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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


    Theirs Something About His Manners ||Santana, Any||
    #1
    Venus

    As the spotted mare shifts into a bird and settles on Santana's back she just barely notices him reaching out for her....did he just?....no couldn't have been...

    He agrees to bring her to Ischia and she leaps off his back with joy when his scaled wings lift him off the ground. She was not gifted with wings in her equine form but she could keep up with him in her sparrow form. Oh wow! Are those parrots?! She chirps out, an attempt to sing along with the noisy rainbow colored birds. She laughs as she sways alongside the pale equine This is fun! I never had anyone to fly with Well...she had Titus but they spent less and less time together.

    The pair finally settles down on land, once they do Venus shifts back into her equine form. She shakes her champagne pelt, a small amount of dirt settling off her pelt. It was winter and Ischia seemed to have less than everyone else, the tropical island was chilly but if anything it still felt like autumn. Its pretty here! Her gaze trails around the new territory.

    Once she finished scanning she settles her eyes on Santana, she had not thought of it much at there last meeting but he was actually easy on the eyes. Her body grew warm with embarrassment of her own thoughts. Oh god would he notice!? Unable to turn her mind off she awkwardly attempts to distract herself You had a brother you said right? Can I meet him? Was she overstepping in asking? Maybe they did not get along...maybe she would not be welcomed by outsiders. She looked at the pale equine longingly.


    Nothings Wrong When Nothings True


    @[Santana]
    Reply
    #2
    raul & santana
    fire cannot kill a dragon

    The flight to Ischia wasn't a particularly long one. Ground fell away and ceded to the slate grey waters of the ocean in winter. He flew low enough to feel cold spray on his underbelly and the veined expanses of his wings. Always in sight was the little flittering brown sparrow. She held his attention as they soared toward his homeland, keeping up with his languid wing strokes. Scant minutes later, the palm-lined islands rose from the steely waters. 

    Tana considered where to land, scanning the beaches as they neared. She wanted to meet people, didn't she? He smiled happily as she chirped her excitement in his ear. He was having fun too. Mom was there only winged horse he knew aside from himself, and she had been too tired to fly with him recently. He'd come to think of it as his private escape, his chance to be apart from the world. In the back of his mind, this was his only real connection to his father. But flying with Venus was nice. He found himself not minding the company as they circled low enough to land. 

    His hooves grazed the sparkling sand lightly, landing with a little running buck. In a whirl of color, Venus-the-sparrow became Venus-the-mareling, looking as vibrant as he felt. Her saw the island through her eyes, remembering how he'd felt when Uncle Ivar had first brought him and his brother here. They'd been scared and tired and upset, but the beauty of Ischia had taken them as thoroughly as it had taken their mother years ago. 

    "Thanks! We like it here too." It was then that he noticed the strange look on her face. Had he suddenly sprouted antlers or something? The pale cream and gold boy shook his head experimentally, but no, nothing new up there. Then she mentioned his brother. A violently unfamiliar emotion gripped his gut. MINE The thought forced its way to the front of his mind. With it flowed a heavy dose of possession. He did not want to share this pretty golden girl with his brother. Thin trails of grey smoke trickled from his nostrils unbidden as he thought what to do. "We can. I don't know where he's at right now, though. Kyvi and her sister are usually on that little island out there. We could visit them, if you want?" He offered with a shrug of his wings. He'd never had a problem sharing anything with his brother before this, but didn't feel inclined towards examining them right now either. Maybe mom would have some ideas later. 



    @[Venus]
    Reply
    #3
    Venus
    Venus gazes at the island with awe, she had never seen anything like it. She had lived in Nerine, it had an ocean but it was not tropical like this. She resided in Loess which was the farthest thing from an island, she only remained in the kingdom for her brother Titus but she grows curious of the other kingdoms that beqanna had to offer. Her brother was always out and about, he was growing more and more loyal to Wolfbane as the days passed, Venus just could not grow loyal to those who ripped her from her family and kept her and her brother captive.

