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Post by ponybones on Aug 31, 2014 23:38:06 GMT -5
If I Go Will You Follow
A roleplay between Pony-Bones' Cain and Elesette's Moira
It felt like he had reached some sort of precipice, and was waiting to either jump, or back away, Cain decided as he looked out over the herd. The guards were up and about, patrolling the valley, two at the mouth of it as they stayed alert for any of the troublesome mares that enjoyed sneaking away so well. The rest of the stallions were off doing some other nonsense, surely. He could only imagine it was unproductive. Though his elites had proved to be useful members of society, he had doubts about the rest. Useless was a strong word, but if the shoe fits...
The Bachelor leader exhaled quickly, his nostrils flaring wide as his mind raced. He was so close, yet so far. Could he make that leap without falling into some doom, a trap laid with his own hubris? He wanted to say yes, but his cautious side, his patient side, told him to wait on that edge a bit longer. That voice had never failed him. As Cain turned away, away from the herd to lead him down from the overhang he had been observing from, he saw a large, spotted mare blocking his path. "You are a presumptuous mare, aren't you." Cain said dryly, not bothering to waste any charm on Bat-Sheva who had apparently been watching him for who knows how long. For such a thick-set creature, she moved silently, or perhaps he had just been preoccupied, a mistake he wouldn't make again. "You like big words, don'tcha." Came the reply, with a smirk that showed a small gap between Sheva's front teeth. Cain nodded, looked around for a moment, and then back into her eyes. He could feel her expectancy. She was anticipating something, though he could not know what, and for some reason, wouldn't come out with it without prompting. "So...I can only assume I can help you with something." Cain said finally, willing this moment to end. There was nothing wrong with the mare, but it didn't mean he had to enjoy her boisterous company.
Sheva waited a moment more for suspense, and then asked "How goes things on the 'making the herd like you' front?" Cain grimaced slightly at the thought, and then shook it off easily. "They will come in time. It just takes some more convincing than others. Eventually they will see reason." He could only hope, but he didn't invest too much time into that theory. Pigheadedness was seemingly a heritable trait in this herd. "Well, I have some information that might help you with that..." Sheva responded, walking to the overhang that Cain had previously occupied, surveying the situation as she was Queen. The stallion couldn't help but raise a brow and watch her move. "Though I remember her birth well, I recently re-acquainted myself with a little mare named Moira. She's only 18, but she's got a lot of heart. And she also has her Gift." Sheva replied, looking at him knowingly. "Poor thing doesn't really...mix well with others, but she is powerful, so it might be worth getting on her good side." The spotted mare said, with a shit-eating grin that could only mean she had ulterior motives. Cain knew that Bat-Sheva supported him, was one of the few that would unwaveringly follow him to war, but she was not here on a quest to help him, he realized. No, this was some sort of ploy, most likely presenting one of her little 'babies' as brood potential for him. Mares did love foals for some reason, and had a misguided affection for the idea of relationships. All too often, Cain had accidentally witnessed some touching, and forbidden moment. Not that he cared to uphold the Bachelor herd's sacraments, but it did put him out that his followers did not obey the laws that he never did quite abolish. The Summer was coming to an end, and thus the opportune time for picking a mare was ebbing away.
"Does she have notions of being some sort of queen?" Cain asked, his voice sliding into seduction mode, as easy as it was a swan to glide into the water. He took a few steps toward her, and something instinctual in her made her tense, though she fought it and continued to look at him knowingly. Two could play at that game. "Of course not, Cain" Sheva replied with the same tone, smirking, extending her head towards him. "She just wants to be a good brood, as we all do." She batted her lashes a few times at him, then coyly looked away. Cain barked out a laugh, and then shook his head. "Tell me of her Gift, and we will see. I have no use for magic tricks, only an advantage." He replied in his usual tone, level and unmoved. Sheva dropped the act as well, and then continued to regale him on her own recollections of Moira's early gifting in her foalhood, and the various accidents that punctuated the young mare's life. "But, she is lonely. Show her some kindness, those who care will take notice." The spotted mare finished, bowing her head slightly, and taking her leave. Cain was left to contemplate his next moves. Necromancy certainly was no parlor trick.
