|| Don't let them see your back...!

[Storeh]

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[bg=#EE9A4D] The light footfalls of the mare had carried her past the usual whims of her wanderings, the forest no longer playing so idly off her coat, the cool brought by the shade left behind as she sought something else, a driving instinct that she knew she must obey. And so with the passing of time shared now with the being cradled deep within her. The mare knew the moment the stallion, St. Jimmy, bred to her, that she would soon be carrying another life, something she was to cherish. Sorrows was a solitary creature by default, never allowing herself to be neither tied nor roped into the coven of another without the battle or fight. Yet that was now at stake, that lifestyle had to be shed was she to bring another to this world unharmed. The edges of her ember nostrils flared, searching for scent among the hills and cascades of grass that was spread before her. The time had come for herself to find a herd, a safe one, a suitable in which she could rear her foal without worrying about what danger was lurking along the cliff's edge. The lady had never sought the help of other equine, at least not in a very long time, her pressuring conscious enough to drive her forth when nothing else sought to do so. It was a constant need to move onward, but now it was the battle to find a place to stay before it was too late. The fea knew in the bounds of her mind that this was the correct decision, the one that she would never be able to shrug off as something inconsequential. There was nothing left to be gambled, as she had done just a heartspan ago, there was no more to be toyed with, for now everything was at stake. Not just her own life, but another. Forward, she would journey, until she found what she sought in this land. She was no fool, and would not take a home on the breath of another. Stallions, she had met so many of them in her travels, most brutish creatures with minds far less than steel traps, evil creatures, though there was a general mix of them, like with all creatures. Trust was something she would not give out lightly, nor would she accept that something of pressure had been forced upon her. Sorrows turned her attention now to the task at hand, finding a herd in the sheltered reaches of the isle, somewhere safe. Grey oculars scanned the expanse before her, muscles tense and set on edge with the stirring of the mind and conscious within her. The warmth of the summer winds caressed the edgings of her flecked pelt, the sun giving grace as her nostrils flared with the telltale smells that always lay clouded in the air of the meadows. Her ears flickered, listening to the telltale sounds of equines, though the silence was only disrupted by the occasional trill of a bird. Once more she broke into a gentle motion, a rocking gait that was akin to walking in all but the sway of her bodice, listening to the rhythm of her footfalls against the earthen ware. Conscious of all the sights and sounds, the smells mingling. Waiting was she with the peppering of apprehension. A meaning lost to most in this place. Fate would sweep her away.

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[sibber-chow]

Each breath was cherished as it flooded through the large brutes nostrils, every shimmer of light and passing moment a treasure not to be forsaken. The brute had been granted a second chance at life, something only few could relate too. He'd be forever grateful to Phantom for what she had done to bring him back, although he couldn't help but wonder if the brute whose body he took would have had a chance had his soul not been pushed out. No, there was no time for such thought, he had trusted Phantom in his past life and would in this, too. She had said the bodice was sure to vacant - there wasn't a doubt in her mind, and now there was not in his.

Testing what his new Rocky Mountain body could do, the stallion broke out into a swift canter in departure from his homelands. Now that he was back, he would do everything he could and more to ensure the vitality of his herd. His elder leaders had passed in the battle, and it was upon him and Phantom to protect their fledgling, the new leader of Rocas. The first order of business was to obtain more members - Rocas current numbers were small and yet there was promise. Two of the herdmates were foals and one mare was pregnant; ah, yes, there was promise in the future of Rocas.

His large form slowed to a halt as it reached Bella Valle, and it did not require much time for him to observe an fae that was quite the sight even for a brute who'd learned to cherish everything as beauty in his past death. The stallion lowered his crown so that his massive standing would not frighten the mare. As he approached, a quiet whinny escaped his maw, his flaxen tail slapping his haunches with every passing step. "Ma'am," he respectfully acknowledged, eyes wandering to her swollen barrel. A pregnant mare - out here alone? Where was her mate? Had she been another victim of a nomadic brute. This was something Anil despised, leaving a mare to raise a foal on her own. He'd been thankful he had not gotten Phantom pregnant before his passing for that very reason. Sure, she had the Rocas herd for support, but he knew it couldn't be the same as a mate at your side. "Are you here alone? Where is your herd?" He felt it his duty to bring this mare back to her family before all else. Rocas would understand.

