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Post by TyraDragoness on Dec 22, 2014 23:17:13 GMT -5
" Injured Pride "
T h e P l o t What began as a daily gallop across the hills quickly turned into a deadly flight for life on this unfortunate day for the young buckskin mare, Akira. With speed and agility on her side, escape seemed easy until a half-buried log introduced the mare to the ground, resulting in bloody fight to ward off the little devils. It seemed like a miracle when Akira managed to deal a fatal kick to the pack leader's skull and send the rest scurrying away, but alas, the vermin were much more intelligent than that...they would be back..with an increase in number. Finally taking shelter within the forest, the young mare found refuge and rest, while she frantically worried over what to do next. All until the crack of a twig echoed throughout the woods...
C h a r a c t e r s o1. | Akira ~ TyraDragoness o2. | Jaxon ~ DawnsComing
W o r d C o u n t: TBA |
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Post by TyraDragoness on Dec 22, 2014 23:20:23 GMT -5
[ Akira ]
Stupid grass beasts...they came out of nowhere…! I should have been more careful… Akira lay uncomfortably against the trunk of a wide oak tree, mentally scolding herself for her own stupidity. If she had just paid more attention to where she was going instead of running wild over the countryside, maybe she would have caught the scent of that pack of grass beasts lying in wait. But no. She had to go crazy and toss caution to the wind. So now she lay sulking over her punishment, a twisted hock. The sooty black limb looked utterly pathetic, lying at quite the disturbing angle tucked against her heaving side. A throbbing, slightly burning pain arced up her hind leg, making any sort of movement whatsoever involving the limb forbidden. How she’d managed to outrun the nasty creatures, she didn’t know. Adrenaline and instinct perhaps, but mostly fearing for her life. It’s amazing what you are capable of when your life is at stake. Swiveling her elegant head backward towards her hoof, he gingerly lowered her powdery white muzzle and nudged it ever so gently. Immediately she regretted her action as another spike of pain shot up her leg and caused her to gnash her teeth in response. Looks like she would be stuck there for quite a while… Her heart began to pick up its pace and thump against her chest as her mind raced. She may have been able to outrun the beasts the first time, but they were persistent. They would be back. And when they did return….she would be defenseless and without escape.
So there the pale buckskin mare lay, her ears flicking in every direction at each and every sound, from the buzzing beetles to snapping twigs caused by small forest animals. Her deep brown eyes scanned the depths of the woods as she prayed...prayed that they would not find her.
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Post by dawnscoming on Dec 22, 2014 23:23:52 GMT -5
[Jaxon]
A heaviness lay on the day; a foreboding warning that persisted as it inched its way under the stallions hide. Jaxon’s ears twitched nervously as he pushed through the forest brush, each hoof placed carefully against the leaf litter. A once confident demure was now replaced with caution, his stomach twisting in anxiety as he moved further into unfamiliar territory. While the Bachelors ruled the Eastern Isle, there were places even they did not go and Jaxon was now treading dangerously close to the edge. A moment of hesitation caused the young horse to stop and consider turning back. To be caught alone here...it would surely mean a fight. But what choice did he have? He needed to find Q and quickly.
“There are not enough stars in the heavens that would make this trip any better.” Jaxon’s words were soft and quick. As much as he distrusted the loners of Chevalin there was little way around their encounter. And with tension rising between the herds, none could have predicted the outcome that would changed the future of the island. He would need the other loners help if he was ever to find his friend.
An east wind wound its way around the trees bringing with it the rank smell of grass beasts. Jaxon’s heart lurched at the thought of the vile creatures. It was not too long ago that he had faced the deadly pack with dark scars on his back leg to prove it. If I want to survive the afternoon, I had better move quickly.
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Post by TyraDragoness on Dec 22, 2014 23:25:34 GMT -5
[ Akira ]
Snap! Akira’s gentle eyelids had just about fluttered closed when the noise jerked her from her near-slumber. Every muscle in the young mare’s body tensed as another crack rang out through the forest caused by...something crunching the dry brush of the forest beneath its feet. This time louder and much closer than before. The grass beasts. They were back. No. No, it was too soon. How did they find her so quickly...?! Akira’s breath came from her snout in quick, labored pants as her heart raced once more. She could have called out, asked who was there and have avoided the unnecessary panic that was to follow, but to a lone, injured mare, that was essentially suicide. If it was the grass beasts, silence and stealth were the only things on her side, if she could merely get off the ground that was.