    As she catches her own staring, Tana seemed to have noticed too, he shakes his as if a giant bug was on his face....but there wasn't...she would pretend like there was though. To her relief he does not say anything about how she stared at him, losing herself in his gaze.

    She asks to meet his brother and he does not respond, though smoke starts to flutter out of his nostrils? What in the world she thinks to herself, how was he doing that?! There was plenty about Santana that she did not know...but this was one secret she would have to learn in due time.

    The silence is finally broken as he says they can visit his brother, but he does not know where he is. He brings up another called Kyvi and her sister, asking if she wanted to meet them. She truly only asked to meet his brother so that she could distract her mind that was telling her how attractive he actually was. She did not mind spending time alone with him, but she did not want to disappoint either. Yea, we can if you want! She says with a smile Or you can show me your favorite place in Ischia or both. She gazes at him prancing forward, eager to see the island. She grows curious if he would ever want to see Loess, would she want to even show him Loess? It wasn't like Ischia....and she would have to tell him about how they captured her. She pushes the thoughts from her mind, focusing on the the kingdom she stood in. 

    Nothings Wrong When Nothings True

    @[Santana]
    Reply
    #4

    She had hurt him with her declaration. It was plainly visible in the way his eyes cut away from her, staring into the river's current, in the way curling tendrils of smoke betrayed the turmoil of emotions she'd ignited. For a moment she felt a tinge of fear. It was the primal recognition of a predator that she had dared to antagonize, and could get easily pay the ultimate price to. Hadn't she once made a similar comment? That if he killed her, it would surely be of her own doing. But the moment passed, enough for him to respond flatly, enough for her to notice that her was avoiding meeting her gaze now. Fine. Let him sulk, she thought. 

    He had said he would follow her, but doubt lingered in her mind. How could she think to let him out of her sight now? Would he vanish again, as soon as she closed her eyes? Faith was a difficult thing to hold, she was discovering. 

    With a brief nod her painted wings stretched wide, weakened muscles straining to lift her into the air. Feathers had regrown slowly, still hard to trust as she tested them on an updraft. How long had it been since she had been able to soar? It didn't bear thinking of. Instead she lent herself to the moment. Accompanied by eddies of breeze she carved an easy path through the sky, accompanied by the one she knew she belonged to. It wasn't a bond easily broken, although time had done its best. With more time, perhaps it would heal stronger than ever. She hoped that would be the case. 

    It was a short, silent journey. Not that being heard over the wind was an easy thing to begin with, but for now she was intent on her purpose. Find the boys, introduce Castile, deal with the consequences of said plan. That was about as far as she was willing to plan at the moment. The island kingdom of Ischia gleamed like a jewel even as the rest of Beqanna grew colder. It seemed that it would continue its purpose of being a crossroads to her life. A broad stretch of sand caught her eye, nearby the the little island Ivar and his family called home. On it stood a pair of equine figures. One was familiar to her, pale and shimmering in the light, with outsized wings folded at his side. Santana was certainly an easy boy to pick from a crowd. 

    Smiling faintly she began her descent. Soon her dainty hooves thudded into the white gold sands, knees nearly buckling under the forgotten stress of landing. Tana and his spotted companion were clearly visible now. With a wickered greeting to her son, she eyed the young mare beside him. Oh dear, now that could be trouble. This did not look to be an ideal time to be crashing in on him, and his brother was nowhere in sight... dammit. So much for even short term plans. Still, it was too late now. Hitching a polite smile to her face, the sparkling mare dipped her head to the girl, then looked back towards the stallion she hoped had followed her. 

    The two males looked nothing alike at first glance. Tana had followed her fine boned structure, and held a milder version of her dished face. Looking closer though, the similarities grew. For one, although paler, Tana shared Castile's patched coat pattern. The draconian wings were the easiest give away, but the way he carried himself was also all Cas. 

