Hear Their Voices [herd meeting]

[sibber-chow]

Orpheus had fallen into his father's footsteps yet again. He had left Inferno to suffer the blistering heat and drought of the summer alone. He had left his spawn and his mares to the fate of the elementals even. And, while he had never wished to be like Hannibal, he no longer denied the fact that he had become just that. He was just as quick to go off the hook in rage even to the ones he loved and just as neglectful to his mares and children. Whatever good Cheza had done with the stallion was long gone now.

His large hooves crunched the fallen autumn leaves with their own ferocity. Every portion of him, every muscle and fiber of his being was tense and full of rage. He was mad mostly at himself, but that didn't necessarily mean he wouldn't take the anger out on anyone to step in his path.

And, that next one to cross his trail was his most treasured spawn, Yamanu. The large painted palomino’s icy gaze lit up momentarily – he was delighted to see that his son had survived his negligence. Still that very happiness caused rage and disappointment in himself to resurface. It was most tragic and terrible to have to be delighted that his son was alive. He should have been around to make sure that the child was safe. Child, that he was no longer. The colt had grown so much since Orpheus had seen him last.

Yamanu was now three years of age and quite the handsome stallion. His eyes were every bit as cold as his father’s, yet there was a speck of empathy for the world that barely ever surfaced in Orpheus’s being. “Father, I was beginning to wonder if I would ever see you again.”

The words were harsh to the stallion who was already admonishing himself internally. However, the rage that normally would have rebuked a comment like that turned into a dry laughter a gentle chiding, “You’d be wise to watch your words young one.”

“I only speak the truth,” Yamanu dared reproach with the same dry vocals.

“I have other matters to attend to, you ungrateful-“ Orpheus growled out in defensive rage, although cutting himself off when he heard the sound of crunching leaves behind him.

Yamanu had heard the leaves too but wasn’t fazed. “Oh, my mistake – I’m sure whatever you were attending to was much more important than whether or not your family survived the drought and blistering heat.”

Orpheus shot his son a deathly glare before turning towards the noise. “Come out and show yourself, and I might not kill you on spot.”

“I don’t believe you will want to kill me at all, Orpheus,” a voice called out. Moments later the silhouette of another stallion emerged from the shadows. There was a black feathered creature perched upon the painted stallion’s withers.

Orpheus’s gaze narrowed intently on the stallion and his feathered companion. The wind did not even have to speak to inform him of where this equine came. He was a Rocas stag. At first, Orpheus assumed he was here to try and finish the fight Anil had begun so long ago in Ex’s defense, but the wind soon told him differently. As a gentle gale trailed across the foreign stallion’s back, ruffling his feathered friend’s feathers, a light chuckle came from his lips. “Ah, so, the stories of your Era bloodlines are no farce.”

This caused a curt smirk to cross Orpheus’s lips momentarily. “So, Bullet, I take it you and your traitorous bird seek refuge in my territory since you lost the claim to your lands to a filly? Or, what, are you going to try and challenge me? Hm?”

Bullet sneered at Orpheus before shaking his head in slight annoyance. “If I had come to pick a fight, we wouldn’t be talking right now. The way I see it, you need more stallions to build your herd’s power, and I need a force to eventually take back Rocas. We both have something to gain here. What do you say?”

“You may reside in my lands and live under my rules, but I will make no guarantees on this Rocas battle you so badly want. I have much more on my plate than to worry about your petty issues.” This statement caused Yamanu to give an amused snort which was followed by another vicious glare from his father. Bullet, suffice to say, was pleased enough with the painted palomino’s answer for he never left or spoke another words. He had a feeling Orpheus would eventually come around – he was a power hungry mongrel, after all.

Orpheus called out upon the wind to carry his bugle across the lands. It was time to call in the herd and see who had survived the harsh season if any.

[.r e e d.]

