like toy soldiers [vel/rayne]

[L Y N X !]

« Aithne marched into Fuoco, sides heaving from her long run back from Liberta. And she was pissed. Oh so totally pissed. Nina had to come along and almost ruin everything she had worked for. And now she was probably going to squeal on her to Aiden. But she needed more time, and she wasn't going to let a outsider come along and take everything from her. "Annoying runty bitch!" the Zuden snarled angrily to herself, snorting out smoke from her nostrils. She slowed her pace, legs aching and wounds throbbing. She was tired of walking around. She was about ready to collapse, but she held herself upright, crown raised defiantly against the pain in her bodice. "Aiden! God, Aiden, get the fuck over here!" she yelled, fire flaring slightly under her hooves. She gazed around for sight or sound of the Lord. Maybe she shouldn't of yelled for him like that, but she was too angry to care. She needed Nina out of here, and she wanted it done now. "AIDEN!"

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Aithne

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[Vel]

Aiden.

The Fire Lord had been contently grazing on some charred foliage when he heard his name being called out. His maw turned to a grimace. What was it now? He could tell that it was Aithne's vocals. His expression then turned to a scowl as she sounded like she really had something to say.

The stag lifted his crown and broke into a lazy jog, making his way to Aithne, who was sounding more and more frantic. Maybe this was something important. His auds perked a bit, finally leaving his skull. Was it possible that she had actually found something out on her spy mission? Or was she here to tell him that that filthy creature he had spying for them had tried something and it was time for Aiden to do away with her?

Aiden halted several strides away from the mare, a curious expression on her face. "Quiet down now!" he said. He really was not in the mood for horses yelling at the moment. "Now what is it?" he asked calmly.

[Rayne]

She gave away the secrets of her past,
a voice that told her when and where to act
She's lost control again,
& this time she's not coming back..

The distant outline of Nina's strawberry roan coat could be seen approaching from shadows of the woods. She still had random bits of crimson stains on her coat from the bloodshed of the battle, just thirty minutes or so from this. Her hooves still glowed a dim shade of red, signifying that they were still rather heated--and so was the mare's temper.
Her expression changed rather quickly, flowing with disgust as Aithne came into vision. She was practically crying bloody murder, and by the looks of her heaving sides, she'd sprinted here from Liberta liken the world was caving in on itself. However, Nina didn't need to examine the situation further to realize that she was probably going to cry 'wolf' in her direction.
Crimson orbs narrowed as she drew closer, keeping herself out of the wind's way so that her scent wouldn't be blown towards them, possibly foiling the surprise entrance she was planning. The fire-like markings on her legs glowed with a dark red hue, small bits of embers and flames dancing about them, circling her pillars like an orbit.
"What's the matter, traitor? Shouldn't you be back in Liberta, making sure your dear little Lassan isn't singed too badly?" she hissed, her tone echoing from a few feet behind Aithne. Nostrils flared violently, soot-like smoke flowing out with bits of glowing embers. Oh, how she wanted to have a second shot at Aithne at this moment, but she knew it wouldn't be a smart move before Aiden. Specially not if he were to believe the other mare. After all--she'd been with them longer, why would he believe the new Zunden who'd appeared to want to protect the dirty-blooded one?

|| Nina
|| Grrreat Muse <3
|| See you in hell - Aiden

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[L Y N X !]

sometimes i can't hold on, and no one can help me !

» Aithne was relieved to see Aiden trotting towards her, but annoyance pricked at her hide to see that he wasn't in a hurry. She had to remember that if there was ever a emergency, not to call for him, because it would be too late out of his lazyness. She opened her maw to speak, but she heard the leering voice of Nina behind her. She whipped her head around, baring her ivories angrily. "How dare you accuse me of being a traiter, newbie!

