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Post by mariahwhy on Oct 15, 2014 9:18:55 GMT -5
The Impatient PatientA roleplay between MariahWhy's Tobias and CrystalUniicorn's ElowenTimeline: Spring of the Year 394
Tobias limped up a hill, eyes focused on the ground. His steps were slow and hesitant. He stopped at the top, looking over his shoulder at the herd behind him. Horses wandered lazily amongst each other, the herd quiet. The winter had turned to spring, and everyone was awaiting the annual trek to the summer fields that would soon begin. They would leave behind the now overgrazed fields of the plains to the lush grass further North. Normally Tobias would be looking forward to the move as well, but with his current injuries he hoped they wouldn't leave any time soon.
Thunder clouds loomed in the distance, threatening them with more of the rain that they had too much of lately. Everything was muddy. That would keep them here a little longer, which Tobias was glad of, but if it wasn't for all this mud he wouldn't be feeling so crappy right now. His eyes turned to his legs. Beneath all the mud he knew was a wound that was swollen and hot. It was infected, but he couldn't do much about it. He'd tried to keep it clean, washing it out in the nearby river, but the next day it would rain and mud would be all over him again. He sneered. Damn cuts. Damn bullies. He thought he had been close to beating them this time, but when it's three to one you can't quite stop the hits from all sides. A few wounds were still open, such as the one on his leg, and a few along his back, and others were freshly closed. He felt bruised everywhere, and to top it all off the infection had turned into a mild fever. It wasn't that cold out, but a shiver racked his young body.
At the age of nine, he should have sought out a mare to care for him. That's what the others did. But he didn't want anyone caring for him; he never saw anyone mending the wounds of the elites or their current leader, Klaus. They toughed it out, and let the wounds heal on their own. And so that's what he would do. Despite his conviction, however, his body ached, and he was exhausted. Closing his eyes, he slowly lowered himself to the ground. He shivered again, and tucked his legs in around him to try and conserve body heat even though he could tell that he was burning up. Curling his head to his side he lay at the peak of the small hill, hoping sleep might heal him or at least relieve the pain for a short while.
Before the still small appaloosa could drift off, however, he heard the sound of hooves approaching. He didn't open his eyes, hoping they would ignore him and keep walking.
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Post by crystaluniicorn on Oct 15, 2014 18:30:39 GMT -5
The pain of loosing her mother only weeks ago were very fresh in the young mares mind. It was hard enough to be a slave brood, but to be alone was something entirely different. Klaus ruled with an iron fist and there seemed to be no mercy when it came to the mares. It was hard to conjure why the Bachelors traditions held while the other herds of Chevalin lived in love and equality. There was nothing the sheepish little mare could do besides put a wall up and keep to herself. . . that's what would truly keep her safe here. . .
The grass was beginning to spoil in the spring mud, making the young mares stomach churn with distaste. She had looked forwards to the trek to the summer fields every year she had been with the bachelors, though this year it would be bittersweet without her beloved mother. From where she lazily grazed on the far edge of the herd, something grabbed her attention from the corner of her eye. In the distance she could see young Tobias. . . or at least, thats what she had remembered his name to be, wandering weakly about a patch of grass. He seemed to be very cross about something.
It took some courage to decide to go to him, but he looked desperate for help. After all, he was only about two years younger than her. . . it wasn't like he had the strength of a full grown stallion. Deciding it was safe, young Elowen drifted across the mucky terrain to finally reach him. Silently, the mare looked him over a few feet away, her eyes widening at the shock of the extent of his injuries. What had this colt done to deserve this?
Thunder loomed behind them and small droplets of rain littered around them. This was probably the worst weather for him to be in, especially in his condition. Long tail slithering behind her, Elowen dropped her dished face to meet him. Her eyes glinted in the last light between the clouds, only a glimmer of hope to help this poor youngling.
" You probably shouldn't be out here with wounds that bad. . ." The mares soft voice coddled. " Perhaps I could be of some sort of help? I won't tell anyone. . ." Elowen cocked her head slightly with her words.
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Post by mariahwhy on Oct 15, 2014 21:58:24 GMT -5
Tobias heard the hoof beats stop a little ways away. Almost as soon as they did the rain began to fall. It was light, but still enough to make his chill immediately worse. He hunched his shoulders, hoping the intruder would realize he didn't want any company and leave. But it seemed that they were not smart enough to pick up on these signals, and they closed the remaining distance between them.
The voice took him by surprise - a young mare. He had expected it to be a stallion, come to tell him to go back to the herd. The voice was soft, and in his mind condescending. This horse thought of him as a child. Maybe he was, but he didn't want to be treated like one. Lifting his head he found the mare's face much closer to his own than he had expected. It was Elowen. He had never spoken to her, but certainly he knew her name. Every other young stallion seemed to, and so he had heard of her as well. But after her name and looks, he knew nothing of the mare, and was especially in no mood to change that now. When his eyes momentarily locked onto her bi-colored ones, he saw genuine concern glowing behind them. This made him uncomfortable, and that feeling manifested itself in him as more anger. "You can tell whoever you like," he sneered at her, though he knew his voice - still the high pitch of a foal - didn't have the effect he would have liked it to. "But I don't need your help."
