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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


    Casimira...
    #1
    At first it had been fun, Mom being gone. All the things she hadn’t let him do before he had immediately gone and done. He’s not sure why she’d been so worried! He is just fine, obviously. Maybe a few burrs in his hair, but what’s the harm in that? He’d tried to get it out before anyone noticed, but rubbing his tufty little mane against the tree had only seemed to cement them in place further. Well, that, and the tree sap didn’t help. But who’d have thought pine trees are so sticky?

    Not him, that’s for sure.

    He’d kind of maybe a little bit avoided Casi since then. Mostly because he didn’t want her laughing at him. With a snort, and a little stomp, he squirms deeper into the thicket, narrowing his eyes at the place where Mom normally met them.

    Still nothing. It felt like she’d been gone a really long time. It’d been super fun at first, but now, covered in burrs and a little hungry, it seems much less fun. Do you think something happened to her? She’d never been gone this long before. For a hot minute, he’s tempted to find Casi, until he remembers the burrs. And the sap.

    No. Definitely not.

    He’d just have to go find Mom then. She couldn’t be far. Right? Right.

    Starting forward, he picks up a bouncy trot, burred tail bobbing, head held high as he peers curiously around him. He goes the direction he remembers seeing her go. Of course, after a little bit, she’d gone out of sight, so he might have to guess a little bit. But, well, he is a good guesser. A very good guesser. He could definitely find her.

    It takes him a while to realize he is lost. It takes him even longer to admit that he’s lost. He’d slowed down to an ambling walk a while ago, but now he stops entirely. With a huff, he leans against a nearby tree, itching his mane against the rough bark. Burrs are itchy. Sap is itchy. And he’s tired. And hungry.

    Mom better be close. He’s not sure how much longer he could keep looking. Or how he was getting home.

    @[Casimira]
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    #2

    CASIMIRA

    dragon-shifting daughter of ashhal and ryatah

    She has never been alone, from before she ever even took her first breath. All of her living memories were of him next to her, and because of that, it is a wonder that she didn’t feel him leave her side, as they had laid curled in a deep sleep — or at least, she had been in a deep sleep. The summer sun was already high in the Tephra sky by the time she was stirred awake, both by the heat washing across her black fur, but also because she was hungry. Their mother had been gone for what felt like forever, and she was beginning to lose faith in Evenstar everytime she promised that she would be home soon.

    As she sleepily blinked her crystal blue eyes open, it only took her a few moments to realize that everyone was gone. Cassian was gone. Evenstar was gone. Even that green man that stares at them from a distance wasn’t hanging around. She tried not to panic as she gathered her too-long legs beneath her, shaking dirt and loose grass from her small body. She wasn’t terribly concerned about her older sister, but she couldn’t believe her twin had the nerve to go somewhere without her. Twin Rule Number One: Always Stick Together. Was it because he was like three minutes older he thought he could do whatever he wanted?

    Not on her watch.

    Immediately, she launches herself towards the forest that bordered Tephra, immersing herself in the protection of the trees of Taiga, away from prying eyes. Perhaps she was a little bit of a hypocrite for being mad at Cas for disappearing, because she sort of did it almost every night. Not for long, however. Just long enough to practice her shifting. It had been awkward at first, a strange and alien process, to go from equine to dragon. She didn’t want anyone to know until she was actually good at it, and there was also a part of her that thought her family would think she was a freak. No one else had it. She supposed maybe Cas could be hiding it from her, too, but it didn’t explain why she had almost draconic blue eyes, and he didn’t.

    But the last few nights it had gotten easier, and this time, it is almost seamless when her body shifts and mutates, her velvety black fur molding into hard, oil-black scales, and leathery wings erupting from her shoulders. By the time her wings have lifted her above the tree tops, the transformation is complete, and her slit-like pupils watch the ground as she flies. She scans over the remainder of Taiga, and then Loess, and parts of Sylva. She was just beginning to get more annoyed than she already was when she decides to do another pass over the forest, and with a blink of her blue eyes, her vision shifts, and begins to search for heat. Ignoring anything that seemed too small or too large, she finally finds something that seems like it could be him.

    Circling back, she dips down through the canopy of the trees, doing her best to land as softly as possible so as not to attract any attention to herself. Her shift back into her equine form is not as smooth as the first time, and she stumbles forward as her wings disappear, her clawed-feet once more becoming hooves attached to gangly legs that scramble to keep her upright. Straightening with a huff, and reminding herself that this is exactly why she’s never told anyone, she immediately scurries forward, bursting through the thick brush to pounce behind her twin brother.