OOC|| He doesn't know that Phantom actually had a babeh. xP

[Storeh]

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[bg=#EE9A4D] With each of her strides, the sunlight farther plagued her fair pelting, causing a light sweat to bead the surface and dampened the fine hairs that made up her coat. The mare was aware of the heat of the day, painfully so, taking to humming a tune to herself to ease the tension and nerves that began to spread from her mind with the worrying of her unborn carried. The composure she had been holding was starting to slip slightly, grey eyes scanning the landscape as though in dire need for sheltering. She knew for certain that she could not allow herself to stay out in this sweltering weather for much longer. Ears flickered back at the pronunciation of audios, the sounds of beating hooves against the baked grasses unmistakable in the early presence of afternoon. As they approached farther, the muscles of her bodice tightened slightly, muscles becoming taunt as apprehension wafted into the channels of her mind, the sweating starting to farther multiply as she sought the presence of the other. There were many things that could go correctly with a chance encounter, there was also a million others that could go wrong, even in a land of light such as this. Then, audios beckoned to her, the tone softly coaxing, asking questions that she had prepared answers to shall she meet a stallion. However, he seemed different, a sort in itself. Her pace slowed to a halt, and she turned to grant him her attention, voice faltering slightly as she took him in. A breed unlike what she had seen, a gentleness about him that made her wish to smile. 'I have no herd, I...' Sorrows paused for a moment, casting her gaze to the ground as she swallowed at the lump in her throat. Honesty would carry you far, and at the moment there was no need or warrant for any lies. This stallion seemed capable of helping her, seemed friendly enough to offer something short of help, at least. At the very least, she should try to get an answer out of him. 'I am trying to find one...for my child and I.' She raised her muzzle back to its former stance, ears flickering forward then backward, nostrils flaring slightly as the foal chose to kick at her side, something that made her cringe but warranted no spite or other reaction. She was glad to know her passenger was doing well, if not restless from this journey. Momentarily forgetting manners in the whim of the situation, she turned her head back to her swollen stomach, nudging at it's side as though in reassurance. Sighing, she returned her gaze to the stallion before her with a sort of purpose once more about her. Did he have a herd? An idea of a herd she could belong to? She needed assistance, however waning or brief such would be.

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[sibber-chow]

The stallion remained his gentile stance as he awaited a response. Ears were eagerly rewarded with delicate vocals that could only come from a fae of such angelic beauty. The ginger was one of few equine he'd seen since his resurrection, and in case he dare take for granted the beauty of the Earth, this mare was a sweet reminder. Deep orbs were intently focused upon the fae's face as she spoke, only once drifting to view her swollen barrel as she spoke of the child brewing within.

As the heat of the sun bore down upon his chocolate coat, the stag began to shift his feet, sleek shimmers of light glistening from each dappled speck. The words that slipped from her tongue caused unease within the light brute. It was no safe place, this island, for a pregnant mare to wander alone. Rage further seethed through his veins as he thought of what demonic fiend dare leave a mare and his spawn behind to fend for themselves. With a quiet sigh, the bitter sentiments passed, for it happened far more often than he prefer to know. And, there was relief in knowledge that she was in search of a herd. It was not simply due to his herd's need for members, but for the very sake of her well-being, she was choosing the best option.

"It so happens, I know of a herd," he offered with a charming smile. His voice lowered as the next words slipped from his lips, as if he were telling her a secret that dare not slip beyond this conformation. "You see, it just so happens that I am a warrior of said herd - honestly, you couldn't be in better hands." The words would have seemed terribly cocky had the stallion not jested about in such manner afterwards. His crown went high, held at an exaggerated level of dignity, while his smile widened to become certainly cheesy. A trickle of laughter ruined his less than flawless performance as he dropped his head to a normal height. It felt good to laugh again, and he hoped she didn't find distaste in his amusement.

"In all seriousness," the brutes eyes leveled with Sorrows. "If you are to join me back to Rocas territory, I can assure I will do all I can to fend for you and your spawn." A sudden realization hit the stag, and he offered a sheepish grin. "My pardons, ma'am... my name is Anil. Might I be so bold as to ask yours?"