Ecstacy

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{ But God knows you're built for sin.
You're built for sin! }

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[/size] The small mare had stayed in the shadows for so long, trying to get away from the nightmare that had gave her the hellish child that always stayed at her side. She turned and flicked her ears to her oldest child, who was standing closely to her. "He's back, Mother." The small voice came from the Nyfrio offspring. Ecstacy snarled, her icy blue eyes turning dark. "I heard. That must be why your sister has been acting so differently." She turned to look at her oldest daughter. "I've noticed." Annabelle looked at her mother. The older mare looked away immediately. "Let's just go and see what the hell he wants before he kills me." She growled, and set off to go meet the stallion. Annabelle shook her delicate head but hurried to catch up with her mother.

"Yamanu!" Annabelle called to the younger painted stallion. She hurried and nuzzled him. "I haven't seen you in forever." She stated quietly before turning her blue gaze to the other two stags. The younger mare lowered her gaze quickly, but her mother just stood quietly, her icy blue gaze holding on Orpheus. "I see you've returned. Your child has been waiting on you." She nodded to the youngest filly at the side. "But I'm guessing you already knew that." Her voice was cold. She showed no respect to that hellish stallion. Not a bit. He didn't even deserve it. Annabelle, however, shuffled her hooves quietly and looked away like she hadn't heard a word that her mother had just said. She didn't want to face the wrath of the Era. "Mother, maybe you should--" But Annabelle stopped as soon as she saw her dam's cold, hate-filled gaze. She knew better than to go against her wishes.



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Annabelle

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Muse`Pretty good, but not very much for this post.
MUSE ic` Playlist
Notes` Annabelle still likes Yamanu XD And your still roleplaying their filly right?
Lyrics` Built for Sin by Framing Hanley
Character`Ecstacy && Annabelle[/b][/color]

[sibber-chow]

Orpheus curled his lip as he saw Ex and her daughters approaching. The stallion held no contempt for the fillies, but Ecstasy, well, she was a different story entirely. Bullet’s own dome turned to face the approaching trio. Yamanu was the only one of the three that did not turn his attention on the girls that was until Annabelle bolted up to him.

The now grown stallion glanced to his childhood companion with the same placid eyes he had carried for his father. The colt tried to be neither harsher nor kinder than he really was by nature. And as she nuzzled him there was an uncertainty that betrayed him momentarily. Yamanu was definitely far more empathetic and mild-mannered than his father, but he wasn’t an openly affectionate creature either. So, rather than return the nuzzle he merely tapped the mare’s cheek with his velvety maw in that reassuring manner he had always used as a foal to her and Haize. “Yes, it has been a while, Annabelle.”

Yamanu’s attention averted towards the newcomer whose gaze was steadily on the young Annabelle. Orpheus’s son stepped forward casually, his body shielding sight of the young mare. Despite his new lack of open emotion, he was every bit as protective of her as he had been when they were young.

Orpheus snapped at Ex threateningly, although never making contact with her flesh, before glancing towards his youngest child. The filly was still young, not yet a year of age, and quite the pretty little creature. Yet, there was a darkness in Desdemona, a coldness that was all too similar to the large stag that stood before her. The child approached her father in silence, eyes surveying him with interest. She obviously knew he was her sire, there could be no doubt in the matter. The small filly stood firmly in place as Orpheus lowered his crown to nuzzle the young one gently. The display of affection from his father made Yamanu visibly uneasy. The young stallion shuffled in place momentarily before turning away from the scene and walking off a few meters into the woods.

Orpheus paid no mind to his son’s departure though. He had merely called his herd to see who had survived the harsh season. “Ecstasy, have you seen any others lately?” He murmured, eyes never leaving sight of his newest child who was now busy chasing and tormenting a toad.

[.r e e d.]

Ecstacy

[/font][/right]

{ But God knows you're built for sin.
You're built for sin! }

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[/size] Ex's cold gaze settled on Orpheus, and she merely gave a low growl as he snapped at her. "I don't know. I could care less about their sorry asses," The small mare paused to look at her youngest filly. A mixed look of disgust, hate, love and sadness washed over her face as she continued. "Take your hell child. I'm done raising Desdemona." Ex's blue eyes rose to Orpheus. "She's always stayed by my side but I know that she's connected, somehow, to you." A look of disgust settled on her maw. "Take her." Her gaze hardened.

