• Logout
  • 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


    Love looks not with the eyes[Nymf]
    #1

    Eros

    The journey from the barren battlegrounds to the Nerine peninsula is a long one.  Much of it was spent in silence as a ward of a spitefire mare named Volcan.  He didn't dare speak unless spoken to, fore he knew not how hostile this land was.  Having met already their Queen, though briefly, he wasn't about to step on fire-lit hooves.  Especially since it was to be a friendly diplomatic visit and he'd much prefer it remain that way.

    As they stepped onto the grey-washed terrain of the kingdom, his eyes trailed to take in the sights.  If snow and ice had covered the land it could be mistaken for his homeland, Brittiana.  The jagged cliffs and gritty beaches was eerily familiar.  Amber eyes scanned the horizon across the sea, in lost hopes of seeing his family again.  With a sign and shift of his weight he fell in line with the roany mare.  Her demanding tone catching his ear and then his full attention.  They chatted as required by a diplomatic visit.  Questions asked and answered with ease.  He had nothing to hide.  When the mare had her fill of him, she wondered off to other duties.  Leaving him to escort himself out.

    Even the cool ocean breeze of winter couldn't reach beneath the thick layers of golden and charcoal hair.  He was built for this weather.  The stocky frame he sported carried the extra weight needed to keep warm in frigid temps with ease.  Long locks coated more vulnerable areas against the bite of a winters chill.  Some may find him intimidating but his personality was far from that assumption.  Kind, loving, generous, protective were just a few attributes of his.  He had a soft eye which hardly ever judged.  Today is no different as he looks about the kingdom before he makes his motion to leave.

    That is until a heavenly figured is seen descending from the skies.  His face lifts to watch Pegasus land delicately onto the shoreline. Feelings of envy fill him as he thinks of the past and when flight was a gift of his own.  For a while he simply watches her go about her life.  Not wanting to disturb another member of the kingdom.  Who knows, this one could be more harsh than the last.  There is something different in the way she carries herself.  If unsure of her very existence here.  He is intruiged as to why and suddenly curiousity wins over caution.  A soft whicker flows from his vocals to the light mare.  Followed by a kind smile.  He doesn't approach though.  Standing square and facing the other, he waits for her move...

    Unconditional Love




    @[Nymf]
    #2

    It was hard to feel like she belonged and as she flew above Nerine she couldn’t help but look down upon the other residence with growing loneliness. Though there were many potential companions, but all seemed to look upon her with pity. She did not want to be pitied.
     
    Black and blue reminders of her past still dotted along the pale outline of her body, though most had faded to an unsightly green purple. It no longer hurt for her to walk, though, these days, she found more pleasure in flying. As she circled above the Amazonian territory flashes of all that had transpired since her arrival flooded her mind.  She was so confused. In her desperation she had fled to Nerine hardly without knowing and, now, she felt almost like a glorified prisoner. Too often she imagined the joy she would feel wandering Beqanna alone.
     
    Instinctively her gaze drifts to the sand below where a particularly brightly colored foal chased a crab away from the shoreline. Kiwi. It was still hard to adjust to the knowledge that she was not alone nor would she be for a long time. Kiwi was the singular bright light in her otherwise dull world of confusion. The green fillies playfulness was infectious and never ceased to draw Nymf out of her depression. Even weeks after her adoption, she still found herself watching Kiwi only to imagine how her own son would spend his long afternoons. Despite all of that, she had found herself loving her new daughter in a way that caught her by surprise.
     
    Exhaling, Nymf tilted herself downward towards the plain of dead seagrass. Winter was upon them now, as evident by the cold wind that wound through her copper tipped mane. Casually, she walked towards the shallow cliffside to watch her filly a little closer as she continued on with her game.
     
    Nerine was safe, that fact couldn’t be argued. The Amazonian queen was a fierce leader and was determined to protect all those who swore fealty to her – something that Nymf appreciated greatly. For the sake of Kiwi, she knew that she had to find her place to secure their spot amongst them. There was no better place for a filly to grow up. Here, she would learn how to protect herself against the evils of Beqanna. She could grow strong and brave and true and Nymf would do her best to play her part.
     
    Feeling slightly more relaxed, the cream mare lowered her pink muzzle to sniff the grass. As she prepared to take a bite a low guttural whinny called for her attention. Her head snapped up and her ears pricked forward as the unfamiliar scent of the stallion filled her nostrils.
     
