12-06-2020, 02:48 PM
the difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits
Cortex stands on the edge of the Playground with his older brother, Aqorix. He had never before left his mother’s side, so being away from her was sending anxiety through his blood like poison. His older brother, who had spent Cortex’s entire life fretting over him, thought it was time to be around other foals his age, so here they were. “Do I have to?” He gives his brother pleading eyes, but his brother only looks down at him with disapproving eyes. Cortex shifts his gaze to the ground beneath his hooves. “Okay…” he mutters.
He huffs a big sigh before he takes a step forward, but for a moment, he hesitates, looking back over his shoulder at his older brother. Aqorix gives him a stern look, and he turns back and walks forward. A slight tremble makes its way into his gate, but he continues into the unfamiliar land.
The next time he turns around, his older brother is gone. He had promised to pick Cortex up at the end of the day, but the little, black colt couldn’t help but feel scared. What if something happened and Aqorix didn’t return? Would he be able to find his way back to mother? He lets out a soft whimper and almost gives up on the whole day. He could have laid down right there in a tight ball on the ground to wait impatiently for his brother’s return, but something, perhaps the magic of the fairy that keeps this land safe for its young visitors, keeps him moving.
He comes to a small brook and stops to stare at the crystal clear, trickling water as it bubbles and gurgles over rocks and twigs. For a time, he stands in a world of silence, wondering if he is all alone here. Then a voice startles him out of his reveries, and Cortex spins around to face the unfamiliar colt, eyes wide, showing his fear. That fear quickly fades, however, as the other colt asks to be friends, despite his defensive posture. “U-um…” he stammers. “Sure.” He gives the other a hesitant smile.
A small laugh cracks through Cortex’s lips as the other colt says that he can protect him. Truth be told, Cortex didn’t exactly need protecting. He had learned shortly after birth that he had the ability to shift into a feline body. Since then, he’d tortured his brother by constantly shifting into various feline creatures while they played. It gave him a distinct advantage over his brother. Granted, his brother was probably taking it easy on him, since he could manipulate shadows, but still, he’d proven himself a worthy adversary.
“Well, we could protect each other.” Just then, he shifts into a lion cub and pounces toward the other colt playfully. He stops just before his new friend. “I’m Cortex, by the way. What’s your name?” He purrs, a sign that he is no threat to the other.
He huffs a big sigh before he takes a step forward, but for a moment, he hesitates, looking back over his shoulder at his older brother. Aqorix gives him a stern look, and he turns back and walks forward. A slight tremble makes its way into his gate, but he continues into the unfamiliar land.
The next time he turns around, his older brother is gone. He had promised to pick Cortex up at the end of the day, but the little, black colt couldn’t help but feel scared. What if something happened and Aqorix didn’t return? Would he be able to find his way back to mother? He lets out a soft whimper and almost gives up on the whole day. He could have laid down right there in a tight ball on the ground to wait impatiently for his brother’s return, but something, perhaps the magic of the fairy that keeps this land safe for its young visitors, keeps him moving.
He comes to a small brook and stops to stare at the crystal clear, trickling water as it bubbles and gurgles over rocks and twigs. For a time, he stands in a world of silence, wondering if he is all alone here. Then a voice startles him out of his reveries, and Cortex spins around to face the unfamiliar colt, eyes wide, showing his fear. That fear quickly fades, however, as the other colt asks to be friends, despite his defensive posture. “U-um…” he stammers. “Sure.” He gives the other a hesitant smile.
A small laugh cracks through Cortex’s lips as the other colt says that he can protect him. Truth be told, Cortex didn’t exactly need protecting. He had learned shortly after birth that he had the ability to shift into a feline body. Since then, he’d tortured his brother by constantly shifting into various feline creatures while they played. It gave him a distinct advantage over his brother. Granted, his brother was probably taking it easy on him, since he could manipulate shadows, but still, he’d proven himself a worthy adversary.
“Well, we could protect each other.” Just then, he shifts into a lion cub and pounces toward the other colt playfully. He stops just before his new friend. “I’m Cortex, by the way. What’s your name?” He purrs, a sign that he is no threat to the other.
cortex