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[Storeh]

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[bg=#EE9A4D] There was the almost instantaneous consumption of truthful enjoyment when he spoke, when he jested with the mare, something that she had seen less of in her combined years than Sorrows herself would wish to take notice of or account. When he spoke of his calling, she turned it over in mind for a moment or two, a smile edging across her lips, something in the air of the situation that made her mindful of the production of smiles. There was an uplifting mood that made her feel so joyous, and not just because she had taken care to stumble upon something like luck. Truth, like had thus chosen to favor her in the past, but it was always a welcomed thing when it fell so into her upturned life, as though the favors had been granted by a force. There was no tracing of regret in the skies on this day, and the longer she took in these little scraps of information, the more grateful she was of all her circumstance. Misfortune, in the true sense of such a bitter word, had only passed across her once or twice when she choose to turn over such things. This, though was something of a different brand, just as this stallion was. Trust could be given so easily on a kind heart. 'My name is Our Lady of Sorrows, though please, call me whatever you may like since the entirety is quite a mouthful.' The smile that had haunted the edge of her velveteen muzzle spread considerably with this, for she wished to extend the ease she felt, for no longer did she take this stranger as one would would ever care to do her harm. A warrior, that was as it stood, to escort her to a place called Rocas. She would be safe there then, on his word, something that she was already cherishing in mind. A thousand questions that could be asked she silenced on her own breath, for the smile would do quite enough to tell Anil how she was feeling. Mindful of her passenger, she steadied herself on her feet, feeling the passing nudging of her foal with even more of a smile. 'I feel the need to go ahead with formality and thank you, for without you who knows what might become of me and my unborn.' She was grateful, and that much could be taken. There was no lingering traces of apprehension. The day with its vibrant rays continued to bear down upon the two, beading across her own pelting with the never ending splendor of sweat. She looked around for about a breath to the surroundings, mindful still that she was no out of danger quite yet, though there was never a doubt any longer that she would soon be safe. There was always that little pestering that something could occur, like the springing of a trap that would bind her permanently to a cage without her own choice. Rocas, she tasted the name once more, a place of saftey, a place of sanctuary. It was welcomed to hear that such a place existed. Such temptation neither budening nor easing. Sorrows was quieted, body and soul, and she did not think of the brute St. Jimmy any longer. Karma would travel, in time, to himself, though the time they shared was borderline magical. Forgiven and forgotten for the heavens to decide.

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[sibber-chow]

There was a delightful wonderment found in recognition that the mare had enjoyed his teasing nature, and he hoped she wouldn't too soon grow weary of the playful demeanor for it was deeply imbedded in his nature upon the moments that could bare a laugh. He did not fret too much, for when he was alive before, he had gotten along well with most horses of lighter heart - even a few of darker intent. Anil was a charmer, although not with lewd intentions as might be expected of any stallion granted such an inborn talent. Rather, he simply enjoyed life... now more than ever.

"Well, my Lady," he cooed, taking advantage of her offer to abbreviate such a lovely though curious calling, offering a low bow to the enchantress, "let us not ponder on such foul thoughts as to what may have been. Instead, might we start our journey into what is and shall become? I can guarantee my homelands shall not disappoint lest you can surely blame me!" The stallion gave a quick wink as he looked upon the mare's eyes. There was clear question evident in midst of his tone for the dappled chocolate had no plans to push the mare on travel before her and her younging-in-waiting were ready.

As he awaited her response, the stallions proud crown rose back to its first height - maintaining no threat in stature still to the delicate mare. His mind reeled with queries he might burden upon the ears of such a marvelous creature, yet his tongue remained trapped behind the flash of a charming smile. There would be plenty of time on their travels to pester the mare with his curiosity. He certainly didn't wish to scare her away so soon! In fact, he'd assure that he did all he could to maintain her happiness so that she might not be so tempted to wander. She deserved just that and more of anyone. Indeed, the fae would be a marvelous recruit to the Rocas family, and of as much importance or so he was biased to believe, a grand new friend for Anil.

[Storeh]