[/color]" she snarled, sparks flaring as she whipped her banner. Honestly, Aithne would give Nina a medal if she could for loyalty to her breed, if she wasn't getting in her way. So, of course she had to be grumpy. Who wouldn't when things didn't go your way? Her cat-like eyes shifted back to Aiden. "Your little Nina here almost blew my cover. We went to Liberta to get Lassan to think we were on his side, and she," Aithne tossed her head towards the mare behind her, venom dripping off her voice in the mention of her, "lost her stupid little temper and almost burned the crap out of that fucking peasent! I had to save his ass from her, otherwise he would never trust me, and would send word to those fucking ravens to his fucking allies and the whole thing would crumble![/color]" Her nostrils flared, her mane beginning to set on blue fire again, but she managed to rein in her temper for a fraction of a second until she remembered that Nina was right there. She turned her head around to glare at her. "Giuro su Dio che brucerà la merda fuori di voi e taglio la gola se avere il mio modo di nuovo![/color]" she threatened, before turning back to Aiden, fuming.
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[Vel]

Aiden.

The stag turned his head as he heard Nina's voice. What the hell was she talking about? Lassan. Ah that was the leader of one of the light herds. The same herd he had sent Nina, Shadow, and Aithne to. What had happened. Aiden really wanted to roll his orbs but didn't because this actually seemed serious.

Aiden stood up a bit straighter and took on his 'leader' look, now that he knew this was a very serious matter. "Quiet Nina." he snapped at the new mare. He then looked at Aithne, waiting for her to say what she had to say.

The Fire Lord was actually calm for once as he listened to Aithne's furious words. The stag's maroon optics drifted over to Nina as aithne started yelling in the Zunden's native language. Of course Aiden was going to believe Aithne, she had been in his herd much, much long.

"Nina!" he barked, striding over to the mare. "What happened." he demanded of her, ready to here her side of the story. From what this sounded like he was going to have to punish Nina in some way.

OOC! sorry this is crap... vel is museless

[Rayne]

No regrets, I'm blessed to say
The old me's d e a d & g o n e away.

Nina's audits flattened against her head even more as she watched Ainthe make her side of the story seem much more loyal than it had intended to be. She cocked her head lightly as the sounds of a differen't language caught her attention--one that she hardly knew anything about, and in a threatening tone, on top of that.
"Uh..okay then, if you're going to speak bitch, at least say it in a language I can understand," she hissed, lowering her head in a lurched manner before turning her attention to Aiden. She flared her nostrils yet again, annoyance clouding her otherwise already-angry expression. It all seemed to be going exactly how she'd expected it to, which was going to be detrimental for her.

"We went to Terra Di Liberta, though all the while we were talking. The dirty-blooded one didn't have any intentions of coming back and Aithne shared a much different side of the story with us. She works for them. You think she's spying on them for you? You've got it all wrong, she's a double agent. She's really spying for Lassan and the other 'normal' horses. And she said so herself, to us, and the stag when we finally met him."
She said, toning down on the hiss that she wanted to emitt so badly, but right now wasn't the time. If she was going to make Aiden believe her even one ounce, she had to sound calmer--less eager to fight.
However, despite how she'd managed to tame her expressions, her hooves--and eyes--still burned brightly. The change in her physique was remarkable. Prior to the fight between the two, she'd looked most like a half breed. However, everything was different now--right down to the core of her personality.

"He kept insulting us, and since I knew what was really going on, did you really think I was going to hold back from burning him to a crisp? She saved his life. It was two Zunden on one, with no horses around--except the other mare--for a good mile or two. He would have died and nobody would have heard about it for weeks if he turned to ashes."
The crimson tassels of her banner swished calmly behind her, adding to the truthfulness that the mare was emitting. However, it probably wouldn't help her any..

|| Nina
|| Dead & Gone - T.I.
|| So-so muse, but `cause I just woke up xDD (3:21 pm)

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[L Y N X !]

sometimes i can't hold on, and no one can help me !

» I accidently messed up here...ignore this post LOL

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[Vel]

Aiden.

The Fire Lord listened very intently at what Nina had to say. Aiden gave her an odd look when she said that she did not understand what Aithne was saying. All Zunden knew their native language, right? Aiden then figured that a lot of the Zunden in his herd had been living alone, without anyone to learn their language from. It was quite sad really.

