[ time starts to pass and you're frozen ] [PG-13]

[~Snowy]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,false][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,450,true] Catalyst

[/color]

- where's my happy ending?

===

- Spring, the time of love, of life, of rebirth and change. all over the land, things were changing, slowly but surely, and in the blink of an eye it seemed things could be different than they were a moment before. trees, which had been bare for the last few months, covered in brown cracking bark and spindly twigs, were now budding with fresh new leaves, a tasty treat for every starving herbivore that had suffered through the winter. sunny, humid weather was now what everyone could look forward to, along with the occasional refreshing rain shower, and although some of winter's chill still remained, it was no more than a whisper in the wind now. precious flowers floated up from the earth and the branches of fruiting trees, bringing color and scent to the once barren world. the gentle warmth of the sun and all the new beauty was a perfect way to welcome in the new life that had been conceived last season. even now, creatures of all shapes and sizes were laying in their dens with their new children, caring for the helpless little lives as they welcomed in their first few days. and that went for the equines as well; if one traveled anywhere, it wouldn't be uncommon to see a maiden with a new colt or new filly jumping around at her side. the sight was a warming one for any equine with a love for foals, and that included the ruby shaded maiden making her way down the grassland, heading for a quiet, secretive place where she could escape from the world for a while... like say seven to ten days?

shimmering blue eyes, a rarity on horses of her shade, looked heavenward in a pitiful way, misery and fury written over her every stance, and with good reason. the cold weather she so despised was finally over, and she reveled in the warmth of the sun once more. however, with the loss of the winter came the arrival of something she detested more than snow... the breeding cycle. a snort of contempt escaped the beautiful maid as she pawed viciously at the earth, the discomfort of her body and the musky scent she could practically feel coming off of her a constant source of irritation for the young mare. she'd only gone into this time of the year once before, well... twice now, and no, it hadn't gotten any better or any easier to deal with. just today already she'd had three young colts come up to her with a prance in their step. luckily only a swift kick was needed to deter them from her. foals around here were too sheltered, dreaming about love that last forever and being heroes to their herd. they didn't know half of what life had to offer, of the cruelty that others could give to their kind... or the kindness one could give.

a thoughtful look fell across her features as she thought back to her new homeland, the terras of felwood. home... it sounded like a far off dream for the tortured maiden, who had seen how worthless life could be to others, and how someone could label another less than trash if they wanted to, and how others would just fall into place like lambs to a slaughter; that's why she'd left. she refused to bow down to tyrants, and the others of the herd were all so pathetic she couldn't stand to be around them, so she left them to their fate. now, she had a new home, with a new king who was so different from what she had attributed that word to. revenant, as was his name, was a kindly stag - an elemental with control over ice, yet his heart was like a warm fire. he'd helped catalyst when she was about to freeze to death during a blizzard, kept the ice away from her and allowed her to warm up, and then offered her a haven from the world. she was free to wander as she pleased, free to voice her opinions, free to fight if she wanted, things she was not granted during her time in her birth herd. stubbornness still reigned in her mind, suspicion of the felwood leader's motives nevertheless; a side effect of her upbringing. she still waited for him to change, still waited for him to show his 'true colors' as it were, yet in the time she had been in felwood, in the time she had known him, nothing had changed. and it terrified her because she knew. she knew there would be no change, no angry words or hateful remarks, no harsh torment or unjust punishments. revenant was good, and knowing that was just as scary as facing down a mountain cat alone for the chestnut woman.

that was why she stubbornly held onto her suspicions. they made the shock easier to deal with, the thought that he could change at a moment's notice a cushion for her to hold between them, to keep this friendly, warm hearted hielo at an arm's distance. and that's why she came alone, leaving early in the morning as her scent became potent and wandering towards the lands of breeding, as instinct directed her. she knew that if she asked, he would've accompanied her and protected her from others with less pure hearts, would've stayed by her side until she either found someone she actually liked, or maybe even waited with her throughout the cycle. she shook her dainty crown at this, laughing to herself. maybe those yearlings were rubbing off on her, cause here she was dreaming herself. no one was that considerate... but then again... crystal white talons stopped just feet away from the meadow, boa curling back to stare back down the path she came from as she blinked thoughtfully. the meadow ahead was dangerous, for maidens and suitors alike, and out here alone, anyone could be a target and no one would care. but back in felwood... she would be protected; no one would dare try and touch her or chase her would they? and lords knew what her disappearance was doing to revenant; he was a caring stallion after all... and she'd been rude in not telling her lord where she was going or even saying hello and goodbye before leaving.