-x-
Later that day, as the Sun was starting to fade behind the valley walls, Cain took it upon himself to wander through the herd personally. He was not adored - no, he was more like hated. The hatred crashed down on him like waves in an angry sea, and yet all he met was silence. His pale eyes scanned around, looking for the scarred young mare. |
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Post by elesette on Sept 1, 2014 0:17:44 GMT -5
The summer heat had Moira passing the days away lazily, and she acted in an almost doggish way since the mares had been moved to the Summer fields. While the mare could admit that the valley was beautiful, it was not her place. No, Moira had never done well in the summer fields. She expected every summer would be the same as her 17th name day- everything would seem glorious. The wind would below and life the spirits of those drugged by the heat. The mare's would become swollen, and newly born colts and fillies would prance around in delight. They'd be completely unaware of the rest of the world, and happy to be so oblivious. Moira wished to go back to those days, but knew better. The summer would drag out as it did the year before and she would not become swollen. Moira would not fulfill her duty.
Of course, Moira was not one to rest with that thought. She'd rather push it out of her mind and pretend that there was a possibility that the situation would be different this year. The summer would come to an end, and she would find herself warming her own rounded tummy in the sun. At least, that's what she wished. Moira turned her head slowly away from the sea, she had enjoyed starring at the not so far off beauty for more than half the day. It was time to try her mouth yet again at seducing a stallion. Her eyes flicked cautiously from around the herd, there were so many options. Brutus, so tall and strong - the perfect mate. Moira sighed. It was not to be. That much had been obvious from their last encounter. She stepped timidly away from her place in the tall grasses of the summer fields, and began to meander through the herd. She'd bat an eye at a stallion, and he'd shift away as if she'd physically pushed him over a few steps. Moira was quickly reminded why she hadn't tried to fulfill her duty again this season cycle. She was useless. She had no purpose, and then sun was setting quickly - both on her time to find a temporary mate for the year, and on the land around her.
She found some solace in the darkness as it flowed slowly and quietly over the herd. In the dark, she couldn't see the faces of the herd. It reminded her of being alone, and as of late there was nothing Moira felt more comfortable in than solitude. Socializing had just become to hard, and the rejection was wearing down on her. As she made her way through the herd, she herd another mare call out. Was the calling for her? The mares eyes lit up and she trotted in the direction of the voice. "Yes?" She piped, looking left and right for the voice that she could swear had called her name. Moira turned around again, seeming to loose the voice in the growing darkness. She frowned. It must have been her imagination. She was used to that. Moira flicked her tail in discontent. She had wasted the whole day alone, and now that the night finally concealed her from the world - Moira felt that it was too late. She had no friends in this herd, none except those she hid.
Finding a hiding spot for her 'friends' had been rather difficult in the summer fields. When the herd had roamed through the rest of the island, the horses were sparsely decorated on the grassland. Here they were concentrated, and there was nowhere to be truely alone. Moira shuffled past the rest of the herd, making her way slowly to the small, but growing oak tree. At its base lay her friends. "Hello" She cooed... a quiet, yet raspy sound. It appeared her voice was not ready for being used. Before her, in the roots of the small oak lay exactly two rabbit skulls, a dead mouse, and the wing of a raven. Her summer days had followed like this for a long time. Wake up, think, sit, eat, dream, wander into the herd, wander out. They would always end similarly. Moira was absolutely alone.
(OOC: Rambly post is rambly, Im still getting the hang of her ;p)
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Post by ponybones on Sept 1, 2014 0:36:51 GMT -5
It did not take long to spot the mare in question, her body nearly as pale as his, yet horribly marred, flitting across the herd. Aside from the roiling hatred that was being showered upon him now, sometimes in ways so obvious that one didn't need the gift of Empathy to know it, he could sense the revulsion that the other horses had when "Moira" neared them. It was as if she had some barrier around her that physically pushed her herdmates away. The Bachelors were never known as being an accepting bunch, yet somehow he didn't understand their complete isolation of a breed-able mare. What logic was there in that? If she was useless, wouldn't they just throw her out? He thought about it as he watched her, her desperation clear, as well as the pain that she felt every time that she was pushed away. No wonder the mother hen of the herd had nested on this egg. Moira couldn't broadcast her need to be loved and accepted any more clearly.
But suddenly, she was gone, having weaved through the others after one last rejection, perhaps, whether actual or imagined. Cain lifted his head, looking more intently for her, and found her at the base of a tree. This might be the time, the pale stallion decided, putting his head down and making his way through the herd himself. Some of the horses turned to look at him, others purposefully ignored him, but once he seemed to not be a direct threat to anyone, he could feel them relax and glance away, back to whatever task was at hand. It was odd, being so out of touch with those that he was supposedly leading, however it couldn't be helped. Patience was the only thing working for him now - patience and diligence.