    For a moment she couldn't have spoken even if her life had depended on it. Taking them in together was a heart stopping vision, blurred around the edges by emotion. "Castile, meet Santana. Tana, this is Castile, your father." As if there were any other Castile it could be. She swallowed past a lump in her throat, blinking her eyes clear again. With an apologetic laugh she turned to the golden girl. "I'm sorry, dear, I don't know your name yet. I hope we're not interrupting anything terribly important." She shrugged, knowing life had taken things well and truly beyond her control. 

    SABRA

    I'm Hell on Heels, Say What You Will


    @[Castile] @[Venus] >:]
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    #5
    The sobering fact that Sabra has adapted to independence claws at his heart for the duration of their concluding conversation. Despite the hurt, despite the regret, he can feel the monster inside him churning to life under the weight of his fluctuating emotions. It growls in his core, readying itself, because this isn’t how he should act. His soft heart is guiding him, not his primal and barbaric mind. The transition from warrior to parent and lover has torn Castile in two. It’s a matter of finding a balance, something he is obviously struggling to find.

    Beneath her frigid stare, Castile shifts uncomfortably and waits for her note of departure.
    It comes sooner than he expected, but it eases the tension.

    Quietly, he watches her ascend into the air with questionable beats of her wings. Her strength has waned since he had left, but she manages well enough to find a draft to carry her. Patiently, he waits until she is nearing the far edges of his vision before allowing his body to contort and shift. The assault consumes him and makes the shift seamless and quick. It takes over and suppresses his remorse, bringing a fury and predatory nature to its surface instead. Within seconds, Castile is in the air and gaining altitude rapidly until he is out of sight in the clouds.

    His vision finds Sabra almost immediately. She is far ahead and yet he can almost taste the blood pumping through her body and hear the beating of her heart. His wings propel him easily enough, lifting him higher as condensation clings to his rigid scales. Occasionally, he diverts his path when flames power from his core or when a roar cannot be held back. At least in this form, he can express his agitation and blame it on his inner nature. But every time he strays, he finds his way back to Sabra’s trail.

    When the islands arise from the sea, like grains of dirt from this altitude, Castile’s anger and self-pity has ebbed. It’s controlled now after having expressed it in his solitude high above Sabra in the sky. He transitions quickly back into a horse, letting only his wings be an indication of his draconic power. Quickly, he catches up to Sabra so that they may descend together in silence.

    Santana, she repeats from their conversation on the riverbed. He is the boy that has a monster lingering beneath the surface as well, and he notes this upon seeing similar dragon wings branching form his shoulder blades. It almost passes his notice that there is a girl here, young just like his son. A sideways glance finds her just as Sabra apologizes, but his attention quickly returns to the boy. Taking a place at his lover’s side – it feels only right and comfortable – Castile finds himself at a loss of words. He cannot run to embrace the boy because he expects a reverberating admonishment just as he received from the boy’s mother. This won’t be a beautiful and sweet family reunion. There is angst and pent up frustration. Idly tucking his wings, Castile looks over his son with brightened eyes – but they are concealed behind a curtain of forelock – and just barely begins to smile, his teeth unexpectedly jagged. ”Hello,” it’s all he can bring himself to say, not wanting to revisit and express aloud the fact that they’ve never met until now.




    @[Sabra]
    Reply
    #6
    raul & santana
    fire cannot kill a dragon

    No. Oh no. No no no NO! This could not be happening right now?! Mother, here. Alright, not ideal when talking to a girl, but frankly he was just happy to see her. Mom loved meeting him and Raul's friends, and usually had good stories to tell. She wasn't the problem. He hadn't seen the transformation, hasn't heard the roaring high above the sea. Didn't need to. His mother had described the black and white stallion frequently enough, and besides: they shared one fiery orange eye. The silver one he knew well enough from his own twin's face. Actually... Raul and this painted man shared quite a few features, and he could see that his brother would be growing into a good copy of their father's build. 