Nina had been saying that Aithne was a double agent. This just cause Aiden to become more angry. Aithne would never do that! She was one of Aiden's most trusted herd members, since she had the job of spying on other herds. Aiden figured that she was telling them that she would work for them, only to earn their trust faster. It seemed like a brilliant idea to him.

"Shut up Nina." he said darkly after she was done talking. He kept a stoney gaze on her as he moved closer to the mare. "Now, I suggest that you go find that disgusting creature that was brought with you to Liberta." he said in a quiet, angry tone. "NOW!" Aiden wanted to take his anger out on someone, but the Zunden breed were too valuable to harm. So his second choice was that pathetic excuse of life, Shadow.

[Rayne]

It's like the darkness is light;
Am I scaring you tonight?..

Nina maintained her composure, trying to pull through the situation without making a snap at Aithne. The time wasn't right to give any sassy remarks--Aiden wasn't in a good mood, and Aithne obviously wanted to rip her throat out. He didn't believe her--not even slightly. Oh well.. if he was going to dim enough to not even give her some kind of second thought, he deserved to be the victim in this double agent scenario. Crimson orbs narrowed at the thoughts, which were rushing through her head. No, she couldn't think like that. They were Zunden, and whether she liked it or not--she couldn't just let the entire herd falter due to one defying mare. She'd have to deal with Aithne later..when Aiden was out of sight. Perhaps in the light lands. Haha, yes. Back in the light lands--she could only imagine Lassan's face if they should meet again. She'd probably be receiving the evil-eye all through the encounter.
Her ears flattened back again softly as she was ordered to be quiet. Truth was, she wanted to do just the opposite--she wanted to talk his head off so much that he'd be practically forced to give it some sort of deeper thought. However, she wasn't going to risk her hide for that, it'd become evident later anyways--that is, she hoped.
"Alright.." she said, her tone growing softer than her previous state of assertiveness. She nodded subtly and turned on her heels swiftly, starting to head in the direction which Liberta lay--or at least, where she thought Shadow was. However, a sudden chilling drop in temperature led her to an abrupt stop.. The mare stood, almost frozen--eats pricked curiously as her orbs gazed over the area--there was something.. off. Very, very off..
It didn't take too long before the scent of death and rotting flesh came rolling along as well, lingering along past the nostrils of the three horses which populated the small area. Even the fires seemed to dim slightly, supressed under the reaper's cloak of mortality. Whispers--far too many to count, and far too faint to legibly understand--echoed past their audits, sometimes going missing altogether, and returning only a few seconds later.
"Looking for someone, Aiden?.." Shadow whispered, her tone soft, yet dripping with a low hiss. She stood only a few feet behind the stallion--that is, if she stood there for a second. Not mere moments later, the painted mare faded off into the breeze once again, ashes streaking across the ground where she'd stood--the marks of her hooves clearly visible in them.
Nina had now turned around, having seen Shadow appear and disappear almost like a magic trick. Crimson orbs stood wide, pupils dilated as if she'd seen a ghost in action. It didn't take too long before everything seemed to crash in on her thoughts from different angles, and the realizations from the past seemed to dawn upon her now--Shadow had never been a normal horse. But..what the hell was she?

|| Shadow Dancer & Nina
|| hehehe..
|| Disturbia - Rihanna

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[L Y N X !]

sometimes i can't hold on, and no one can help me !