It became quieter as he approached, as the little tree was a bit out of the way, and thus his other senses started working harder. Instantly came the stench, the putrefaction of corpses no doubt stinging his nostrils. His brows furrowed as he shoved down the sick feeling in his gut, intent to keep his mind on the goal he had set for himself. One of his curled ears twitched slightly as he heard her raspy voice whisper 'Hello'. For an instant, he thought it was himself, but she did not appear to be aware of his approach. With quiet steps, he made his way to her, and took a deep breath through his mouth, hoping not to smell the decay any more. "Moira, yes?" Cain said softly, looking down at her with a somewhat stern look on his face, unsure of which persona he should chameleon into to have the best effect.
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Post by elesette on Sept 1, 2014 1:24:22 GMT -5
Moira had always been plagued with her inability to make friends. She had been diseased from the day Ba’yagu granted her the gift. She had been treated like an untouchable. And for a being that thrived so well on the slightest amounts of love or affection, Moira should have been consumed long ago. She was hollowing, and had been losing the spark in her that made Moira want to give to her herd so much. It was only by sheer miracle that moira hadn’t lost it all together. The more she lost of her ability to care however, the more potent her desire for love became. When one was starving, it would eat anything, and Moira was prepared to eat the most poisonous of apples to feed the hunger in her heart.
Moira leaped with a start from her resting place next to the tree. She had not expected anyone to approach her. It was nearing night, and the other horses were beginning to find their places in the summer fields, ready to shut down until morning. So who was this stallion and why was he approaching her now. A soft gasp escaped the pale mare’s tightly shut lips when she realized the identity of the stallion she was now facing. Cain, her king, the leader of the Bachelor stallions. Moira backed up into the tree then, in shock, careful not to step her large hooves in places they shouldn’t. She absolutely could not afford to crush her friends, not in a time like this. She needed their support now.
“...Yes?” Moira said, otherwise silencing herself. It had been so long since she’d actually tried to speak to a stallion that moira forgot how to reply. It was quite obvious by the look in her wide eyes that she was moreover confused than shocked at this point. Stallions- no, horses didn’t just come up and talk to her. The mare simply didn’t understand. Moira pressed her tail against the tree, resting most of her weight on it. Despite her larger size, she couldn’t help but feel small in the presence of the marwari stallion. In her cowardice, she wanted to shrink, and hide away from him. Another part of her felt otherwise, and her heart beat with a drum of excitement.
“Can I do something for you?” She echoed the sacraments of her grandmother quietly. Never was a mare to see a stallion and not service him. Moira couldn’t possibly dream of anything she had that he might desire, but another reply was all Moira needed - it would be more of a conversation she’d had with any living thing in a long time.
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Post by ponybones on Sept 4, 2014 18:14:19 GMT -5
Her sudden shock at realizing who he was hit him so hard, it was like a smack in the face and it took all of his willpower not to flinch back from her at that point, and instead watched her creep backwards away from him, his eyes narrowed a little bit as her nervousness led her away from him. It could be to his advantage, but he had to be patient. Patience was all he had when dealing with the members of his new herd, and he found himself relying upon it more and more as he spent time in their presence. He couldn't lose his composure, he couldn't toss his head and walk away, removing himself from the source of irritation. He was in the thick of it now, and there was no going back.
Slowly the mare seemed to curl into a ball away from him, as if hoping to merge with the tree and become non-existent. He didn't step forward, but gave her her space, allowing her to recover. He supposed he shouldn't be surprised, with the information that Sheva gave him. This mare was essentially a social pariah, though she embodied everything the Bachelors wanted, aside from in appearance and perhaps power. Cain had a feeling that these stallions hated mares that could potentially live by themselves, throwing their independence in their face. Such a hateful place he reined over.
"It has come to my attention that you got your gift, very early, such as me. Your innate abilities could be very useful to us, but only if you can harness them." Cain murmured, his voice gentle now that he saw her reaction to meeting him.
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Post by elesette on Dec 21, 2014 13:07:10 GMT -5
Moira chimed a light giggle in the presence of the leader, and was completely baffled by her own reaction. She had seen some of the more 'talented' mares do it all the time: a shy bat of the eye lashes, a keen smile on the lips - a flirtatious giggle to attract the stallion at hand, but she had never been able to react so seamlessly herself. She could almost revel in her own display. The mare almost forgot what he had said as she smiled dumbly in return.