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[bg=#EE9A4D] The flickering specks of sunlight that resides within the edges of her vision were far from scarce, continuing to intertwine and present themselves whenever she would crane her head to her bodice, dutifully listening to the words that fell on her ears. There was not a trace of unease still yet to be found on her features, the jesting of such just elevating the stature of her liking higher. Nostrils flared slightly, with the smile true on her ashen lips, frame smoothly starting to move forth once more. Her pace was only labored slightly with the heavy swing of her child within, like a cradle sent to rocking with the gentle sway of her step. Imprinted into the back of her mind was the image of Anil rose to the full extent of his height, the pride on his frame that seemed unmatched by the loners she had examined before. The thought of St. Jimmy arose, but she dismissed it with the idle shake of her head, wondering if she had but found a stallion who was charming with heed to the future of such things. Ears flickered, recalling the temperament of the charming stag who was now to lead her to the chosen protected of sanctuary, something she could easily enjoy, even if it had not arisen quite yet. 'If you please, may you tell me more of your homeland Rocas? Sorry if my prying be taken as meddlesome.' Greyed orbs continued to inspect everything about that had presented itself, considering greatly to the stag following as well as the land as a whole. The tone which she had taken was decidedly light, for the good mood of this new companion was quite infectious, not that it was a complaint by herself. Tail idly swishing away the flies that cared to take to her pelting, the mare was jovial in her step, the swaying fashion enough to lull the remaining unease for the foal. Humming lowly to herself, there was the pulling wonder of the stallion himself, for he was a creature that plucked the strands of a curiosity, something rare for her to discover. More oft then not, with mortal as well as Elemental equines, the fea noted that the mind had only so much room for the pleasantries of a conversation then carried, to topics partially biased to the most basic of things. Lands were divided as they stood, and the mare knew little of the qualms of the world. She had herself to thank for such a sheltered like, for it was one she had hosted to herself. Yet the longer she eased herself into the presence of this other horse the more she was finding the burden of companionship lessened, as well as the strain for lonliness that usually pulled her away. Was the stationary life so bad? Sorrows had been a nomadic family of one ever since her first herd had been broken up by bachelor stallions and parted through the lands. This isle and the next, for time seemed to string the threads of bonds even looser than fate. Her ears flickered, the smile once more overcoming with the kicking of her unborn, and the hoofbeats that sought to lull them both. What mattered now was seeing to the future saftey of them both. Anil was to lead them to Rocas, and there she would birth the foal without worry for harm. She would meet other equines, maybe even find her own standing. Even that was inconsequential in the grand scope. For now, it was to be accepted. If she could make it there, all would be well. Her trust was in the dappled stallion.

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[sibber-chow]

Anil's hooves hit the ground in soft pacing with his counterpart. As they walked his attention was solely divulged to the mare, only taking mind to occasionally assure they were headed amongst the right path. A quiet sigh breathed from his lips, as he realized himself quite enchanted with what beauty nature had bestowed upon such a delicate creature. Her words hit his ears like the sweetest lyrics of any song that even the birds of the air wished to chirp. It was nearly a shame for a creature to be so precious for it was that very factor that he was certain had lead such vermin of a beast to burden her with his seed. The past was best left there, as the future was better spent without debate. The only thing that mattered was the moment, every moment, one to be cherished. A quiet smile crept upon ashen kissers as he realized how far his thoughts had trailed although all senses watchful of his fragile companion.

"My apologies for daydreaming like that," came the plea from a humorously guilt-stricken facade as his tail slapped across his hide as if to chastise so rude an act. "I'm certain you are quite used to it though - such a pretty fae must deem that response from many a stags, hm?" The dappled chocolate offered another jestful grin as if to assure his charm was not to be taken lewd but in the same playful fashion as the majority of his comments should be perceived. "Rocas, you say? Ah, it is a wonderful place!" Anil's head hung high as he spoke of his homelands, pride written across his face. And, with the pride, an air of seriousness that was so seldom seen.

"Past misfortunes plagued the lands with the attack of the Zunden kind. It took from us our leaders and the majority of our numbers." It even took me, but that is a story for another time. "Ensuing the deaths though, rose the daughter of our regal leads - Char. She is..." He debated carefully for the right words to place upon his counterpart's eager ears. "She is a charming little mare - young and perhaps misguided - but we all have faith that she will be as great a ruler as her matriarch."

"There are four standing plateaus in the land that flourish with foliage, so do not be intimidated upon first approach. The barrens, a swampy region, can mislead the eye upon entering the lands. The herd lives among these plateaus with the watchful eyes of our raven alliance. The herd also maintains an alliance with the Liberta herd should the ugly head of war rear again, it is the largest family of the land and we are in good trust with them." The stallion paused for breath and to assure he hadn't burdened her with too much information when a sudden realization struck him once more. "Oh, and how could I forget! The herd has several foals to be expected, so your own young one should be in good company upon birth."