» Aithne allowed herself to smile grimly at her victory, but she couldn't hold onto it long before it vanished. It was probably insanely frustrating for Nina to not have Aiden believe her. Aithne would be, but in her case, if he didn't, the conciquences would be deadly. Her yellow gaze followed after the other mare as she left, looking for Shadow. A sense of dread washed over her. What would happen to Shadow? She had come to like her in the short time she had known her, even though she was pretty close to wanting to kill her the first time she saw her. She thought she would be the threat. Turns out, it was Nina. She watched as the other mare froze, and Aithne seemed to stiffen as well. She almost retched at the smell of dead and rotting flesh, eyes watering. She blinked several times, trying to clear her blurry vision, mane blowing in her face from the wind that had a slight chill to it. She became confused as she heard whispering all around her, and looked around, still blind from the tears clouding her eyes from the rancid stentch. Aithne's ears flicked as she heard Shadow's voice, and cleared her eyes just in time to see her vanish in a flurry of ash. She gaped, her eyes wide in astonishment, and a tiny bit of fear. What the fuck? "Shadow...?

[/color]" That was freaky. Where the hell was she? What the hell was she? Her head whipped around, searching for any other sign or appearance of the ghostly mare.
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[Vel]

Aiden.

The Fire Lord kept shifting his eyes between Nina and Aithne. Obviously one of them had to be telling the truth. But who to trust? Aithne was of course his first choice. He had known her much longer and was trusting her right now with a very important mission. So far she had not shown any disloyalty to him or the herd. She did have a kinder disposition than most Zunden though. It was almost like she felt soemthing for those dirtybloods.

Then there was Nina. Aiden took a liking to her the moment he met her. He had also put her in an important mission. She too had not shown any disloyalty or double crossing either. In the Zunden world, seniority ruled. Aithne was the most logical choice to trust. Aiden could only think that Nina was jealous for some strange reason.

Aiden was about to walk off and leave Nina to go fetch Shadow when he heard a voice behind him. What the hell? His orbs grew. The voice sounded an awful lot like Shadow's. The stag whipped around only to see her for a brief second. His mouth hung open and he shook his crown. What. The. Hell?

Aiden turned back around to see that the two mares had the same expression on their faces as well. He was a bir relieved that he wasn't going mad or soemthing like that. He enjoyed his sanity. Well it was only sanity to the Zunden breed. Any other horse who looked at him would think him to be insane.

"What the hell was that?" he asked in a loud voice. "You two, go find her. Now!" he bellowed as he began to look around. "I will look near the east border of the land." he told them, waiting for each of them to respond.

[Rayne]

Nina's ears pricked as soon as the stallion's startled bellow reached her audits, soon followed by an order to find her. Find her? They had been going to find her. But she'd found them instead.. A troubled expression washed over her face as she quickly nodded to the stallion, trying to dull the awkwardness of it all so that it would hopefully seem less freaky. However, she couldn't just turn and head off to go look for whatever Shadow had become. She could disappear and fade off once again like some sort of ghost--searching for such a thing, even in the homeland of the Zunden, was hopeless. Hunting down the mare right now was as tangible as chasing down a rainbow.
She'd have to go find her later on in the day though, just to clear this all up and ask her what exactly had happened..
"I don't think we have to look for her, she's pretty much found us instead.." She said, a tone of uncertainty winding its way through her words as crimson orbs ran their gaze around the area where the three stood, almost as if waiting for her to make a second appearance.

And surely enough, Shadow didn't falter to fade back into the confusion-filled scene. The scent of death and rotting flesh had now been reduced to a bare minimum, but the feeling and aura of it all was still very much alive in the area--the feeling that could chill most horses to the bone with uneasyness.
The ebony and ivory-stained coat of the mare became fully visible once again, standing no more than ten feet or so from Aiden's side.
A devious smirk tugged at the tips of the vixen's velveteen kissers, a ring of glowing neon green decorating the outer edge of her pupil as she ran her gaze over the three horses. Her gaze seemed to harden, fueling with hate as she went along. She hardly bore hate towards Aithne, if any at all--so her gaze was just aknowleding in her direction. However, her orbs seemed to narrow as she turned her attention to Nina, and finally spilling with venom as her eyes finally locked on the Fire Lord's.
"So, why exactly were you looking for me, Aiden?" She asked, her voice had lost its timid edge for the time being. In any other situation, she would have hung on to the kindness that she was all too familiar with. However, she wouldn't do that any longer--no, at least not when Aiden was in the picture. The thought of the bastard alone still managed to leave a sour taste in her mouth, and she wouldn't let him get away with that without leaving him with a pleasant way to remember her.
She couldn't bring herself to deny the hate that had grown for the dark stag, despite the fact that it'd been her error to carelessly wander into his terra.

|| Shadow Dancer & Nina

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[L Y N X !]