    ”Cas! What do you think you’re doing? You left and you didn’t even — oh my god what is in your hair!?” She reaches out to touch the prickly burrs and the sticky sap, and almost immediately she is overcome by uncontrollable laughter, before finally managing to choke out, “Mom is going to kill you.”

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    #3
    Oh no. Ohhh no nonononono. Shoot. Even as much as he’d kinda wanted to see her right about now, seeing Casi burst from the bushes reminded him of what a state he was in. And how far from home he probably was. And that he hadn’t told her he was leaving. Of course, he’d had very good reasons for all of that. But Casi was not always the most reasonable sort.

    Leaping wildly, Cas dives into the nearest bush, trying to hide before she spotted the mess he’d made of himself. Of course, it would be his luck that he’d chosen a thornbush to leap into. Of all things.

    With a ear-shattering screech, he scrambles quickly backwards, too-lanky limbs tangling with clinging branches and vines until he tumbles over backwards, at least half a branch coming with him as he does so. Not only is he covered in burrs and sap, but now angry scratches cover his legs and shoulders, along with a few trickles of bright red blood that quickly mat into his fur.

    Eyes rolling upwards, he glares at Casi as she nearly breaks her back laughing at him. Scowling, he scrambles to his feet before shaking himself vigorously, loosing dirt and leaves from his slim, lanky frame. Not that that helps overly much. He’s still covered in burrs and sap and scratches, a few wayward leaves clinging stubbornly as well, just to add that extra cherry on top.

    With a huff, he stalks forward and butts his head against Casi’s shoulder. Hard. He hopes the burrs scratch her. She deserves it for laughing it him. “As if you wouldn’t have done the same if you weren’t such a bum,” Cassian retorts, glaring at her. “That’s what happens when you sneak out all night!”

    With another huff, he turns his away from her, staring into the distance as he deliberately ignores her. It might even have been more dramatic if he’d stomped off, but he’d missed her too much, even if she was being unbelievably awful right now. Not that he’d ever admit to any of that.

    Still, he really hopes she enjoys talking to butts! Because that’s all she was getting from him.
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    #4
    @[Cassian] is safe from the plague. For now. (rolled a 4)

    @[Casimira] has been infected by the plague (rolled a 3).
    She will show symptoms (rolled a 2).
    She will not express a trait (rolled a 6).
    Reply
    #5

    CASIMIRA

    dragon-shifting daughter of ashhal and ryatah

    She can’t help but to laugh — although it was more of a cackle. He looked ridiculous, and had clearly gotten himself into trouble. This was why he needed her. She was the smart twin, which was a difficult and exhausting task, but one that she took very seriously. Especially since their mother wasn’t around right now — which she wasn’t nearly as concerned about that as her brother seemed to be. Other than being hungry, it was exciting being on their own. Her mother was always grooming and touching and asking where they were going, telling them not to do this or that, don’t play by the volcano, blah blah blah. Super boring.

    The only downside was if Ryatah was here, Cassian would totally get yelled at (maybe not yelled at, but she would be irritated) and it would be hilarious. A scolding from Casimira just didn’t have the same effect, although, she could probably scare him to death if she shifted into her dragon form right now. She contemplates it with a tilt of her dark head, her icy blue eyes narrowing in thought, before deciding against it. “I don’t sneak out all night. Just part of the night.”  

    In a matter of a few steps, and a snake of her slender neck, she lands a maybe too harsh nip on his backside. “Also, why are you spying on me at night, you creep. You’re supposed to be sleeping.” Seemingly oblivious to the fact that he was trying to ignore her, she sidles easily alongside of him, suddenly kinder as she reaches over to begin to gently dislodge a single burr from his mane. It prickles against her delicate lips, though she is mindful to not pull his hair too hard, before spitting the offending plant to the ground. ”What are you doing all the way out here anyway, you dummy?”



    @[Cassian]
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    #6
    Smarter twin, ha! As if!

    Oooooooo, if only he could read thoughts. Regrettably, he can’t, and therefore has no clue that Casi seems to think she’s the smarter twin. He would so set her straight if he knew. Of course, arguably, after today, she might very well be. But good luck convincing him of that. Seems he’d managed to get some of his father’s traits after all.

    His ears flatten against his neck as she cackles at him, clearly enjoying herself at his expense. He huffs irritably, scowling fiercely into the trees. And if he’d had arms, though would’ve been crossed moodily. As it is however, she’d still no doubt get the picture.

    “I don’t sneak out all night,” he mimics in a low, mocking tone, more to himself than to her. Of course, he’s plenty sure she can overhear him. Good! As if only sneaking out part of the night is better than the whole night. He’s not that dumb, thanks. The sharp nip that lands on his rump just then however, pulls him abruptly from his thoughts and expels a squeak of surprise from his lips. Ears pinning, he bucks in retaliation, though she’s close enough he couldn’t have possibly hit her very hard.