[Storeh]

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[bg=#EE9A4D] With each dawning of a day all its own, one could not but expect to hear news from the idle gossip taken from other animals by their very nature. However, this spreading of news was hardly good, and Sorrows could oft but remember the squalling of the birds as they exchanged in brief introduction what exactly the Fire Elementals had taken in the scope of time. Her ears flickered for a moment, but with every pronunciation of syllable it would seem as though the disrupted turbulence that the past usually brought with it was eased with a type of news the genteel fea was not used to hearing. Goods news. This stallion seemed to be in mind to balance with the harsh, not prattling on about the current state of the Isles, a topic she had more than her fair share of as a wanderer. Or, a mare with experience of wandering. The fair petals of her ears pricked with his closing words of speech, the drawing of such things enough to make her smile once more, softly, though Sorrows might have been giving such an expression to Anil throughout the entirety of his speaking. The stag deserved this, so it was no ill given, with the moments to cradle the mare felt as though she had earned a friend, the notion almost seeming absurd to her weathered mind. Yet there it was, as though the stars could have written to tell of such an arrival. Cosmic to her understanding, though it might be considered a foolish notion by another shall it pass her lips. She took to checking herself, making sure she had not strayed from his guidance, nor taken to a gait that might disrupt her passenger, before choosing to continue with her own reply. 'It seems like a wonderful place,' These little trinkets of her thoughts were given with an earnest nature that leaked into the tone, smoothing it over as the smile returned without wane. 'I cannot wait to meet the remainder of the herd, I can only but hope they are as amiable in temperament as yourself,' Her ears flickered with consideration, mind not reeling as usual with her grey eyes scanning the expanse before her, long tail idly swishing at the flies that gathered along her flanks. 'As for the nature of daydreaming, I can be caught guilty of that as well. There is just so much to think about as of late...' Tilting her head to bestow gaze upon heavens above, the grin softened slightly with the consideration of the future once more. Never before had the mare been so conscious of time, of circumstance, and of a collected share of events that were usually so easily dismissed or forgotten. Then there was Anil, who seemed to be a book of a different kind, kindred in nature, but with so many questions in of himself. The fea could ask about a million a minute, though she kept her tongue in cheek. Company was usually so hard to grasp, nay, good company was hard to grasp, as thinly spread about the isles as fine grasses in the harsh winter months. These chances for a new life seemed to be speeding right by her, just out of reach of her waking hours. Here she was, though, yet again, with the most odd of things in place, like the wrong setting of a chess board. Destiny was a word she had not contemplated the meaning of until this moment apart. The native islander had journeyed through much of the unclaimed lands, from the sand-ridden shores of the Spiagga Del Nord to the vast featureless plateau of Cerchi Di Avversione. Her hoofprints could be marked through several of the Elemental lands as well, each a separate passing of the stars. Once before she had nearly made it to the land of Terra Delle Liberta, but turned back with the thoughts of being claimed rendering her conscious unwhole. Scattered where her marking of trails on the Isles, encounters few with other equines. Looking back, it seemed like another time stuck in memory, though really it was naught but a handful of months previous. Back in the mind past the looking for herds, past the meeting of the stallion who gave her his seed, and into the months of her idle wandering, feeding on the sweet wild honey and grasses that marked her nature. Another blink to measure what that meant to her now. There were many places on the isles where the fea had yet to venture, so could this be considered an adventure of sorts?

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[sibber-chow]

The stallion smiled at her response, obviously in agreement of the praises given to Rocas. If anything could be said of his nature, he was loyal to the death and back again - quite literally. Curious brown orbs sought the mare as his own trail of queries flooded to breech the tip of his tongue and freed from the confines of his mind. Still, he chose carefully the ones that he would allow passage from ashen lips. Jestful nature was not to be mistaken for foolishness or naivety. Anil was not the dumb bloke that often owned such a kind, free heart. Thus, the words he chose were deliberate and never unfiltered.

"Where is it, if I may be so bold, that you come from?" She could not have always been a loner. She'd had to have someone or somewhere to take refuge in the past, hadn't she? He could hardly imagine her surviving so long despite how strong a mare she may or may not have been. As he spoke, gait increased slightly although none too fast that he might strain the mare's pregnant form. Rather, the increase was due to realaztion that he had lapsed behind a bit further than was intended. He had to remind himself that the mare was trusting in him to guide her... home. There was a peace in the thought of Rocas and the welcoming arms he chose to imagine upon it. The sooner they got there, the better he would feel for her sake and his. Evening was starting upon the air, and with the darkness posed new threats in open territory.