The younger mare was shocked at Yamanu's response. She flicked her ears nervously as she watched him go. Her soft blue eyes turned back to gaze at Orpheus before turning and following her childhood friend.

"What's happened to you?" The young mare stood there quietly, watching the colt she used to know. She took a step towards him cautiously, still at a distance. "Your not the same..." She told him softly, before looking down. But she looked up quickly, her blue gaze sad. "I missed you.." She whispered softly. Annabelle wanted with every inch of her body to step forward and nuzzle him, but she stayed at a distance, almost afraid to touch him again. He had changed.

The striped filly flicked her ears nervously, waiting to see what his reaction would be.

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Annabelle

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Muse`Pretty goodthis post.
MUSE ic` Playlist
Notes` ---
Lyrics` Built for Sin by Framing Hanley
Character`Ecstacy && Annabelle[/b][/color]

[sibber-chow]

A dry laugh slipped out of the stallion’s mouth as Ex spoke. The young one did have a connection with him, although he was not certain of the connection’s origin either. “That is fine by me; I’d hate my young to be raised by a bitch like you any longer.” His cold gaze rested upon his foal’s dam momentarily. “I’m disappointed that you didn’t make a better brood, you know. You might have actually had a chance to become a member of this herd rather than a slave.” The stallion glanced towards where Annabelle had once stood. She was still in sight as he spoke, “fortunately, your eldest daughter is smart enough to know her place. She won’t be condemned to the same fate as you, wench.”

The large leader began to walk past the group and into the woods. “I am going to scout and see if I can find any more survivors of the herd. Don’t stray too far…” he hissed out. His young daughter glanced up from stomping mercilessly on her newest play thing. Without a second thought, the young filly bound of after her father.

Bullet watched as the filly seemed so full of energy and playfulness in the presence of her father. The innocent way in which she chased after him reminded him all too much of his sister’s antic. He sneered in disgust before his eyes quietly fell upon Ecstasy. “Hm, he seems just lovely,” he mutter in dry sarcasm before lowering his head to graze upon the dry grasses. The raven on his back squawked in chiding of his companions words. He knew Orpheus had an ear on the wind right now.

Yamanu’s ears twitched as his childhood friend spoke. He seemed unfazed by her words and really he wasn’t certain how he felt about what she had said. There was a deep part of Yamanu that cared. He was a gentle being that would not harm anyone unprovoked. And, yet, there was a calm distance between him and everything around him. “I have missed you too,” he admitted, “but I am the way I am, Annabelle. I’m not going to lie to you and say that I can show you an affectionate being – at the same time, I’m not a violent or bitter creature either.” The stallion quietly approached his friend, resting his muzzle on her cheek again. “But, know that I do care about you.”

[.r e e d.]

Ecstacy

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{ But God knows you're built for sin.
You're built for sin! }

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[/size] Orpheus's words made her smirk. "Your lucky I didn't kill her." She laughed before walking off. She stopped and turned to Bullet with a grin on her maw. "I just piss him off, Young One." The older mare chuckled and began to walk again. She finally stopped a ways off and started grazing quietly, unfazed by Orpheus.

"You know I care about you, too." Annabelle nudged his cheek softly in return. Her maw lingered for a second longer before she looked to the earth. "But I do believe there's still some of the old Yamanu in there." The young mare brought her gaze back up. She nuzzled him softly.


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Annabelle

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Muse`Good.
MUSE ic` Playlist
Notes` Gah. Stupid post. I couldn't find the right words for Annabelle.
Lyrics` Built for Sin by Framing Hanley
Character`Ecstacy && Annabelle[/b][/color]

[L Y N X !]

Mink !