    Panic filled her as one ear swiveled towards the sound of her daughter’s carefree giggles.
     
    Nymf’s whole grew rigid as she studied the man, who’s own gaze was glued to her. He was tall, bulky and bay. All things that were both familiar and strange to her. In the depths of her memory she remembered the sound of her mate’s murderer as he barreled after her. He was large too and the earth felt as if it shook with every hoof-fall.
     
    The smile upon his lips was kind – almost as if he meant it to be some kind of reassurance to her, though her mind rejected the attempt at calming her fears. Hestia had warned that many travelers passed through Nerine, a good majority of them male, and, most of the time, Nymf had managed to avoid their notice. But this one had escaped hers and she had allowed herself to become vulnerable to him.

    Nymf
    Oh no, Here we go again


    @[Eros]
    #3

    Since leaving the den and traveling the vast distance to this new home her mom called, Nerine, she had enjoyed her new adventures.  Mommy had taken her for walks on the beach, rock climbing, swimming, hide and seek in the tall grasses and... "Oooo... kwab!" She shrieks as she scurries after the tiny critter scuttling away from her.  Bending her knees and crouching her body low she examines the creature as she follows it.  It's large claws snap at the air as it's pointy legs carry it back towards the sea.  This isn't the first of it's kind she has seen but they fascinate her nonetheless.  Soon they reach the grasp of the seas waves and it is washed away. "Bye!" She squeaks happily as she watches the waves lapping at the sandy beach.  Sunshine eyes look out across the expanse of the white capping waters before the sound of wing beats descend towards her.  "MOMMY!" Rejoicing happily as she turns to dash towards where her mother had landed amongst the dried sea grasses, "Did ya see?! Did ya?? The teeny kwab had dah hugest eyes!" She makes a silly face as she deer hops towards her mother.  The bright green of her coat stood out clearly against the greys and blueish tints of Nerine.

    The winged mare begins to graze as she is bounding up the rocky terrain.  Carefree and clueless to the perils of life she sees no concern in her surroundings.  Even when a noise she has never heard finds her ears and her mother's head rises sharply.  This action slows her motion with a confused expression finding her face, "Mother... What's dah matter?" The innocence in her sweet voice unmistakable as she looks up to her mother.  At a walk she comes to her side and reaches out to touch the winged mare with her emerald whiskered nose.

    Standing beside her mother and almost reassuringly touching her shoulder, her face turns in the direction she is staring.  Stepping up a bit to have a better view, she squints her eyes to find another horse looking right at them.  Resting near her mother's chest, her head tilts curiously before looking up at the rigid stance her mother had frozen into.  Confused as to why, her hooves begin to prance in place excitedly. "Let's go see who it is... Please Momma, can we?" Looking back to where the other remains waiting, she also waits impatiently... 

    Kiwi



    @[Eros] @[Nymf]
    #4

    Eros

    With a jerk skyward the dove-colored mare rising her head swiftly.  Eyes and ears twisting to find whoever had called a greeting to her.  If he'd have known better, her reaction was as if he had nipped her in the hind end.  Seeing this his heavy head lowers in a nonthreatening manner.  Perked ears relaxing to the sides.  His attempt was to show he wasn't a threat to her or... His golden eyes find a green fluffy blob come to rest along the mares breast.  A tiny face turns his direction and he immediately considers this the reason for her stiff stance.  Had he have known she was carrying for a young one, he may have passed her by with no more than a glance.  That would be silly now as he's already made his presence known.

    Still unmoved he simply watches the pair.  The curious nature of the bright child causes him to smile.  It had been so long since his own children had been so innocent to the ways of the world.  They were gone now though, having perished in the war of his homeland.  A stabbing pain shoots through his heart as the memories surface again.  Oh how he missed them...

    He allows the mare and foal a moment before he calls out to them again.  This time a greeting, "Good afternoon!  I'm Eros, a visitor of Volcans." He only assumes the mare would know who he speaks of as the share the same homeland.  His sooted face tosses up slightly to remove his thick forelock from his view.  Waiting patiently for a reply, but if she should leave he could blame her...

    Unconditional Love




    @[Nymf]
    #5

     
    Nymf was barely aware of Kiwi as she came barreling over, giggling cheerfully. The child was painfully ignorant of the stranger who watched them from afar. She partially listened to her adopted daughter as she described the crab she’d only just finished tormenting. As the green and yellow filly bounced around the stranger’s eyes changed. He was surprised and she was not what he’d been expecting. Protectively she moved herself between the stallion and her precious charge, using her wings to shield Kiwi from his prying eyes.
     