Childishly he turned his head away from her. He pretended to ignore her for only a second, before he spoke back up. "And I don't know if you've noticed, but there's no where else for me to go. This damn mud is everywhere." The colt kicked a leg out in emphasis, spattering mud in front of him. Some of it landed on Elowen, and he couldn't help but give a half-hearted smile. There. He'd mess up her stupid, perfect mane and coat. Of course she already had some mud on her, they all did at this point, but knowing that he had been the cause of some of it held a sense of satisfaction that he hadn't felt since he'd been beaten up a few days before. Maybe that would make her leave him alone. "Now go away," he glared up at her, trying to hold her gaze in the toughest impression of the older stallions that he could muster.
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Post by crystaluniicorn on Oct 16, 2014 0:51:21 GMT -5
It was obvious her company was not welcome, but to her it was most certainly needed. After all, she didn't see any of the other horses coming out here to help the poor fellow. Elowen wasn't surprised nor did she entirely mind his stubbornness, as it was something one becomes accustom to living around a bunch of stallions. She was no old soul, but the mare knew a thing or two about what it took to survive here. She was always an observer, watching on the sidelines soaking in others mistakes and triumphs, no matter how big or small.
Understandably this youngling was in no mood for any goodwill, but Elowen knew that there might be some serious consequences if he wasn't properly looked after. At this point it had felt like she was going to be the only one to help him and she wouldn't be able to sleep at night if she walked away now. Drawing away, the mare let him have his moment.
The mud splatter to her foreleg didn't quite phase her. She knew her place as a slave, and didn't expect anything less from the fussy and probably suffering colt. She wouldn't blame him for it. " Now do you think its all that smart to shoo away the one horse who has come out here to help you?" Elowen chimed cautiously. " I'm familiar with these types of situations and by the looks of it, you might not last another night out here with that fever of yours." It was clear she had noticed his shivering and weakness at the knees. Her voice was little more than a murmur at this point. Though, not condescending.
" I know of a little place under some pines where the mud has not reached, just over that hill." Elowen motioned with her dished face, the clouds still ripe with anger. " I could bring you there. Leaving you out here to fester and die would be such a waste." Her voice turned cold with the words. In the bachelor herd colts were used just as much as much mares, as an able body to fight and defend their herd. It was an obvious truth that the herd would need him in his later years.
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Post by mariahwhy on Oct 16, 2014 13:57:14 GMT -5
The colt didn't get the reaction her was looking for with the mud. She simply stood there. He huffed. Whatever. She wasn't worth it.
As she spoke he held her gaze, eyes narrowed. He was going to argue with her that he didn't ask for her to help. That she wasn't much older than him, so how could she possibly know what to do about an infection. But a voice in the back of his mind told him she was a mare - mares knew these kinds of things. It was all they were good for, besides having foals. It was mares that had saved him from his infection when he was born, after all. Perhaps that's what the fillies spent their days learning instead of training like the colts. So maybe she did know what to do. For once he kept quiet, though his expression remained indignant.
But quickly her tone changed, and it took him by surprise. He drew his head back, confusion mixing with his petulance. His ears lay flat. How dare she speak to him that way, and say such things to him. He, the son of a Lady, and she not only a mare but a slave. Sure, he was used to older broods responding so nastily to his sass, but never had a mare - no, a filly - so close to his age spoken to him in such a way. "It would be a waste," he snapped back, his voice a stage whisper. "Because unlike you I am a valuable member of this herd." The last words were obviously those of someone else, spoken to young colts to motivate them. They were taken to heart, and parroted back now not only as an insult but as a confirmation of his strong beliefs. He didn't need a mare to remind him of that.
"And that's why I will allow you to take me to this spot of yours," he looked away. He was not admitting she was right, but he couldn't ignore the rain that had finally soaked through his fur. The droplets were weaving along his skin like a bunch of tiny parasites, adding tactile discomfort to everything else. The chill that he'd felt on the outside was beginning to sink to his insides, and he was becoming too exhausted even to argue. Still not looking at her, Tobias braced his front legs. His knees wobbled, and he paused, face flushing. He must seem so weak. This was why he hadn't wanted anyone coming to help him. Gritting his teeth and using his anger to fuel himself, he quickly stood up the rest of the way. Still looking away from Elowen the colt took a deep breath, gathering himself. Lying down had masked how much his muscles ached.
He turned back on the mare, hoping to use her to take his mind off of the discomfort. "Well, are we going or not?" Starting in the direction she had motioned, Tobias walked slowly forward. He really had no idea where he was going, but he knew Elowen would easily catch up and lead him there. It just had to seem like his idea.
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