» Ever since big-old Orpheus took Annabelle home, Mink had been curious as to where they lived, and if life back at home was as bad as the little filly had said. So, Mink eventually decided to follow the old scent trail back to Inferno, and here she was. She stood a little back in the treeline, so the other horses wouldn't see her unless they looked hard enough. But they all seemed distracted, so she was safe. She listened to what they were saying for a while, ears flicking. Huh. This herd was quite entertaining, actually, with their little dramas. As long as Mink wasn't involved in them, she didn't really care. The mare easily picked out little Annabelle out of them, and she was talking to a white stallion, and seemed to be hitting it off. Mink smirked, giving a soft snort. Little Anna was growing up.

» The painted mare's eyes turned and soon fell on Orpheus and another mare, who apparently was Annabelle's mother, and mother of the other little filly running around. The mare didn't seem to care about what she said to the stallion, and it clearly pissed him off a bit. She snickered a bit. You go, girl, she thought, giving her short mane a bit of a shake, the black-and-white strands tickling along her neck. It was always fun to annoy other horses, and better yet, not get punished for it. She automaticly liked this mare. Mink then studied Orpheus. He was beginning to walk away from the group, and she heard him say something about trying to find the other members. The mare shrugged her shoulders to herself and stayed where she was, leaning against a tree and watching him, not caring if he found her.

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ooc; :3
characters: Mink
muse: random iTunes

[sibber-chow]

The lead of Inferno was not the first to discover the intruding mare. Instead, it was Bullet’s raven friend, Brend. The creature had roosted himself upon the young stag’s back when a glint of color crossed his ebony gaze. Instinct drove the young bird to squawk uneasily before stumbling upon words, “eeh, ‘ose ‘at?” Bullet turned his head towards his feathered companion. He gave a quiet snort, ruffling the creature’s feathers.

“Brend, you must learn to be less skittish, but that is a good question,” he mused softly to the bird. The painted creature went to approach the mare but was cut off his path by Orpheus – who would not have even noted the mare for quite some time had it not been for the bird’s nervous screech in the wind. She had not been distinguished as a threat by the elements until the bird’s anxiety.

Orpheus recognized the mare immediately. Rolling his eyes as he saw her, the stallion hissed out, “what are you doing here?”Bullet, his bird, and young Desdemona all watched Mink and Orpheus’s exchange with intrigue. They were not sure how the two knew each other, but it was obvious they weren’t exactly friends.

Yamanu seemed oblivious to the bird’s commotion and the new mare as he listened to Annabelle. “I won’t deny that I have changed,” he acknowledged. And, as she nuzzled him, the stallion was not as stiff as he had been before. “But, please do not try and change me back,” he whispered with a sad tone from memories long past, “that is the folly my mother made.” It was true, Cheza never would have met her demise by the Inferno wolves had she not tried to change Orpheus. And, although, Orpheus was not to blame for her death, a part of Yamanu did fault him.

He became suddenly aware that his father was back in the area, and his attention promptly turned to the new mare that was causing such uproar. The stallion glanced to Mink for a moment before looking back towards Annabelle. The wind had informed him hastily of their encounter outside of Inferno and a quiet frown perched his kissers. Annabelle was the reason Mink was here, but Yamanu knew that she would not be leaving Inferno anytime soon.

[.r e e d.]

Ecstacy

[/font][/right]

{ But God knows you're built for sin.
You're built for sin! }

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[/size] "I'd never do anything against your wishes, Yamanu." Annabelle replied softly before turning to see Mink here. Her ears drew forward curiously and she turned back to Yamanu with wide eyes. "Mink?" The young mare sounded truly shocked to see the older filly here.

Her blue eyes turned to Orpheus. A grim line formed on her maw. Mink didn't know what she had gotten herself into. "No.. Mink.." Annabelle looked down, sighing hard. She looked back over to Yamanu, a grim frown set on her mug.