[Storeh]

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[bg=#EE9A4D] Through the shards edges about the corners of her captive mind, the question spoken from his lips dug a bit deeper than the mare would care to admit, wondering in exact...how she could go about answering such a question, direct as it might seem. Her gait picked up slightly with the intent to match his stride, doing nothing more than this as her mind writhered slightly under speculation of itself. Nostrils flared with the reminding scent of murky forests, the first place she could remember as a foal, the squeal of the stallion as he guided the pocketed group of horses though. Blinking away the pictures as to prevent them from farther invading, the smallest of saddened smiles caught the edge of her lips, ears flickering slightly as the contemplation seemed to be far from over. The fea hailed from nowhere, really, just various groups here and there within the isles, that was until she pressured herself for traveling, unwilling to be laid claim to like a territory and used like a tool for meddling. Heeding night's less than welcoming approach, her pelting crawled slightly, delicate crowing raising as more of habit than company or rather unease. Preparation, muscles tensing slightly as though taking command from the heavens more so than the body they hence occupied. 'I suppose you could say I came from everywhere,' Sorrows started, eyes edging against the shadows elongating before continuing to speak. 'I was born into a wandering herd, where my mother and I changed through many smaller herds before we were then separated,' Ears flickered slightly, orbs seeking for the catching of light. 'It was sometime them after I began wandering by myself.' The passenger gave a kick, making the mare give a small snort in response, cradling her step more so to prevent farther disturbance. It was a wonder to the mare that the stag Anil had not farther pressed anything out of her situation, as most would care to do before inviting them into the homeland without so much as clever speculation or something of the like. It was not like her to question the will of fortune or the stars in turn, but with so much luck being shared, something was clearly out of the miss. Cautious to the fault of stepping, her gaze once more took to the watching of the surroundings, habitual in her customary lack of company. The perpetual call of twilight was reigning through the lands with a host of its own agenda, the world contorting in a way oft not seen in daylight. The skies aid shining down on them was indeed beautiful, but she was also concerned with the edges of this place, now. By night, Belle Valle was a world apart from it's usual stance. She had Anil, though, and that was enough to ease her slightly of her state. But there was just so much any equine could do.

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[sibber-chow]

Apparent thoughtfulness was given to her words before a small bob of the steed's crown. Noting the tension of her posture and the gaze of weary orbs, the brute pondered if he'd disturbed her with his query or if it was the falling sun that threatened to dampen her mood. To be safe, the brute pressed no further to enquire of her past. Rather, gaze settled back upon surroundings. Orbs were reluctant to fall from something of such beauty to seek the threat of anything dismal. It left a bad taste in his mouth and tugged at his gut as he forced himself into the acknowledgement that there were foul things out there, but such was necessary if he were to keep his word and look out for Sorrows.

Silence lulled the land, the birds of day seeking shelter with only the chirp of a cricket's melody to penetrate the dead air. It was a welcome buzz although miniscule, upon the brute's ears. Such comforts persisted for many a moments and many a steps. The signs of rocky terrain becoming visible amongst the path. They were growing closer with each passing moment as the darkness too grew to envelop their forms. A sudden cry took the air and robbed Anil of any such luxury; a squealing roar that left his ears to ring. A sudden halt in step, head cast to full height, a blur of fur seen from the periphreal. No moment was spared to intercept the blurred form with a kick of his haunch. Wheeling around to face the foe as it collided to the ground with a thud; a mountain lion springing to its paws with vengeance in its orbs for the stallion's interference.

Claws spread, fangs bared. Hooves hit the dirt, own ivories gleaming in the pale light of the moon. Several hoof beats took the earth to trample the feline beast. Lithe creature spun through the pillars as they beat upon the Earth, Anil forcing the beast to retract distance between itself and the mare.

Shrieks of agony dinned from the brute as feline sought courage to attack the darting pillars, latching securely upon his right foreleg with teeth and claw. Reared form rose several times over as blood stained a chocolate pelt. Finally dislodging the fiend, a fluttering form caught the corner of Anil's eyes. "The Raven, dear Lady follow it!" His words were a hiss between grit teeth as another onslaught at the flexile predator was struck.

A feathered creature as dark as the night itself swooped down to pull the mare's attention, spiraling her form in a manner too beautiful and whimsical for the urgency of this moment. It cawed to her before soaring on with rushed flaps of feathered limbs. It would guide her further to the safety of Rocas...