in the end, guilt was a deciding factor as she turned to return to felwood and the safety of its borders, sighing softly to herself and lowering her lovely crown in shame. she'd probably have to apologize when she got back, but that didn't matter right now she supposed. however, as the chestnut mix turned, a grey figure moved to her sight. her heart leaped from shock; surely revenant hadn't followed her had he? but as her sea blue eyes turned upward, shock turned to ice in her veins. this was not revenant, but a rather large draft stag whom she'd never met before. however, the look on his face was one she knew very well. "excuse me sir." she nickered, keeping herself calm; perhaps she was just being suspicious again. "i need to get back home, i'll be missed." she tried to make an excuse and move past him, but he stepped in her way again, chuckling in a way that both scared and infuriated her. audits flicked backward as she snorted in rage, snapping angrily at her attacker, but he dodged her attack and pushed her roughly with his massive dial. catalyst cried out in pain, stumbling back and just managing to catch herself before she tumbled, and under her breath she cursed her breeding as she felt a bruise appearing under her pelt. staring back up at the much bigger stag, she glared defiantly up at him, refusing to show fear as he began to advance on her. there had to be a way out... there just had to be!

ooc ;; i had to force myself through the blabber of my mom and sister; they do NOT shut up. x(

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[big daddy lizzeh.]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,392,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true]

[bg=#000000] It had been normal of the ivory stallion to move away from Felwood now, considering how warm the weather had gotten. Usually it meant that more horses would be out and about, either looking toward new members, or looking for love, usually in all the wrong places. It wasn't normal, however, for Revenant to follow after a particular horse, to stalk them like a wolf did a deer. It made him feel slightly uneasy, to hide from her, to dart behind tree trunks and shrubs whenever she looked in his general direction. He was quiet in his pursuit, making sure his hooves didn't step on anything that would make too much noise, and avoiding branches and things that could tangle him up. Ears leaned forward atop his skull, as Revenant found Catalyst wandering into Allevare Mettono. He hesitated, half tempted to turn tail now, not wanting to wander into the breeding lands of Isola. Most horses would be here now, since spring was in full bloom, prancing around and flaunting what they had. He could already smell the mares who were ready, their taunting scent playing with his nostrils. Shaking his head violently, he then pushed after the chestnut, keeping his golden-green eyes on her. These lands meant trouble for the unsuspecting mare, and Revenant had heard too many tales of dark creatures lurking among the shadows of the trees. It seemed like hours that they were within the breeding lands, and more than once a colt meandered up to Catalyst, hoping for his shot at her. Their attempts made a smirk cross Rev's maw, as his herd mate shooed them away with her hooves. The fiery mare seemed to wedge herself within the Hielo's heart and Revenant began to feel the need to protect the mare from anything that would stumble across her. He had already noticed she was in season, her delectable scent wavering past him. His thoughts had made him lose sight of Cata, and it caused panic to rise within him. Where had that mare disappeard off to?! It was his job to protect his herd members, and here he was, having fantasies while she could've stumbled off into a trap. Snorting at himself, he stomped the ground, and pushed off through the trees he had been lurking in. Something about Catalyst had drawn her to him when they first met back in the winter. It didn't help that she was a mare in dire need of aid, the cold winter sapping her life energy. Luckily, Revenant had been wandering and stumbled upon her, welcoming her into his lands and herd so willingly. He just hoped that his choice didn't bite him in the ass in the end. Flicking his ears, he searched frantically for the chestnut mare. However, every horse he came across was not her. Shaking his head, he doubled back, only then getting a glimpse of a gray stallion. He looked so much like Revenant, that the Hielo did a double take. And in that double take, Catalyst was there, standing before this other stallion. Revenant didn't think twice, his hooves moving him into action, heading right in the path of the other stallion, ears pinned to his head. The Hielo's eyes darkened, snowflakes falling around his body, as he stood his ground in front of Catalyst. Get the fuck away from my mare, you bastard, he hissed, anger seething through him. Revenant hadn't ever displayed such fierceness before in front of others, but it was needed to protect his herd mate. | revenant. | the prophecy, audiomachine. | five hundred eighty five. | table [c] lizzeh 2011.

[~Snowy]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,false][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,450,true] Catalyst

[/color]

- i stumble and i crawl, carry me through

===

- The sheer rage and terror that flooded through catalyst's system left her strangely numb, frozen in place even as her mind screamed at her to move. her bodice didn't know what to do anymore, whether to fight or to run or maybe try a combination of both, because there was always a chance she wouldn't come out victorious in this battle of wills. ocean hues narrowed as she tensed her stance, the grey brujo who looked so much like revenant stepping ever closer, his greedy smile and raking gaze trained on her, taking pleasure in the way she was vainly attempting to fight back. the ruby damsel lifted a knife up to tear into the land beneath her threateningly, barring her ivories towards the much stronger equine, hoping to deter him, but her heat-scent seemed just too tempting, because her display did nothing to distract him. backing up a step, she pressed her dial towards her chest, auds plastered on her crown and tassel tucked tightly beneath her. in the back of her mind, she wondered in horror if this was it; had her pride and stubbornness cost her this? was this how she was going to lose her virginity, to a brute who looked like the kindly lord she had come to trust but was the personification of all her resentment towards males? she couldn't fight him without getting injured further, and her current injury would make running hard; a hot tear of frustration fell down her face, unhindered as she backed up another two steps, trying to keep distance between them for as long as she could, hoping for an opening to make a getaway.