Ecstacy, however, merely watched curiously. She observed her daughter, wondering how she knew this painted mare. Her icy blue eyes moved over her daughter, Mink and Orpheus curiously.


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Annabelle

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Muse`Good.
MUSE ic` Playlist
Notes` Better post.
Lyrics` Built for Sin by Framing Hanley
Character`Ecstacy && Annabelle[/b][/color]

[L Y N X !]

Mink !

» Mink turned her head and blinked, suddenly noticing the raven perched on one of the stallion's backs. He sounded the alarm that she was there, instead of just letting them figure out for themselves, tsk tsk. Oh well. The mare turned her head and looked at Orpheus as she spoke to her, and she couldn't help but smirk. She stopped leaning on the tree and walked forward, flicking her tail, eyebrows raised as she drew closer to the stallion. "Whats the matter, Orphy? I thought you missed me," she said, snickering and circling the large brute once before stopping infront of him, ears pricked as she gave him a sarcastic smile. Her tan eyes took a glance at all the gathered horses, and all of their eyes were trained on her. Her gaze lingered on Annabelle. She didn't look too happy that she was here. But so what? She could handle herself against the "big-bad" Orpheus. He was just a silly old stallion with a big ego.

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ooc; xD stalker maree
characters: Mink
muse: they don't care about us - michael jackson

[sibber-chow]

Orpheus’s eyes were fixed steadily on the forest as the mare paced a circle around him. A curt smirk crossed his kissers as he had half a mind to kick her with his powerful haunches, yet he restrained himself. As she halted in front of him, the stallion’s ears perked. “Oh contraire, dear, I missed you so,” he replied with thick sarcasm. Taking a casual step forward he ran his maw across her neck with a gentleness that was almost mocking before pulling back to glare into her orbs. “I missed you so much that I don’t think I will ever let you go.”

Yamanu looked away from the scene and Annabelle momentarily. However, the young stag finally looked back up. He gave his friend a glance as if to say ‘stay here.’ Everything about the stallion’s stance was calm despite the obvious tension in the air as he came up alongside his father.

“Father, let her go,” he murmured quietly. Orpheus shot his son a rather reprimanding glare but had time to say nothing before Yamanu continued, “She isn’t fit for our herd. We need the strongest and most loyal – not another resentful slave. Let the pathetic thing leave.” Yamanu’s words were spoken with his normal placidity despite the harsh connotations. And, he had not truly meant any insult to the mare, for the facts were there. Another indignant captive would do nothing towards creating a loyal army.

Orpheus snorted at his son’s remark before shaking his crown and tossing a vicious smirk towards the mare. “She doesn’t have to be a slave if she cooperates, son. It is her choice.”


“Choice or ultimatum?” Orpheus glared at his son in threat. Yamanu shrugged his withers slightly before backing off and walking to the side of Annabelle. He knew it was his father’s herd and choice ultimately, but he had tried (mostly for Annabelle’s sake.)

Bullet shifted his weight slightly as he watched the interaction between Orpheus and his son. The two were so different and yet so similar in many ways. His gaze eventually fell back upon Mink with a hint of curiosity. He had no real care whether she cooperated or not. He was neither as chivalrous as Yamanu to care to speak up nor as cruel as Orpheus to force her to stay.

As for Desdemona, she had lost all interest in the mare. Instead, her gaze was cast upon her next prey - a small lizard climbing a small rock. She bounded off after the creature with intent on squishing the poor soul as she had the toad before him.

[.r e e d.]

Ecstacy

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{ I'll keep on fighting and fighting for you
I swear I would give you the sun and the moon
If you just remember the promise you made. }

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[/size] The young mare watched Yamanu closely, her blue eyes wide. She figured Mink would be insulted by all this, but she did care for the mare's safety. "Mink, it's best if you go.." The filly called softly, her gaze sinking to the ground. "Don't let your life waste here..." She looked up and gazed at the painted filly. After those words, she turned and nodded a silent thank you to the stallion beside her. Her soft blue eyes remained on Yamanu for a few seconds longer before Annabelle finally let them drop back to her dark grey hooves.