Honey, if you stay, you'll be forgiven..[/font]

» Aithne blinked at Aiden, who seemed just as confused as she and Nina were; he made no heisitation to try and send them out to find her. The Zuden heisitated, looking around her unsurely. She had no idea where to begin to search for something...invisible. And honestly, she didn't want to see Shadow anymore, to figure out what she was. But Aithne had to obey Aiden. "Yessir,

[/color]" she murmured, beginning to turn away, and then the chilly presence was back again, along with the ranchid smell. She whipped her head around to see Shadow standing there again, giving each horse a look in turn. Aithne nodded shortly back to her, glancing at Aiden, seeing if he had noticed. But it seemed as if all eyes were on the mare, so she quickly dropped her concern. So, she turned to pay attention to the Fire Lord and Shadow.
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Nothing you can say can stop me from going home.

[Vel]

Aiden.

Aiden whirled around as he heard Shadow's vocals pierce the warm air. What. The. Hell? Aiden's expression turned to a confused anger as he saw the mare standing there, staring at him. "Where the hell did you come from?!" he asked, still in a little bit of shock. He could still hear the timidness in her voice, but there was something else there, almost a bit of defiance.

Aiden narrowed his optics and took a couple steps closer to the mare. "Why was I looking for you?" he repeated, still recovering from the initial shock of her sudden appearance. "I was looking for you, mare, because I heard you fled, or soemthing of the sort. I would like to hear what you have to say." he told her, the volume of his voice increasing with every word. "After all," he continued "You are part of this herd, no matter how low."

Aiden continued to walk closer to Shadow, a malicious look now replacing his previously confused one. "You just better thank your lucky stars that I don't take care of you right now." he said in a low voice. A smirk crept it's way up onto his maw at the thought of burning the poor mare. It would probably just be easier to rid the world of her, but she was needed. She was of some importance to his herd. And for now, he was going to try and think the whole thing of her appearing out of thin air to be his mind playing tricks on him.

[Rayne]

Wicked little girls; kiss the boys & make them cry..

The painted mare's rather gloomy eyes seemed to brighten up slightly, the lime green highlights giving off an eerie glow in the shadows of the ash-stricken terra. A simple smirk lay on her maw, adorning her expression with a hint of the malice that now lurked beneath the surface. Having found her true identity, she no longer showed signs of the painfully obvious fear that she'd exhibited when the fire lord has first crossed her path, not more than a day or so ago. She kept her lips sealed as he questioned where she'd come from--haha, wouldn't he like to know..

However, her attention was soon grasped once more as he asked what she had to say, specifically why she'd fled. Her orbs lifted from the stallion's bodice, wandering over to Nina and Ainthe, who seemed to share a mutual dislike for each other now. She figured she still remained neutral between the two..
"Yes, I fled..there was a bit of a scandal back in Terra Delle Liberta. Quite a big one at that."

[/color] She said, uttering the last words in a low, yet audible, mutter. Her ears pricked up once again as he continued to speak, this time causing an alerted reaction to take hold of the mare's expressions. Had he just threatened her? The mare's ears pricked up alertedly, eyes narrowing slightly as she watched the smirk spread across the stallion's maw. What was he doing?

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, `captain." She hissed, receding a step or two to once again widen the distance between them. He sure was a nasty little fellow, but as much as that might have confused her prior to the shananigans of the past few days..she had a new undertow behind her actions. She wanted to test him, test his anger..and though that was as foolish as an equine could get, instincts bid her to follow them. What could he do? Well, quite a lot. But as long as she could disappear into the wind..it'd be quite the challenge.

|| Shadow Dancer[/blockquote][/size][/font]