OOC | depending on what she chooses to do, of course, you may post your next reply in Rocas if she was lead away or here if not. :3

[Storeh]

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[bg=#EE9A4D] Shadows to summon and bear forth the demons they had harbored in sanctuary of night's willing whisper, the pale horse's game naught forgotten by day to then haunt the remnants by night. Grey eyes widened with ravenous scream, splintering the stirred air farther with her own cry, the whites like wraiths peering for a target. A command drenching like ice across her pelting, clawing into the edges with daggers to be shaken off with the notice of the moment. Our Lady of Sorrows was faced with a decision that would not be heeded with dire contemplation. Words fell off of her pelting like water so smoothly defied, and her own sharpened senses, edges of hooves ignored, sought to jump into the fight herself. There would be no turning tail, no manner of persistence enough to not be defied, another squeal ripped from her maw with the catching of lion's gleaming eye. There was the lunging of the fair maiden, the soaring as though she had wings from herself, the bringing forth of tipped hooves with the intent of striking without tolerance for movement. Heartbeat swiftly pounded against her ribs cage violently, adrenaline cystalizing her focus. Senses turned against the lion, bounding at it with her motion aligned. Long ago she learned one had to fight in order to survive for a moon in recesses of the isles. Sorrows came down on the cat with a flurry of movement, and the lashing of hooves. Few sought there mark, but the cat seemed to be caught off the guard, having been thus focused on the stallion rather than the mare. She gave another little cry, making a mark that was then returned in counter, catching her across the flank with a sting. Crimson beaded, and the mare backed against the bitterness of the odor. Maw parted with ivories bared for the world, bearing with all of her weight, labor beside, down upon the foe with as much vengeance that her bodice could hold. Snapping at the air with persistence, she swung about her tail to try and kick at the demon, nostrils flaring against the intrusion of night air.With the scent of unwanted animal tainting her muzzle, she returned for the attack once more, seeking the slash of claws and twirl of tail with a frenzy of her own. Ears pressed back into skull, lips parting as though to hiss at the bringer of such malice to the moments. The cat struck from its haunches, scraping barbed claws across her chest, barley hooking as she swirled again, laying a few marks across its pelting with the pounding of moments revived. The lasting blow hit solid, allowing the mare to retreat a few passing, tail lashing as she sought to protect what she now stood for. Anil had sought to save her life, had he not? Given her the wish for shelter she was seeking. Debts were something that always squared.

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[Storeh]

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[bg=#000000] A ploy of whimsy lost in the ashen remains on the hardening of remorseful surface, the redemption offered on the breathing of soundings cursing thus the land without paying price to the breaking of humbled tranquility. Lightened manners to break a spell of chastised brute like the clicking of trigger pulled back to present circumstance as the tale. Spun with shutters closed as eyes, lids not parted with the rushing of tide, and Call Me Jack knew just then what he must do, the screaming resounding like burning wounds singing through his throat. Every fiber of his being wrenching toward the call, the night whispering simple words that poisoned his mind. Help me. The world was begging, the scars then traced that had not yet rebuilt, the command to defy his own nature still fresh as the pain they caught. Heartbeat rose with this demand, though it was the voices plaguing thoughts to send him where he was needed. Go. Pleading, even if it was a mistake. His muscles tightened against the pledge, and he sought the figures of this so dreadful a plight, sweat beading across his fair skin like the reminders of the blood before him. Frustrated was a word he had grown to lament, like the lies the he was told just of forget, the scarred lips of his sire saying bittersweet things for him to remember. Greymarch was defied once more, directly, something that Jack knew with all that his mind resented. Knowing was becoming a chore, yet a useful device. Pushing the thoughts of consequential actions to the side of neglected referral, the pace was a sprint, carrying the wind to push like the flinging open of doors. Each moment wasted was another then left to harm, and he knew this. Cries of a hunger gone unsated for too long rang in the channels of his brain, proclaiming the threat to be ringing far too true for his liking. Hang in there. I will save you. The scene parted before his eyes like the bursting of dreams into reality, the bloodied scar of the earth rising before him as the mud-blood knew then what reaction needed warranting in this scene of misplaced hysteria. With a bugle of contempt, like the sounding of heralds or hounds from the gates of Bedlam, the gleaming part of his teeth sough across the flesh of neck, making the mark with the snapping down of his jaws, the locking of maw serving as cage. Writhering with animosity for the spoiling of game, the mountain cat yowled with the pain of the disturbance. The bringer of salvation slung the body back, shaking his head like a wolf with rabbit in jowls, throwing it then towards the ground with as much strength as the stallion could muster. The sack of muscle hit with a resounding thud, spitting a hiss of complaint before Jack was on it again, relentlessly pounding against its body, knocking it from its feet, the taste of metallic on his tongue, running rivulets from his muzzle. Brought to breath by dying remorse, the lion gave another halfhearted cry, as though to draw a cruse upon the stag's hide, before breathing raggedly. Gone with glass eyes still gazing. Call Me Jack watched the fleeing of its aura, the lingering eyes of its spirit upon him as though to bring hatred to the scene. Sparking showered across his eyes along with the invasion of thought when speaking, muscles shaking to the core, pelting pocketmarked with wounds he had not noticed in the frenzy of battle. Sweat clung to every crevice of his pelting, and shivers racked across his very bones, down to the marrow to sing. Luminous eyes scattered the scene for the visiting of the pale horse, but it was not to be found, though the air was rank with foulness of corpse as well as death to settle. Our Lady of Sorrows, heavy with foal and with temperament, was a case to be lamented in the mirror of his own clause and sin, her sides heaving, her eyes seeking, but it was the snapping of conclusion that brought his attention. St. Jimmy. Desdemona's daring love, tainting the mare with his seed. A child to be birthed of soiled blood into a land called Rocas, something he knew too well. Sharpened edges of self worth cut across his hide, pain shooting across his mind. Char, breathe beside, name on is tongue like a bullet. Biting towards the heavens but it was not the killing mark. Anil, dying for the bringing of life to his lands, tainted with the mark of resurrection. Killed by the Zuden alongside the others. Father like lost to Char. Spoiling of a reunion, his future was not as bleak or dim as it seemed. Jack was not prying, he was absorbing the information that was shaking him like a scarecrow. Yet on the outside looking in, he pulled himself apart, rebuilding the pieces to rise to his full extent. His gaze traveled to the stallion, then to the mare. What he did not know was measured in the holding portions of their sparking eyes, their auras contained as most equines where, in an endless loop of circling. Our Lady of Sorrows and Anil had been saved, had they not? But what would the price of this then be, taken from his pelt with the lives intertwined. He gave a smile rather than a curse, gave a bow of the head rather than a snort, and felt the evils of a world intimate breathing down his neck. The lines between where more than blurred. God save us everyone, Will we burn, inside the fires of a thousand suns? For the sins of our hand, Sins of our tongue, Sins of our father, Sins of our young.