"Listen to Annabelle, filly." Ex looked at the younger mare with a wicked grin on her face. "Although it's fun to piss that big bitch off over there." She motioned to Orpheus as she walked up to the group casually. The mare flicked her black and white tail lazily, shifting her weight to one of her hind legs.

The striped mare watched them curiously, but her attention soon turned to Bullet, but she rolled her cold blue eyes and turned back to Orpheus. "If you keep her," She paused to grin deviously. "it'll be like two of me." Ecstacy laughed and turned her gaze to Mink. "Oh, you might not like the fact that he'll try to rape you every chance he gets, young one." An evil grin set on her face. "You'll end up with one of those," Ex motioned to Desdemona, who was stomping a lizard. Her cold gaze bored into the hellish filly. "So I suggest you leave," She turned back to them and stared at the filly. "If you know what's good for you,"



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Annabelle

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Muse`Muse boost XD
MUSE ic` Playlist
Notes` :3
Lyrics` The Promise by Framing Hanley
Character`Ecstacy && Annabelle[/b][/color]

[L Y N X !]

Mink !

» Mink let the stallion touch her, and raised her eyebrows at Orpheus, still smirking as he said he was never going to let her go. She wasn't really concerned about the comment, because she could always find a way to leave if she wanted to. Orpheus might be busy with trying to keep the other mare in line to pay attention to her if she left.

» The painted mare's ears pricked as the white stallion began walking towards them, and spoke to Orpheus. Her eyes narrowed slightly at the young brute. Pathetic? She glared at him, her front leg stamping the ground. Who was he to judge that? Out of anger, the mare turned to Orpheus, a sickly sweet smile pulling on her maw, ignoring what Annabelle told her. "Oh, I'll stay Orphy-dear. You can count on that," she said, gaze hardening as it shifted for a second towards Yamanu, giving him a snide look.

» She was suprised when the other mare spoke, supporting a wild grin on her maw. Immediatly she struck Mink as insane. If it was this bad, then why was this mare grinning about it? One ear turned back unsurely against the painted mare, her eyes fleeting over to the small filly attacking a lizard for a few seconds. Results of bad parenting.. she told herself, trying to calm the sudden churn of uneasyness in her stomach. Well, she could handle any funny-business Orpheus might try. And if she cooperated like he said, maybe she might be able to get off of anything he might pull. She shrugged her shoulders at the older mare, before looking back at Orpheus.

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ooc; *dances*
characters: Mink
muse: the bird and the worm - the used

[sibber-chow]

Orpheus rolled his eyes as Ex and Annabelle tried to ward off the other female before she was in too deep. While, yes, he was a bit of sadistic, hot-tempered soul, neither of them would have been in this circumstance to begin with had they done as he said. What was so wrong with tyrannical rule? Nothing in Orpheus’s eyes – well, as long as he was the tyrant.

Despite his slight agitation with Ecstasy and her eldest, the smirk never faded from the painted brute’s kissers. His attention turned on Mink and her obvious frustration with Yamanu’s words. Orpheus knew his son to be of gentler heart and that he was only trying to help out his little filly friend and possibly prevent another seemingly rebellious mare from being put in Ex’s place. However, his son’s plan seemed to have back fired – stubborn mare. He didn’t suppose it mattered, the mare would be fine as long as she learned to stay out of his way when his mood was bad and not to cross the herd.

“Fine, it is settled,” the stallion muttered before turning away from the group. The lead was growing weary of all the drama and needed desperately to get away. His mood had not been the best when he called this meeting and was steadily getting worse as it continued. Desdemona followed behind him, having grown tired of pulverizing the little lizard.

Yamanu, too, turned from the group. There was nothing more to be said at this point, so he went back to his previous distance from the clan and began to graze. Bullet sighed as he watched the other stallions disperse. He was no more a social butterfly than they, so went about grazing in spot.