the gaps and cracks that had torn her apart over time. Her eyes seemed to glow fever bright as she ran alongside the stallion that had pulled her from the clutch of winter. He smells of pine and ice, and calls forth the beast that once prowled beneath her hide. He was a fragment of the wilds given form, and he excited her. Whatever strange fate had brought them together, whatever magics Beqanna still held, their souls were made of the same stuffs. It was obvious to any who could see that they belonged to the woods and together.

    Like ghosts, they moved in tandem, never straying far from the other. Tyrna kept abreast of Ruan, but she could feel her limbs tiring and her lungs burning. Still she pushed on, unwavering to the last second when he led them in a slowed splash into a small stream. Mud and water caked her limbs as she let loose a series of small bucks, coating her limbs in the chilly muck. Tyrna closed her eyes to bask in the remaining afternoon sun when she felt a splash. A quick glimpse revealed the mighty stallion rolling in the mud turning his spotted hide a uniform brown color.

    Before she could stop, a giggle bubbled it's way out of her heart and through her lips. Her eyes danced as they took in the scene before she tucked her knees and flopped into the water next to him. Her breath came in deep drags, mixed with her giggling. As her laughter tapered off into the quiet of the surrounding forest, her eyes sought his once more. Questions flashing through her head.

    "So, what's your story? And what can you tell me about this place?"

    It came out perhaps a bit more bluntly then she would have normally been, but she felt so comfortable lying in the mud beside him and her curiosity was running rampant. Who could he be to hold such power over her so quickly?

    Silver dapple sabino|Mare|Andalusian Hybrid
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    #7
    Ruan
    She bucked and danced in the water and he laughed like a boy, light and carefree. Her own laughter joined in as she settled next to him in the shallow water, both covered in mud and entirely uncaring. He touched his nose to her shoulder without thought, the movement coming as naturally as breathing. Her scent drew him in, or drew his wolf out, he wasn't sure. But there were questions in her eyes, then spoken from her voice, and he pulled away. He sobered a little and looked outward.

    A small group found the Taiga and brought others with them to stay. Reagan was one of them, and I came with her. She leads here, protects the forest and those within. He didn't add that he also tended the Taiga, that he was also technically a leader here at her side. He didn't think he'd ever truly told her that yet and he was content to be only a person to her, only a strange man with odd, wolfish ways.

    He avoided her other question. His story. His life was loss and grieving, happiness then more pain. It was coldness, distance. A wilderness in his heart that only a select few seemed to truly understand. He thought she might be among them, though. What's your story? he asked instead, turning her focus away from him, where it felt safer. Where he didn't have to think of the sister that raised him, that died while he was away. The mother that finally took her fate in her own hands and ended her life of pain.

    His eyes darkened, and he shut down the path of his thoughts before they could continue further. The glacial blue met hers instead, and carefully held her gaze before him as if he could shield her from the burn of his ice.




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    #8
    Tyrna

    Like a shadow dancing on the edge
    The brush of Ruan's nose against her shoulder was a welcome warmth against her skin. She hadn't felt this happy, this comfortable, with someone else since one of her ill-fated and dimly remembered escapades. His laugh mingled with hers is a balm against any worry she might have had earlier. But if there is one thing she is familiar with, it is pain. The pain of losing loved ones, the bite of inadequacy, the sting of failure time and time again. She remembers so little of the specifics, but enough of the feeling to know that her questions struck a chord in her stoic companion. He gives her a shortened answer about the Taiga, but it his avoidance of her question about himself that gives it away, and in that moment the urge to comfort him is nearly overwhelming.

    His blue eyes met her own, and she couldn't help it. She reached out her muzzle to tentatively run it lightly against his neck. She slowly pulls away from him though once her own question gets redirected back to her. Tyrna searches his icy gaze. She doesn't know what she's looking for, but if she is going to offer the most carefully guarded parts of herself, she needs to know it will be ok. She needs to trust that if she's going to fly, he won't let her fall. With a soft sigh, she breaks her gaze away first. Self consciously looking at the water rippling around her legs.

    "My story is... a complicated one. As I assume most of ours are. Beqanna is not always a land of butterflies and rainbows." She turns back to him, a self deprecating laugh and small smile tugging at the corner of her mouth. "Are you sure that's one that you want to hear?"

    She asks the last question not because she is scared he will get bored or indifferent. She's more terrified that he will look at her differently and leave her behind. Just like everyone else.

    Silver dapple sabino|Mare|Andalusian Hybrid
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    #9
    Ruan
    Recognition and understanding. That's what was reflected back at him in the depths of her blue eyes. He was soothed with a brief relief that she understood his avoidance, but also saddened that she had experienced things that made it possible for her to see it and know it. Whatever it was, it seemed to have made her stronger. Stronger even than him, perhaps.

    He held stone-still as she reached for him, as her cream muzzle delicately brushed along his neck. For so long now, he had kept himself at a distance, even from his own adopted daughters. The sensation of warmth was startling, both comforting and painful, and it took a moment before he realized he'd held his breath. In a slow exhale, he released it.