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Muse: ...
OOC: .....
Music: ...

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[sibber-chow]

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[bg=#000000] Normally Anil could appreciate the bravery of a mare who wished to join in a fight. It was one of the very reasons he had fallen for Phantom such a time ago. Yet, this mare was pregnant and risking the life of her offspring in the tussel. Such he had issues condoning. As the feline moved to lay yet another claw upon the fae, long legs sought to crush the creature - sending it spiraling back from the two with a squeal of discomfort from the bash of heavy hooves. Not another move could be measured as another contender placed his hat into the ring. Eager orbs witnessed as the tattered mountain lion embarked on his last breathing moves. And, then... it lay limp upon the ground. Death was something that stung greatly upon Anil's fresh wounds, and he nearly pitied the feline. Life was too precious to take for granted in any form. Orbs did not have many moments to rest upon the bloody mass of lifeless flesh though, instead turning to their newest counterpart. Body moved to break up the path between new stag and Sorrows, gaze still intent upon the masked friend. After moments decision, Anil acknowledged the stag to be nothing of immediate threat. He dipped his head generously to the oddly marked creature in turn for the bow and with appreciation in mind. Anil had no doubts that he and Sorrows could have finished off the feline on their own, but help was never something he saw as a burden. A friendly manner, or something so seeming, was always delighted in his sights. And, still, the longer he observed this creature, something off struck him. It was not his elemental blood, obvious in the colors that adorned his pelt and tresses, but rather something familiar. A scent that lingered upon his flesh just barely... Shaking his large crown, Anil offered a smile to Call Me Jack. Whatever familiarity was there, he chose to ignore for the time being. "Friend, I thank you for the aid." His words were kind although held in tone his rank. "But, on behalf of longevity of the Rocas herd, you certainly cannot be thanked enough." No jest came to his tone or manners, allowing his guard to remain up for the threat an encounter with a stag could oft bring. Despite nature to take kindly to the stranger and think lightly, optimistically of his level of threat... he owed Sorrows and her unborn to keep up his guard as a protector at the very least. At that thought, crown turned over his shoulder to observe the fairly wounded fae. "My Lady, are you alright?" He paid little mind to concern for his own injuries for they were minimal compared to the scars he'd seen in his past life.
[bg=#000000]characters: Anil word count: 464 muse music: Sixx A.M. ooc: ...