    His body curved slightly, putting himself between Venus and this all too familiar stranger. "Mom..." his voice was thin and uncertain. Mom looked weird, her face caught in her "politician's mask", with fear and hope leaking out the edges. Well, this was just not how today was supposed to go at all. The breath in his chest felt sharp and hot, pricking the skin of his throat as it moved in and out. There was mother, being her neutral, diplomatic self. He'd say she wasn't talking sides, except she was. Her shoulder brushed against Castile's unthinkingly, her eyes would cut between them all, lingering on the imposing stallion when she thought no one was watching her. 

    His mother. His. The pale two year old walked up to his sire. Translucent tongues of flame whispered along the edges of his jaw, blending into the blue and white of his coat. Four a moment he just looked Castile over, ignoring the polite 'hello' he'd been offered. He wasn't feeling polite. There was a smell that had come with him. It was the same as he'd caught with Drustan one day, but much stronger. The same warning rang in his head. Danger! Danger! 
    A rumbling growl rolled through him, the pain in his jaw returning. Pinkish lips peeled back, revealing the jagged, cutting teeth now lining his maw. Tana was fading, and the coiling infant serpent deep within him longed to be born. "Hello, Dad. Long time, no ssssee." The words grated against his vocal chords, wanting to come out as a violent roar. 

                                          ▪■▪■▪■▪

    Sabra took a step back from where she had been subconsciously pressed back to Castile's side, horrified at the sudden change in her normally sweet tempered son. His face was twisted into a vicious mask, eyes gone slit-pupiled. She could see his muscles trembling and jumping beneath the milky expanse of his skin. He stood just shorter than Cas, with an extra hand of pure attitude. This... may have been a bad idea. Yup. Bad idea. She should have warned the boys before hand. Fuck. 

    "Sweetheart, you may want to come with me. This could get unpleasant." She called over to the unknown girl. There would be no getting through to her boy while he was in this state, and she suspected he may feel a touch of guilt if he succeeded in shredding things girl in the meantime. Best to get them both someplace safe.



    @[Castile] @[Venus]
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    #7
    Before she could meet his friends or even visit his favorite places in Ischia, they were joined by two others. She had never seen either of them, but the stallion had wings just like Santana, the mare beautiful as ever. She completely disregarded the pair and began speaking with no introduction. Venus just remained silent, the mare went on to introduce Santana to....HIS FATHER!? Great, Venus jumped in on family drama, it was nothing she wasnt used to, just not what she was prepared for in this very moment.

    Alas, his mother acknowledges Venus' excistence, adding she hopes they aren't interrupting anything (too late for that). Venus gives a small nod to the mare, she was never truly raised up with all the proper manners an equine should hold, leaving her rough around the edges and perhaps a bit unruly. Her gaze shifts to Tana as he moves his body between her and Castile, almost as though he was protecting her (but from what?)

    Venus glances to the stallion, he has found himself a spot beside Tanas mother, he gives a greeting with a smile that exposed sharp teeth? As she glances over the stallion in confusion she was able to piece the puzzle together, sharp teeth, dragon wings....was he a dragon shifter!? Was....was Santana a dragon shifter? Tanas body took much after his mother, but the wings were that of his fathers....Her heart beats fast at the thought of falling for a dragon shifter, but a few moments pass and she recovers from her daze. She would not allow fear to overpower her emotions, she doesn't care if Tana is a dragon or not.

    She could detect a shift in Tanas demeanor, he was filled with rage and the growl that echoed aloud was proof. She just gazed at the three equines, she was not briefed on there family drama but it was obviously deep. Finally Santana speaks, he greets Castile, but anger rings and he nearly hisses at the stallion. Her gaze flicks to his mother as she speaks to Venus, warning her to come stand by her, for it could grow ugly.

    She does not respond to his mother, but she would not leave Santana's side in his time of need. Instead she ignores the warning, she steps closer to Tana, extending her neck she places her muzzle on his hip Tana... her voice was gentle, it's going to be ok she says in an attempt to calm her heated friend.