    Still, serves her right.

    He snorts when she slips alongside him, not trusting her suddenly much more placating demeanor. He ducks his head almost instinctively as she reaches for him, but she only plucks a wayward burr from the impossible tangle that is his mane. “I’m not a creep, you’re a creep!”

    Ok, so, probably not the cleverest comeback. But he couldn’t very well tell her he missed her when she left. Eying her askance, his scowl deepens, his skin shivering uncomfortably against the itching burrs and sap and scratches. He huffs at her insult, little foot stomping, even though he really doesn’t have a very good comeback. He’d already used the one. And, well, he wasn’t actually going to be a dummy and use it again. Even if his present situation already indicated that that ship had sailed.

    After a moment of irritable silence, he huffs again before grumbling, “I was trying to find Mom. She clearly got lost.”
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    #7
    ryatah
    hell is empty and all the devils are here
    She isn’t sure how long she had actually been gone, though it was likely less than a day. It had taken her a few moments to grasp back on to reality, when everything from the lair had disappeared and the meadow had once again bloomed around her. Nothing felt real; like waking from a dream and not being able to distinguish reality from imaginary. But the stinging mark on her hip served as a reminder — as if the memories of him weren’t enough. She blinks her almost black eyes in the too bright sun, and she knows she still smells of the sea, and of him. There is a sickening part of her that doesn’t want it to fade away.

    But when reality fully settles in, there is a brief moment of panic when she realizes the twins have been alone all this time — however long that had been.

    She has hardly made it through the forest when she can hear their familiar voices — arguing, of course, and if she wasn’t instantly irritated at the fact that they had left Tephra, she would have been amused by it. Following the sound of their bickering, she rounds a particularly thick grove of trees, and comes to a stop to take in the sight of Casimira trying to pull something from Cassian’s hair. “Did I not tell you two to stay in Tephra?” Her voice is hushed in comparison to their higher, more vibrant ones, but it carries the weight of her dissatisfaction all the same. 

    When Casimira begins to sound her protest, she simply casts her a silent stare, before turning her attention to Cassian. His mane was matted with burrs, and she could see where his scratched skin was exposed beneath his black coat. “Cassian, what did you do?” The question is punctuated by an exasperated sigh, but it was difficult to be mad when he looked rather pathetic and was clearly injured. Her mild irritation at finding her two youngest children alone in the wilderness was replaced by concern, her face softening as she reaches to pull him into her. She brushes her muzzle gently along the crest of his neck, sweeping her eyes swiftly across him and deciding that none of his injuries were life threatening. Methodically and as gently as she can manage, she begins to pull the burrs from the top of his mane, and working her way down.

    “You two are lucky nothing happened to you,” She says during a pause in her work. “What were you doing all the way out here anyway?”
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    #8

    CASIMIRA

    dragon-shifting daughter of ashhal and ryatah

    She lands another nip against his skin when he kicks her, this one harsher than the last. “I’m trying to help you, you jerk. Do you want to look like this when mom gets home?” A frustrated sigh is expelled abruptly from her lips when he yanks away from her, deciding to give up on that for now. Besides, they still had to get home, preferably before their mother did. If she never knew they were gone, she assumes they would be in less trouble.

    There is a small frown on her face when he says he had been out looking for Ryatah, her blue eyes narrowing even more than they naturally already were. “Do you really think she’s lost? Should we keep looking?” Her getting lost didn’t seem likely; she was pretty old and seemed to know Beqanna pretty well. Casimira likes to think she could find her way around blindfolded. But maybe she had been kidnapped? Or eaten by a bear? Or a dragon?

    She is mindlessly reaching to pull another burr from Cassian’s mane when her mother’s familiar voice rings into the air. With a gasp, she withdraws from her brother suddenly, promptly whirling around to face the white mare. “Mom! It wasn’t my idea, I woke up and Cassian was gone and — “ Her words stop abruptly when she meets her mother’s disapproving stare, and she ducks her pale head and diverts her gaze the ground as she murmurs an almost inaudible apology.

    With a single hoof she scuffs at the ground as her mother begins to groom her brother, rolling her eyes a little at how she preens over him. “Mama’s boy,” she mouths to Cassian when Ryatah wasn’t looking, snickering quietly before replacing the expression with something much more amicable when her mother looks at her again. She can see that she seems less irritated, and she uses this as an opportunity to curl into the side opposite of Cassian. “We were looking for you because Cassian was scared. He’s been crying the entire time you’ve been gone, and he ran away, so I had to go after him.” She can tell by the skeptical look she receives that her mother didn’t believe most of that, but she also knew it would probably annoy Cassian, which was her true goal.

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