    She was no fool. She knew the cruelty of men and had been at the receiving end of their lust before. It was at their hand that she had suffered and there would never be enough time to erase the memory of their brutality from her mind. However, she trusted Hestia’s judgement and protection. The mare was just and would not allow the average brute to enter her stronghold.
     
    That did not lower Nymf’s guard, however.
     
    Kiwi, oblivious to her mother’s attempt at guarding her from the male’s attention, craned her head around to meet the eyes of the man. Nymf’s stomach sank. She knew her little one was always excited by new comers and, as a result, could be found stalking the diplomats as they showed the visitors around. This almost always caused aggravation, but Kiwi never cared or noticed. Instantly her hooves were dancing and she was begging to go and meet him. Nymf groaned deep in her throat.
     
    Before she could explain to Kiwi why that probably wasn’t a good idea, a deep masculine voice stole her words away from her. Nymf spun around, attempting to block Kiwi from the stranger’s advances and pinned her ears back threateningly. Teeth bared she flared out her wings in an attempt to make herself look bigger. Though every muscle in her body urged her to run, she was decided to stand her ground. He was a guest of Volcan’s, but the sooty mare was no where to be found. Normally she was careful to keep male visitors away. She would have to remember to make herself scarce the next time.
     
    ”What is your business here, Eros?” She demanded threateningly.

    Nymf
    Oh no, Here we go again


    @[Eros]
    #6

    Eros

    The golden stag has known a mare.  His partner, lover, his children's mother.  So he knows the wrath of such a woman as well.  When to proceed with caution and when to let it go.  As he watches the ivory mare assume a threatening pose; ears pinned, teeth barred, muscles tensed, he knows something deeper than being protective over her child has worn on this mares trust.  Whether it was all of their kind or gender specific he did not know.

    Amber eyes watch across the distance between them as she grows even more irritated.  His hope in announcing his invitation here by Volcan was to confess to her his reason for being here.  He was a stranger yes, but not unwarranted.  The words don't ease her anxiety though.  He watches the peridot filly look upon him with excitement and curiousity.  Nearly smiling but quickly it fades as the winged mares demanding tone catches his ears.  His thick ebony tail swishes along his back legs as he contemplates why he is here.  He wasn't really sure.  Volcan hadn't entertained his visit for long and not being met by any other residents he decided to take his leave back home.  His large eyes softened as his vocals carried more words to the mare, "A friendly visit between kingdoms I guess... She challenged me to a battle but I declined." His eyes lowered momentarily to find the right explaination, "I found it unnecessary to fight so I came willingly." 

    Shifting his weight from the left hip to right, cocking the alter back hoof, he looks to the mare again, "You have a darling child." He comments kindly with a smile, "She has a spirit as bright as her coat." The sadness of losing his own children plagues his mind but it does not show.  He waits only a minute more before he turns his large head to the south. "Well I guess I should be headed back home... It was a pleasure to meet you," he accepts defeat on the front of actually getting to know this mare.  Maybe in time but today unlikely... 

    Unconditional Love




    @[Nymf]
    #7

    Something within his gaze causes her pause. The familiar glisten within his gaze as he first looks upon her and then Kiwi as she danced around excitedly. Her demeanor slowly softened as he commented on his visit thus far. It did not surprise Nymf that Volcan would challenge the stallion to a fight. She was feisty mare in the best of times and she could hardly waste an opportunity to show off her prowess when it came to male visitors. Though she had been the first Nerine dweller she’d met, the two mares couldn’t have been more different. She was taken aback to hear that he was not the average brute she’d come to expect. He had no interest in fighting and, instead, wanted his time among them to be peaceful.
     
    Slowly she began to relax.
     
    Not that she trusted him but, rather, because she trusted his vow. His smiled moved towards Kiwi and Nymf felt her muscles grow taut once more. She couldn’t help but feel protective over the filly’s innocence. She was young and incapable of protecting herself against the commonly violent ways of the world. Though the strange man had promised to be peaceful, Nymf would memorize his face just in case they ever stumbled upon him outside of Nerine’s protection.
     
    As he turned to leave she saw the defeat written all across his features and sudden guilt washed over her.
     