    @[Castile] @[Sabra]
    Reply
    #8
    Among every scenario that played across his mind, this was the least expected. Castile’s stare freezes over as it flickers from Santana, to Sabra, then back. Tension had been almost a given. After having missed his children’s childhoods, he assumed they would turn a cold shoulder and kick him aside like yesterday’s shit. That, he prepared for. Brick by brick, his expectations built a wall around his heart and created a barrier to help him remain steadfast.

    But this? To act out was far beyond what Castile ever pictured, and unfortunately, both the shock of it and his nature prove to not handle it well.

    Sabra slips away beneath a veil of uncertainty when the males are distracted. Her gaze is ablaze with concern for all, but Castile doesn’t take notice. Santana is instead consuming all of his focus as the boy slithers sideways to protect the girl. She has no name, not yet; she is merely a face shadowed by the escalating family qualm. ”Do you really think she’s in harm’s way, or do you just want to look like a dramatic hero?” Castile mirrors Santana; when his son steps to the left, so does he. They are dancing with an unnatural grace, their slit eyes fixated on one another. ”Is this really how you want to begin?” This isn’t at all what he wanted, but by nature he is impatient and a soldier. Scars web across his skin from his previous skirmishes, including the most recent Alliance.

    If he needs to put his son in his place, while simultaneously gaining respect, then so be it.

    Even as the girl keeps herself pressed to Santana, Castile hardly acknowledges her. She doesn’t yet know what they are or the precariousness of the situation. What she sees is a boy – a young hero with a key to her heart – and Castile almost laughs. If only life were such a perfect fairytale. If only it were so easy.

    Black smoke swirls from Castile’s nostrils, framing his sharply-edged face. The creature stirs within him, aroused by the surge of adrenaline coursing through his veins. It’s very much alive, growling in his core as he sidesteps again, keeping a watchful eye on his son. ”Santana…” there is question, but also daring, in his voice as his eyes narrow expectantly.



    @[Sabra] @[Venus]
    Reply
    #9

    And just like that, reason left the premises. Santana's volatile temper was taking a turn for the aggressive, frightening her with the seemingly mindless anger she'd never witnessed in him before. Gone was the sweet boy she had come to love. In his place stood a fiery beast caught between destruction and joy. It was a stalemate tableau, Castile reacting in kind to the youth's stance. Not. Helping. The champagne girl's presence faded into the background temporarily as the tension between the males built, air clogging with their combined smoke. 

    Until she touched Santana. 

    Lightly, tentatively, with reassuring words. Sabra knew she would have done similar, well enough to know it was a desperately stupid move. The light graze was enough to catch the colt's attention. Snapping his head around, the half-reptilian boy's teeth clicked as they shut tight on living flesh. Sabra yelped, eyes slipping from her son's glassy eyes to bright blood dripping onto the sand beneath them. 

    Like some awful premonition, she had seen the sequence of motions that would have followed once the girl had moved to touch him. Instinct would over at last, driving him to attack the apparent threat before turning to attempt some kind of assault on his original target. At some point during this the adrenaline would have pushed him fully into his other form. Like stepping into a hurricane, she had flung herself into the path of his teeth. 

    Being bitten hurt enough when teeth were dull and flat. It bruised sometimes broke skin. Pointed, serrated teeth cut through the skin and muscle of her shoulder much easier. It was painless until the blood began to flow, staining the blue hair crimson from below her wing to wear it blackened the sand. The initial short cry of shock had given way to shallow breaths, but it had been enough to break through the primal anger that had so transformed the pale dragonling. Sabra watched as the horror she felt was mirrored in her son's eyes. 