Shifting her front legs into position, Akira attempted to haul her stiff body to all fours, immediately suffering the consequences as agony encircled her twisted hock and causing her to utter a muffled squeal of pain, though she did her best to stifle it as she crashed to the ground once more. Her ears flicked wildly back and forth as he tried to figure out which direction the footsteps were coming from, but trees made it difficult for her to tell as the sound bounced off of them and, at this point, seemed to come from all directions. Becoming frantic, she once more attempted to rock up to a standing position, this time managing to avoid stepping directly on her injury and leaning against the trunk of the oak tree for support. She had to get out of here. Now. But where could she go? She’d lost sight of the edge of the forest in her flight from the beasts and now was...well truly lost within the depths of greenery.
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Post by dawnscoming on Dec 22, 2014 23:28:57 GMT -5
[Jaxon] A muffled noise caught the stallions attention followed by a quiet rustle of leaves. While the voice had barely been audible, Jaxon’s sharp ears picked it up easily after many years of practice. The blindness in his right eye had made him edgy as a foal, unable to see those that moved past his bad side. Yet as he grew he had learned to use his other senses to compensate for his lack of sight. The bachelor’s stomach twisted, his instincts alerting him to danger. Could the grass beasts be so close? While their rank smell filled his nostrils, it was old and muddled with the scent of earth. The rustle of movement sounded again, this time far too soft for any beast to make. Curiosity took over as Jaxon cautiously made his way toward the noise. Perhaps a loner had already spotted him; spying from a distance. If that were the case they certainly weren’t doing a very good job of staying hidden. Pausing for a moment, Jaxon wondered how wise it was to confront the horse; given it was a loner. None had ever been very welcoming toward him given his rank among the Bachelor herd. And while he didn’t necessarily blame them it did change the annoyance he felt after every encounter. A grimace crossed the horses lips at the mere thought of it but was swiftly replaced by determination. He had to find Q and it was only the loners that would be able to help with that. Pushing forward, the stallion headed toward the noise. “Hello?” Jaxon’s heart raced in anticipation, trying to sound more confident than he felt. He could hold his own in a fight but it was the last thing he was hoping for. |
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Post by TyraDragoness on Dec 22, 2014 23:30:29 GMT -5
[ Akira ]
“Hello?” Every nerve twitched in Akira’s body at the sudden voice penetrating the thick foliage and she took a few nervous steps forward, her mind screaming at her to run, though unfortunately for her, only ended in the buckskin tumbling once more to the mossy bed of the forest floor due to trying to use her injured hoof. Leaves crackled and twigs snapped from her weight while a frightened yet at the same time frustrated squeal resonated from her lungs. Any frantic attempts she made to get back onto her feet only resulted in making her situation worse, so at last, she simply rolled over on her stomach and pressed her forehead against the tree trunk as she gritted her teeth.
What to do, what to do…?? No doubt it was probably a bachelor, considering it was a stallion’s voice. Though it could be a loner, but could she risk that? Could she risk getting rounded up and enslaved within that brutish herd?? No, no she couldn’t take that chance...but what other choice did she have? He would stumble upon her eventually, then what? Her only hope was to give it her best shot of sweet talking her way out of this idiotic mess she’d gotten herself into. Perhaps he’d take a hint. No equine, even a bachelor, particularly liked the idea of venturing into the eerie forest, especially not alone, which this one seemed to be. Folk tales were woven around woods such as these that hordes of grass beasts dwelled within them. If she was lucky, maybe he’d even think she was a ghost. Yeah...she’d have to be pretty lucky for that… Taking a deep breath, she did her best to calm herself and keep her voice from shaking.
“G-go away…! Y-you don’t belong here!” Akira managed to stutter, wincing at how pathetic she sounded. There went another escape plan down the drain. Wonderful...
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Post by dawnscoming on Dec 22, 2014 23:34:41 GMT -5
[Jaxon]
The voice that answered him was not one the young stallion was expecting as it shook unevenly like that of a frightened foal. With no regards to the warning, Jaxon pushed his way through the undergrowth coming face-to-face with a small buckskin mare. Her form laid awkwardly on the ground, one of her hocks swollen and twisted beneath her. A deep frown crossed his face. It just had to be a mare.
Jaxon’s ears twitched nervously, trying hard not to stare at the mares obvious injury. The terrored look in her eyes was enough to tell him he wouldn’t be able to get any useful information from her either; not until he proved he was not here to drag her back to the Bachelor herd. It was easier said than done, however. No mare trusted a bachelor; at least not at first introductions. And while Jaxon didn’t necessarily blame them, he didn’t trust them either. The mares of the island were always scheming up some way to trick them, always whispering to each other. He had seen enough of them with the skills to fight.