then, almost as if reading her thoughts, the grey demon lunged for her, and her heart sunk. but before he could completely close the distance between them, another form had wedged itself between the two, stopping the first brute in his tracks. the atmosphere around the two dropped at least ten degrees below what it was before as snowflakes danced before catalyst's blue gaze, her orbs widening as she recognized the new being. the sight of the familiar dappled grey robes and stance made her heart soar back up into her chest, her crown raising in shock, frozen once more but not from fear. vicious lyrics stung through the frozen air as revenant hissed at his doppelganger, his form a solid wall between the ruby and the thief. every part of him bled rage and anger, daring the other stag to take one more step towards catalyst. the nameless brute snorted in surprise at the sight of the hielo, rage dancing behind his own brown gaze at the one who dared stand in his way, but one look at the snowflakes that fell around him silenced any protest. rage died away, and uncertainty grew until finally he turned around and began to stalk away. apparently, the maiden's innocence wasn't worth getting frozen alive.

as her attacker moved out of sight and scent range, catalyst felt her pillars start to waver, threatening to send her to the unforgiving earth. she somehow managed to stabilize herself, and take a step towards her lord and king, but words escaped her nevertheless. what did one say to someone who had saved their life not once, but twice? asking for forgiveness for leaving without a single word would be a good start, or thanking him for saving her yet again from another danger, but her mind was blank. "revenant..." she nickered softly, the song of her lyrics breaking softly. only now did the full effect of everything crash down on her; if revenant hadn't appeared, if no one had helped or if she hadn't found a way of escape in time... pride left her as she lowered her crown, walking on shaking steps to close the distance between herself and her lord and pressing her dial against his wither, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill from her orbs. for once, the cold didn't seem so harsh as a few snowflakes fell upon her silks, bringing a strange form of comfort and security rather than the normal distaste. her injured side began to sting again, bringing a hiss from her vocals as she relaxed the muscle beneath it. she'd be having knots in her body for days after how tense she'd been...

ooc ;; poor catty. but rev was sooo cool! 8D

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[big daddy lizzeh.]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,392,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true]

[bg=#000000] A wild snort escaped the elemental leader, as the advancing stallion hesitated, almost as if he were debating going on with what he had planned for Catalyst. Small ice crystals had formed around Revenant, his tail slapping roughly against his hindquarters, daring this brute to take another step forward. But, when this vagabond turned and disappeared out of sight, without another advance toward the mare now behind the Felwood leader, Revenant's stance loosened, his ears lifting from their positions on his head. He lifted his head up, a sharper snort escaping him, small plumes of steam issuing from flared nostrils into the warm, spring air. Feeling Catalyst's body quake behind him, his ears twitched, and the stallion turned his head to look at his herd mate. Seeing her walk forward warmed his heart, and the snowflakes that once surrounded him disappeared, the cold air instantly heating back up. As she spoke his name, he reached forward, touching his nose to her cheek gently, as if telling her everything was alright, that she didn't need to say anything. Revenant then turned his head to where his look alike had retreated too, wondering if he had decided to chase after some other young thing, or if he were watching the couple. Sighing, the stallion turned his body to face Catalyst, his ears tilted back slightly. You're lucky that I was following after you, Catalyst. Some stallions aren't as nice as I am, there was a seriousness to his voice, as he watched her. He could sense that she was hurt, but to what extent was the damage? He reached forward with his muzzle, nuzzling her neck gently, sighing again. How bad does it hurt? Anything we should be worried about? | revenant. | wind queen, two steps from hell. | two hundred eighty six. | table [c] lizzeh 2011.

[~Snowy]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,false][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,450,true] Catalyst

[/color]

- if i had to fall, would you fall too?