    He suddenly felt bare and vulnerable, and as she pulled away, he met her eyes as they delved deep into his. Searching. That was painful too, or maybe frightening, and he shuttered her from the secrets there as she glanced away, afraid she might find something in them she didn't like.

    She spoke then, with a laugh that was not like the one before, not light and joyful. Are you sure that's one that you want to hear? she asked him, and he suddenly felt unworthy. Because he was sure, and he knew he couldn't do the same for her. He breathed slowly. After a long pause, he settled his head in the shallow water across her legs with a quiet sigh.

    It would be a gift to share, but not one I can return, he said in low honesty, regretful. He would love to hear her story, but telling his own would hurt too much. He wasn't ready, some wounds still so recent. But he could treasure hers, if she spoke it. His eyes closed over the self-loathing that was beginning to seep in, hating how weak he must look to her now but unable to close this wound now that she has seen it.




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    #10
    Tyrna

    Like a shadow dancing on the edge
    A small sigh slips through her velvety muzzle as Ruan lays his head across her legs. A pleasant and welcome warmth against the cool water around them. Tyrna pauses a moment, reveling in the closeness before she drapes her own head across his neck, holding him lightly but close. He tells her that her story would be a gift albeit an unreciprocated one, and that is enough to draw forth another low chuckle. Her tale is not something terribly uncommon in Beqanna. There were too many others that had been tortured and maimed, orphaned, abandoned. Too many loves lost and lives extinguished. Her story was only special in that it was hers and no one elses.

    She rubs her nose against the soft skin below his ear before continuing. "I will tell you then, but I do hope that one day you change your mind about sharing yours." And with a deep breath and a sad sigh she begins to whisper softly in Ruan's ear.

    "Once upon a time there was a little girl born to the queen of a now dead land, and she was happy. For this brave and adventurous little girl had never known fear or pain, just the love of her mother and the yearning for her absent father. The Queen would spin wonderful stories for the girl of the brave and kind stallion that was her father. But telling these stories took there toll on the Queen, and soon enough a darkness began to eat away at the her. An insurmountable sadness stole the light from the queens eyes to the point where she would not leave the cave they called home. She would not eat or drink, would no longer play with the girl, and soon enough she lost her voice as well.

    The girl took care of her mother through all of it. She ignored what few friends she had in order to breath some life back into her mother, but it wasn't long before anger took root in her young mind. There could only be one way to bring her mother back, and that would be by finding her father. So the girl set out to find this mighty stallion and return him to the kingdom. She walked for many days and many nights to find this stallion, and find him she did. She arrived in the meadow in time to see her father captured by an evil magician to be taken away to an evil place. The brave, young girl followed the evil magician in the hopes of freeing her father. After all, every hero must face seemingly insurmountable odds before they return home in glory. But the girl was foolish and wound up wrapped in magic just to watch her father burn. For two years the girl watched her father get tortured before they made their escape, and once again the girl was left behind. Her father made for his own lands leaving the girl to fend for herself, but that's when she first heard the siren call of the fairies to begin a quest in their name.

    The first quest bestowed great strength upon the girl for her valiant efforts. A great strength that was coupled with a great rage. The girl felt herself invulnerable, immortal, as so often the power of youth will do. And the girl would have torn the world apart with her anger had she not met a boy. This boy was unlike anyone or anything that the girl had seen before. A handsome boy with glass skin and paper wings, a dangerously intoxicating combination for the girl made of steel. And so a love first sparked. The girl brought the boy to her home in the magical kingdom where they spent a brief amount of time together. Alas, all too soon, the girl was called away on another journey. Only this time it was at the behest of a god.

    The steely girl had never been one for the worship of mortal gods, but this was a call she could not refuse. In the name of this new god, she found herself traversing the stars and battling unspeakable horrors. It was during this time that the wolf first came to the girl. The wolf was a manifestation inside the girls heart that whispered sweet promises in her ear while testing her resolve in an attempt to break free, and often he succeeded."

    Here, Tyrna's voice trailed off as she paused to catch her breath and gauge the attention of her audience. She had never been much of a storyteller, but it felt good to get it all off her chest even if it was in a non traditional way. Tyrna gently, oh so gently, ran her nose against the side of Ruan's neck inhaling his scent of pine and ice once more before continuing her tale.

    "Unfortunately for the girl, that would not be the last time she was called away by the lure of power. Briefly she returned to her kingdom to visit the glass boy before she was drawn into a nightmare. A demon preyed on the girl and several others giving them their deepest desires and tearing them apart. And this time the girl did not make it out. The demon trapped the girl in it's nightmare realm with another, torturing them for a year before it grew tired and released them back into the wilds of Beqanna.

    After that the girls memories become hazy and she can't recall what happened before she woke up powerless in a snowstorm with all of Beqanna changed around her."

    Tyrna laughs as she finishes, trying to brush of the cloak of sadness that she had pulled around her as she spun her tale for her captive audience.

    "Luckily for the girl she met a man with a predator's grin and ice in his eyes."


    Silver dapple sabino|Mare|Andalusian Hybrid
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