Non-existent hands moved to touch the scars that covered his face; the muscles tensing into tight coils around his blind eye and up into his ear. The memories of that day were at best foggy but the pain that came with it was fresh. A single blue eye sent another glance toward the buckskin. As helpless as she looked, he would keep his guard up. Slowly, Jaxon lowered his head in attempt to look less threatening. He was twice her size after all. “S-sorry to startle you…” The words came out with effort, making for a quieter tone. “I was looking for someone.” Again he cast a glance at the mares injured hock, this time making his line of sight more obvious. “Are you ok?”
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Post by TyraDragoness on Dec 22, 2014 23:35:43 GMT -5
[ Akira ]
Akira nearly jumped out of her pale dun skin when the stallion crashed through the brush and stumbled upon the small clearing she had taken shelter in. She was honestly surprised she didn’t keel over right then and there from a heart attack. However, it only took merely seconds before her eyes locked onto the center of the stallions forehead….onto his wild, blatant scar slashed deeply into his skin in the shape of the “x”. Or rather half an “x” really considering the other half of his face seemed to have been mauled. As she had feared, it was a bachelor who had discovered her hiding place, and her heart thumped wildly in sheer terror against her rib cage, threatening to break free of its bone prison. Though...she couldn’t help but feel sorry for him...her deep brown eyes studied his features for a few moments, especially taking in the damage that had been done to his face. Most bachelor stallions were quite beat up in general, due to their brutish customs, but this...this seemed overkill. It pricked her heart somewhat, a glint of pity appearing in those glossy eyes of hers, but that emotion was quickly replaced by fear as the logical side of her brain took control.
Thrashing wildly, the poor, hindered mare attempted once more to heave to her feet in an attempt to escape, but once more it only ended in her tumbling back down to the ground and making her appear rather pitiful as she squealed in pain. Flattening her ears against her skull, her mood suddenly turned sour as she scowled up at the bachelor stallion, trying to mask her fear with anger.
“Y-you stay back! If you take one step closer...you’ll be sorry!” she hissed, baring her teeth in a warning manner, “I-if you think you can just...just haul me off l-like some kind of...of hunter with his prey, you thought wrong!”
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Post by dawnscoming on Dec 22, 2014 23:37:23 GMT -5
[Jaxon]
“Tsch-.” The familiar prick of annoyance touched the bachelor’s pelt. Mares couldn’t be reasoned with. The burn of anger sparked dully in the back of Jaxon’s mind, itching to snap at the mare as she screamed in terror. But logic held the stallion at bay, knowing she would never help him find Q if he snapped at her now. Another glance at her injured leg calmed his flustered mind. Any creature, wounded and alone, would act out in fear. With a heavy sigh, thoughts of how he could calm her ran through his head.There was one in particular that stood out, as much as he disliked it.
Carefully, the stallion lowered himself to the ground; newly fallen leaves caressing his belly. Even now, he was a good head taller than her; a blue eye watching her reaction to his submission. Reluctantly,he allowed the tension to eb from his frame. “If I had been here to capture you we would be halfway back to the herd by now.” Another sigh escaped the horses lips as he tried to retain his calm demeanour. Ears shifted nervously, taking in the sounds of the forest.
A moment of silence passed between the two horses; the quiet release of breaths pausing the tension that hung in the air. Summoning his courage, Jaxon finally allowed his eye to meet the mares. “Listen…” The words came easier now, even as the tension lingered. He didn’t have time for stupid squabbles anymore. “I need your help. I need to find Q.”
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Post by TyraDragoness on Dec 22, 2014 23:40:20 GMT -5
[ Akira ]
Akira’s face twisted into a stubborn scowl at the tsk of his tongue. Stallions...they have no respect for us….even though without mares, there would be no way for them to have offspring. Peh, prideful brutes. No matter what Akira told herself on the inside, however, terror was etched into her very frame, every slim feature ever muscle. Her worst nightmare was becoming a reality, and this time she didn’t have her mother to protect her. This time...she was all alone.
Having given up on the idea of trying to make a break for it long ago, the pale buckskin scooted as close to the wide base of the oak as she possibly could, as if a few inches would be able to save her from the bachelor guard. Resting her cheek against its rough bark, she flattened her ears against her skull and pursed her lips together in a stubborn sort of pout. Several moments of awkward silence passed as they both simply stared at each other, neither one knowing really what to say. Akira did find it odd that he hadn’t tried to round her up already. Most bachelors would have leapt at the opportunity to capture a defenseless mare. To prance back to his herd like a warrior returning from battle, gloating over his victory, his newly caught slave.