                                               ▪■▪■▪■▪

    "Mom... mom, I didn't mean to, I just..." The boy's blue and flame gaze darted back toward the black and white stallion. "He hurt you. And you're just going to let him do it again." Misery stretched itself across his face as his eyes drew back to the seeping wound on his mother's shoulder. It was shallower than it had seemed at first, a broad scraping of the skin with minimal damage to the muscles beneath. They'd been lucky. He wasn't startled by the anger in her expression. It was deserved. Her words, on the hand, cut him deep. 

    "Santana, I love you. But you will not fight my battles for me. You were sired by him and will honor that." Her eyes held his with something very like embarrassment in them before continuing. "We will speak later. Now go. I have to deal with this." The glimmering mare turned stiffly, favoring the foreleg he had damaged as she walked away without giving him the chance to respond. 

    He'd wanted a dad, when they were small. Mom had been the best she could, Uncle Ivar had made sure he and his brother hadn't killed themselves accidentally. But a dad... especially one as cool as mom always made Castile out to be. He'd wanted that so badly. Until he'd seen mom when she was low, broken down and struggling to survive. Pride usually prevented her from asking for or accepting help. 
    Somehow, over time, it began to feel like Castile's fault. Him and Raul could take care of themselves,  that was never the problem. It was Mom who needed someone to look out for her. And he hadn't been there. Not once. Now he was, and she was just going to forgive him? It didn't make sense. 

    Feeling foolish and small, he glanced towards Venus, ashamed that this was the side he'd shown today. It had been violently surreal, being shoved into a tiny corner of his mind while a beast surged forward. What would have happened if mom hadn't screamed... he knew it would have been bad. Worse, anyway. "Venus, I'm sorry. I didn't know that would happen. Any of it..." He murmured, avoiding eye contact. The flame in him felt as truly extinguished as a candle in a monsoon. 

    SABRA

    I'm Hell on Heels, Say What You Will


    @[Venus] @[Castile] I'm sorry this is kinda crappy and a week late :|
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    #10
    Venus
    She didn't know Castile, or Santana's mother, but her emotions synced with Santana's. She felt his anger towards Castile, though she did not show it. Castile quickly turned angered, when Santana stepped in front of Venus he spat out at Santana, questioning if he really needed to protect Venus. Since she did not know the stallion personally she took Santana's word for it, she did not ask for his protection, but stepping in front of her only put her on edge, wary of the two equines presence.

    Santana his father says his name, his eyes narrowed onto Santana. Venus touched him gently, attempting to calm him down from his angered state. Her touch only seemed to set him off, he whipped his head towards Venus, his teeth ready to rip her to shreds. Before she could process what was happening she was pushed aside by his mother, his teeth sunk into her shoulder. Venus' eyes grew wide, she was confused and at a loss of words, why in the world we he try to bite her? She only wanted to help him.....She was the reason blood fell from his mothers shoulder, she wanted to run away but her body was frozen.

    Santana spoke quickly realizing what he had done, he attempts an apology to his mother. He speaks his opinion on his father, that the stallion would only hurt her again. His mother was gentle, she was not angered by the blood that leaked from her due to her son. Instead she calmly said he would not fight her battles and his father was here now. She gave a departing statement and walked away with pride, Venus wanted to run after her and apologize...maybe thank her? But perhaps it wold only add fuel to the fire and for that reason she remained were she was.

    She had been avoiding turning her gaze on Santana, but when she forced herself to it seemed he was also avoiding eye contact. I'm sorry, I didn't know that would happen he mutters out, his voice had shame apparent in it. She was still processing the situation the just unraveled and through it all she wanted to be here with him.....Loess was never truly her home...it was just a kingdom that ripped her and her brother from her family. She would have left earlier had it not been for Titus growing happy in the kingdom. Santana...I'm sorry....I didn't know I was going to upset you her voice was slightly shaky, she wanted to reach out and touch him for comfort but she feared she would ignite his anger once more. Instead she stays calm and her gaze turns to Castile who remains behind.

    Nothings Wrong When Nothings True


    @[Santana] @[Castile]
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