    ”Thank you,” she said as he prepared to leave. She glanced at Kiwi at her side. ”I adopted her after the loss of my son.”
     
    She wasn’t sure what had urged her to say the last bit. Normally, she protected that information as if her life depended on it. She swallowed hard and stepped towards the dark haired man.
     
    ”Like me, she was alone,” again words tumbled out of her mouth, unbidden. ”I felt drawn to her, as if I knew that we both needed each other to survive this world.”
     
    Thus far, Beqanna had given her the two greatest gifts only to rip them mercilessly away from her. Every night, she watched Kiwi as she slept at her feet terrified that one day she would see the beautifully vibrant child stolen away from her just as heartlessly. Kiwi was the only she had to wake every morning – to face the light of day. Without her, she truly believed that she would have found herself at the cliff’s edge once again.
     
    She needed more light in her life. Tiny rays to break through the shrouds of darkness that clouded her mind and spirit. There was hope again in her life and she would not let small moments of happiness pass her by. They were too precious and too few.

    Nymf
    Oh no, Here we go again


    @[Eros]
    #8

    Finally she had a good view to get a glimpse of the visitor and then it's blocked by the bulk of her mother's body.  She flutters her displeasure and then brushes past the feathers that tickled her so.  Her small body bends around her mother's shoulder to again see the golden stallion.  Sunshine eyes watching as he speaks again.  This time though her mother listens.  Rigid muscles relax slightly within the parts of her mother's body she is leaning into.  Eyes look on as the stranger turns to leave.  A unsightly frown is bestowed upon her face as her excitement fades.  

    With a deep heave of breath, her mother's melodic voice rings out.  Emerald ears twist as her face tilts upwards.  Finding a slightly somber look to her face and tone of voice.  As if conflicted inside to whether she wishes the other to stay or leave.  Kiwi had almost given up all hope and then suddenly a smile spreads across her tiny muzzle.  Looking back she sees the stallion pause in place.  Not looking, just listening.  Her mother is speaking of her but it hardly registers in her young mind.  Thoughts begin racing as her hopes are restored that she will get to meet a potential friend.  There were few, after all, that adored the energetic filly...

    Kiwi
    #9

    Eros

    His body is in the process of turning to move on but his mind lingers with the mismatched pair.  In his mind he could have guessed they were not blood, but love is blind.  It does not see color, not lineage, or differences in structure.  Love is pure and all too precious.  He of anyone knows this, and when her words reach his mind, he pauses.  He has known this love she speaks of before.  Many times actually.  So as her words flow freely he listens quietly.  That is until she is finished.

    With a turn of his mighty head, the wind coming up behind him tosses his thick mane in the opposite direction of which he now looks.  A clear view shows him the perfectly mismatched pair of equids.  A pleasant smile graces his features before he speaks, "I have also had the misfortune of losing children... It is a deep kind of pain."  His golden eyes find the child in awe beside the mare, "You are lucky to have found each other.  I can only hope to one day find a love as pure again. Cherish each and every moment." Raising his gaze back to the mare he bids her farewell, "If ever you find yourselves out and about...or in need of a home...Sylva welcomes you.  Good day Miss" With a bow of his head he completes his goodbyes and turns again to head south.  Heavy frame seems to move with ease over the rocky terrain until he is a mere speck in the distance... 

    Unconditional Love




    @[Nymf] hope his leave is ok.  Just figured it'd be weird if he stayed.  Maybe they come visit him *wink*
    #10

    The day had grown quiet. The other Nerine dwellers had moved farther inland, seeking the warmth of the caves freckled along the shoreline. She could hardly blame the bay stallion for wanting to return home to his own people before winter settled in to stay.
     
    It was hard to stay defensive against a fellow horse who had felt the bitter sting of loss himself. She began to see him with changing eyes. He only wished to rediscover his happiness, just as she was trying to do so. She didn’t bother interrupting him as he spoke his farewell and turned to leave. As he retreated away her brow furrowed in confusion. She’d built up walls around herself in hopes of protecting herself against more pain and suffering. It was possible that she’d misjudged the stranger and maybe, one day, she would be tempted to visit the Sylva he spoke of so fondly.
     
    Shaking herself from her thoughts she lowered her muzzle to gently nudge Kiwi. ”Come little one, lets find a nice cozy cave for you to nap in.”

    Nymf
    Oh no, Here we go again


    @[Eros]




    Users browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)