Then her breath hitched in her throat, her mouth becoming dry at her next thought. No, he wasn’t capturing her because she was weak. She had a twisted hock. Some horses never recovered from leg injuries. What if he was deciding right then at that very moment if she was useless to him and his herd? If that were true, why let her go free and tell the world of the cowardice of the “mighty bachelor guard”? The simplest thing to do would be...to not let her leave the forest...alive….
So when the odd guard suddenly knelt down in front of her, Akira flinched and cowered, ducking her head and praying that it would be a painless death. But to her surprise, the defining blow never came. There were no hooves, no teeth. Simply the sound of rustling leaves as the stallion made himself comfortable on the forest floor. “If I had been here to capture you we would be halfway to the herd by now.” Slowly opening one clenched brown eye, she glanced over to him, staring at his facial expression. Is he being serious…?
“I need your help. I need to find Q.” Now finally opening both eyes and turning her head to face him, Akira pricked her ears forward. Is he….asking for my help….? MY help…? The idea puzzled her and she simply lay there stunned for a moment, a look of confusion plastered on her face. At last gathering her thoughts, she cleared her throat and looked away again, preferring to focus her gaze on the ground. “W-why would I help a bachelor brute l-like you…?” she mumbled in reply, though her voice had lost its harsh, biting tone and rather now was filled with relief and somewhat of humility.
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Post by dawnscoming on Dec 22, 2014 23:43:03 GMT -5
[Jaxon]
Jaxon frowned at the mares retort, laying his ears back but saying nothing. As tempted as he was to take a snap at the buckskins neck, he knew any attempt at violence now would only cause her to retreat into herself. Yet her unwillingness to help after his show of submission was aggravating to say the least. Mares were so obstinate!
A quiet breeze wound its way around the trees as the bachelor allowed a moment to pass between them again. He was at a loss for words; unsure of how to approach the stubborn beast before him. If she would not help, there was little else to do. That was, of course, unless he happened to run into another loner. It was unlikely, though; seeing as most fled at the sight if any who bore the cursed scar that graced his face. Turning back to the mare, Jaxon’s single blue eye grew more serious. No, he NEEDED to find Q and he couldn’t do it without her help. “Whatever your feelings of me and my herd are, does not matter.” Perhaps if she knew the direness of the situation, she may be more cooperative. “ A war is coming and lives are at stake. I must find Q the loner for someone he cherishes needs him. I need your help.”
There was an urgency that painted his voice, one he hoped would make her see how important this was. It was as close to pleading as the stallion would get but it felt degrading all the same. Jaxon never thought he would need ask another for help, and a mare no less. For as much as she distrusted him, he distrusted her even more.
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Post by TyraDragoness on Dec 22, 2014 23:45:31 GMT -5
[ Akira ]
Does not matter….my feelings don’t matter…? It doesn’t MATTER that HIS herd was responsible for my mother’s grief?! For tearing her away from her family and who ultimately was responsible for her death?!! Akira seethed with anger inside at such blatant disregard for her feelings, her past, her life. She wanted to chew him out right then and there. It didn’t matter she had a twisted hock, the fury and pain inside were all the fuel she needed to put up a good fight. However, she didn’t lash out, didn’t yell. She didn’t even respond directly, except for a slight turn of her head and the gritting of her teeth. She knew better. Starting a fight with a stallion while injured? In the middle of a thick, overgrown forest with no flat ground to run away on? No, that would be suicide...and that’s not what her mother would have wanted…
In fact, the more Akira thought about it, the more she realized that if Jaxon hadn’t come along, she would still be alone, wounded, and trapped where she lie, practically baiting the grass beasts to return and devour her whole. If she was to live...as much as she hated the idea…she would need this bachelor’s help.
For several long moments, the pale buckskin mare remained silent, thinking deeply about the situation. The wind whistled softly through the trees, playing softly with her pitch black mane and drawing wisps of hair across her deep brown eyes. As the silence continued, Akira flicked her ears back and forth, suddenly realizing something. It was...too quiet. The birds had stopped chirping...and not even a woodland creature stirred around them. That wasn’t a good sign. As the wind picked up once more, her eyes opened wide, her nostrils capturing one specific scent that caused tendrils of terror to arc through her body. Grass beasts...!
She had to make a decision. It was now or never, and Akira knew she wouldn’t last long enough to even see the “never”. Turning her gaze directly to the bachelor stallion and locking her eyes on his pale blue ones, she took a deep breath. “If I help you...will you….get me somewhere safe…?” she finally asked, her heart rate picking up, “Out of the forest, to somewhere the grass beasts don’t venture and where I’ll be safe from your herd. If you can promise me that, I will tell you what I know…” She still couldn’t believe she was pleading for aid from a brute like him...but it was her only option.