"Oh!" heat entered her face and she looked down knowingly. She had been bound to make a mistake. "Yes..." Her words were cautious and confused again as she realized what he had said. He wanted to know about her gift. The feeling that set in her chest was a familiar one, and in the oddest of ways the disappointment felt like home.The mare turned quietly to look at her friends... the pile of bones that they were and sighed. When the last bits of his words caught her sensitive ears Moira stopped. Like him? Now she was more confused than she had ever been before. Moira wasn't compared to other horses. Especially not those with such majesty as the Bachelor leader. She tried a smile again.
"You did?!" She was suddenly more interested in what he had to say. After all, her grandmother had told her she wasn't of much interest to start. Stallions liked it when you talked about them, asked questions. Stallions liked to be flattered. Moira tried her best to ignore her true desires. The pale mare wished deeply she could be of use, but flattering this stallion now was more important to the herd. As the old mare that had raised her said, she could be of no other use than as a brood. Raising the dead had nothing to do with raising a child. "Your gift must be the most powerful of all!" She cooed, in a sad attempt to seduce him.
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Post by ponybones on Dec 29, 2014 0:09:56 GMT -5
His ears perked slightly at the sound of her giggle, and he cocked his head slightly out of curiosity. Courtship was still a strange phenomenon - if it even could be called that. What was it? Cain looked at her with his pale eyes and tried to watch what emotions crossed her face as he felt a wave of pride come in the wake of her gesture. It seemed as if a puzzle he was trying to fit together, for he could sense the emotion, but not the cause. He was only as much of a mind-reader as his cleverness allowed, and this one slipped away from him before he could make sense of it all.
For just like that, it was gone, and they were back drifting in the endless sea of her self-doubt. The pride had been an island that was drowned by the crashing down of tidal waves of her past, all the things she had been conditioned to do, to be. She was comfortable there, in her disappointment, and the logical part of him could not figure out why anyone would enjoy that. Cain's eyes traveled to where the young mare was looking, and then snapped back as she reacted. He felt as if caught in whiplash from her emotions, and thus struggled to shove them away. They were too much, too often. The whims of youth.
Caught off guard, his voice was slightly distracted, not at all his usual decisive tenor. "Powerful?" Cain repeated, before giving his head a slight, but violent shake as he attempted to regain himself. The awkwardness of this mare was not going to throw him off, and he would be determined of that. "It is...useful, though any Gift seems to be only as powerful as the owner makes it. As I said before, these things take practice. With dedication, even the simplest of Gifts can be made great. Greater, even, than the truly powerful gifts, being used by those with no drive to hone them." Cain said, looking at her critically, not bothering even to tell her what it was that he was capable of. "But my own gift is of no interest to me, it is second nature now. Yours, however, is different. Can you show me?" He asked, looking at her intently.
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Post by elesette on Dec 29, 2014 0:25:28 GMT -5
Pride terrified the mare, and she dare not feel it as he continued to speak to her. Moira would dare not turn away from her lord, but she could not allow herself to revel in his presence any longer than she had. If she placed her hopes on too high a tier, she could only expect them to fall. Still, she allowed herself to tip toe on the edge of a quiet curiosity. She wanted nothing more than to know what would happen next. She would try her best not to mess up whatever was happening.
"Yes! Powerful!" She chimed, taking a step forward as if to forget she was trying to hide her small collection of bones behind her. She was too enthralled now to keep the gentle hoof she had resting above them, gently placing it a second step forward as she came closer to her leader. His presence shined a ray of hope on her very being. She blushed under his imaginary light, "you-" her next sentence faded off into a whisper before she could finish it, and the stallion was already speaking to her. Moira's ears titled forward in anticipation, and stray strand of fore-lock fell over her big sea green eyes. She was smiling, but something about those ocean orbs made her look sad, her eyes glassy with excitement.
"Mhmmm" she nodded as he explained the 'process' of strengthening one's gift, but her body rocked backward with fear at his final words. His speech felt like a roller-coster, and even she couldn't grasp what she was feeling. Fear? Exhilaration? Shame? Did he even know what her gift was? The young brood had to wonder. Maybe he had heard stories from others, and was only here to confirm the rumors that had spread throughout the summer fields. She sighed, she would have to do what the bachelor asked of her. She was a servant and he would be her king.
"I can..." she looked around at the earth behind her. Her friends were much to long dead to be of example,"... but we'll need to find something lost" She hated to refer to them as dead. The lifeless bodies that lay strewn about the eastern lands. It didn't matter if they were birds, or even worms, they all had a soul and she cared for them, and she was good at locating the little lost things, "I don't suppose... you could follow me?"
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