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Post by dawnscoming on Dec 22, 2014 23:48:08 GMT -5
[Jaxon]
The tall stallion gave the fragile mare a long, hard look; his one good eye cautiously examining the smaller figure. Even injured, Jaxon did not trust her. She had to just be using him to get away from the predators that were lurking about. Ears twitched, listening for the sounds of paws against the forest foliage. The scents of the beats had already grown stronger since he had arrived but they were still far enough away. They had not found the horses...not yet at least.
A gripping concern clenched the young horses heart, a deep fear rooted in the back of his mind. Surely this small mare was no threat to him but really, what choice did he have? If he was ever to find the loner, Q, he would need help. No matter which way they looked at it, they needed each other.
Jaxon released the breath he had been unconsciously holding and slowly took a step toward the buckskin mare. With precise yet gentle movement, he placed his thick neck beneath her own, using his weight to support her upper body. The extra weight felt awkward against his chest and the even movement of her breathing matched his own. Carefully, Jaxon shifted the weight on his legs to evenly distribute the burden and then waited for the mare to do the same. Both horses tension with the situation was evident, but what else could he do? He certainly didn’t have the power to levitate her to a safe spot.
A moment of silence passed between the two horses before Jaxon spoke. “There is a place not too far from here where loners like you gather. I can take you there…”
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Post by TyraDragoness on Dec 23, 2014 0:09:53 GMT -5
[ Akira ]
The silence between the two equines that followed was so thick, you could cut it with a knife. Deep brown and crystal blue eyes staring into one another, both afraid to put down their emotional barriers...to trust one another. When the tall guard, at last, took a step forward, the buckskin mare couldn't help but flinch ever so slightly, the knot in her throat continuing to grow until she felt she could barely breathe. What was he going to do? Was he going to help? Had he changed his mind about capturing her while she was defenseless...?? This flurry of frantic thoughts bounced around inside the mare's skull, but all she could really do was wait to see his reaction.
Her pale skin shuddered with every step closer, and her breath hitched in her lungs as the bachelor slid his thick neck beneath hers in an attempt to help her up. Taking the opportunity, Akira gritted her teeth once more and stumbled to three legs, pitifully holding the fourth injured one up off the ground as much as she could and whimpering whenever anything grazed against the wounded flesh. She really was quite the thin one, for she hardly weighed anything. Her jet black locks trickled over her neck onto his like a black waterfall as she continued to take deep breaths, coming to the conclusion that he, indeed, had chosen the more ideal option. Her intense multicolored blue jay feathers woven into her mane and tail quivered in the gentle breeze as well as from the buckskin's nervousness.
"That...that will be fine..." she finally murmured in response.
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Post by dawnscoming on Dec 31, 2014 23:08:04 GMT -5
The walk though the thick clustering of trees was beyond silent, the birds having vanished shortly after Jaxon's encounter with the mare. Perhaps they could feel the heaviness that lay between the two; each refusing to acknowledge their need for the others help. A blue eye studied the mare walking wordlessly beside him, her much smaller form dwarfed even more against his.Glancing toward her injured leg, he wondered just how deep it really was. He could bring her to the tree but leaving her there would not be safe either, especially if no others were present. On the flip side, should anyone else be there Jaxon knew he would not be welcomed. Bachelor stallions especially always seemed to be met with hasty judgment.
Refocusing his attention, Jaxon swiveled his ears, straining for any sign of the grass beasts that may be lurking. Having fought them many times before, he was beginning to feel as if he knew the pack well. They were large in number and more often than not relied on brute force rather than cunning; the many food options available to them having diminished their tracking skills. The East island was nothing like the barren wasteland of the South and even winter snows left enough food to support the life of the island. Still, to underestimate a predator only meant a downfall...The thought made Jaxon again glance in the young mares direction. Why was he so anxious around her? No matter what she tried he was positive he could over-power the buckskin if he chose to. A deep heaviness in his gut still lingered though, gripping his heart with an unconquerable fear and hate only to be pushed back by concern and guilt.
With a deep huff, the stallion pushed on. The mares weight was beginning to feel awkward against his side and he constantly found himself readjusting so as not to let her stumble to the ground. "So..." While he would have rather left the silence linger to the sounds of nature, the eeriness of a noiseless forest was getting to him. Was this how deaf horses felt against a lively world? "What is your name?"
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