===

- As she approached her lord, the icy chill to the air ceased to exist, the warmth of spring returning in a wave that seemed too hot to be comfortable, leaving a feeling of exposure similar like a veil that she had been hiding behind had been torn down, leaving her open for another attack. in another action against her character, she shuddered and stepped closer to revenant, her rusty chestnut silks brushing against his pale grey robes, attempting to hide from the world again in the safety that the stallion offered. soft touches against her face and serpentine brought a sense of relief to the maiden, affirming that this wasn't an illusion, that he had saved her again just in time and that no one would dare try to harm her while he was there. her flank ached, sending pain signals up into her mind, but the soreness was of little importance right now. where had revenant come from? how had he gotten there so fast? the last time she'd seen him, he was still in felwood, yet now here he stood before her here in the meadow, quite a distance away from their home territories. as her quaking began to subside, she figured it didn't really matter anyway; he was here, what else was there to ask? the hielo's voice suddenly echoed in the air, telling her how lucky she was he was following her, and that stags weren't always the friendliest of creatures. the blue eyed beauty just laughed, a dry, humorless laugh that sounded like it might've hurt her throat. "i know revenant, oh gods don't i know. but that was the first time-" she paused, cutting her words off with a short, sharp breath of hesitation, before a sigh of resignation released from her maw. "the first time i'd not been able to fight a stallion off." her voice dropped with each lyric, getting softer and softer, as she hung her crown low in shame. "i shouldn't have come here, but instinct... i couldn't... i didn't..." she stumbled over here words as she attempted to explain her stupidity, but nothing came, and finally she just shook her head and fell silent.

as he asked about her injury, she was venomously reminded that it did exist, even though it was no more than a bruise and nothing serious. the pain was starting to subside, but it would still sting for the next few days. it hadn't exactly been a love tap after all. "my side, he headbutted me when i tried to bite him. it's nothing to worry about, just a bruise." she nickered softly, raising her dial up to nudge his cheek in gratitude, blue eyes shimmering against the sunlight and becoming reminisced of the great ocean that surrounded the island. "it would've been a lot worse if you hadn't shown up when you did. thank you for saving me again." those words, thank you, seemed to be easier to say than before, when he had first saved her from the cold. she'd never had to thank someone so much as she did revenant; no one really cared enough to try and help she supposed, and she had been so self-sufficient she thought it didn't matter for a while. slowly, her shaken confidence began to rebuild itself, and she managed to peel herself away from her savior, giving them a foot of personal distance between them before turning to face him again. "i was trying to come back, if you want to know, back to felwood. i thought about how stupid it was to come out here and started to come back, but..." her gaze followed the path the other stag had disappeared off to, her silence finishing her sentence for her. returning her gaze back to the green-orbed king, she nervously tapped a talon on the terra below, starting to feel exposed again. she didn't want to stay here, out in the open, especially when she was still very much in heat and had so many suitors coming after her. the chance that revenant could get into a fight was high too, especially if a dark hearted stallion appeared. the last thing she wanted was to see him get injured because she couldn't think through her hormones enough to stay in the safety of her home.

she tried to will her fiery temper back, tried to force any discomfort away by standing here, but she was still shaken enough that she could just barely do it. meeting her king's eyes, the mare tilted her dial curiously, blinking her blue hues softly as she smiled gently. "this is the second time you've saved me, you know. keep it up and i may start owing you a life debt." she tried to bring some humor into the situation, lighten the mood. her tassel flicked at a pest of a fly that was nipping into her hip, but the action accidentally released more of her heat-scent into the air, a stark reminder of why this had even happened in the first place. an embarrassed gasp escaped her maw as she clamped her tassel down again, a weak attempt at hiding her heat. no doubt revenant had already smelt it anyway...

ooc ;; done again. x3

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[big daddy lizzeh.]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,392,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true]

[bg=#000000] Don't beat yourself up over it, dear. There will always be horses out there that you won't be able to fight off. Just have to try your best, he smiled gentle at her, breathing slowly out of flared nostrils. He was still wary about standing within the breeding grounds with the mare who was in heat. Her scent could attract a number of different horses, and Revenant didn't know if he wanted to stick around for that to happen. Turning his head, the ivory Hielo looked to the trees nearby, staring hard into the shadows in case that one stallion decided to double back and try again. Shaking his head violently, the lord looked back to the mare he had just saved, ears tilted forward at her words. Oh, I understand what you mean, Catalyst. I don't penalize you for coming here. I would've ventured here myself, I could smell these mares from Felwood, he let a small chuckle rumble in his throat, his golden-green eyes sparkling faintly. At the mention of her injury, his laughter died down, and his eyes narrowed slightly. It wasn't as bad as it could've been, she was right, but it was still painful. He stepped over to her side, placing his maw against her skin. Breathing out gently through his nostrils, cold air hit where she was injured, small ice crystals forming upon her pelt as he tried to soothe the pain. Removing his muzzle, he let the warm air get to it, the ice crystals melting from the spring air. Glancing at her, he smiled widely. You should feel a bit better now. I'm going to recommend that for the next few days. Which means, whenever you feel it aching, let me know, and I will help you out. He moved away from her side, shaking his ivory coat out. The heat was getting to him once again, as it usually did when he didn't cool his body down. The temperature around the white stallion dropped a few degrees, in the vain attempt to cool himself down. Watching Catalyst, her merely shrugged at her words. You won't owe me anything. It's the lead's job to protect his herd members from anything. So, I guess you could say I was doing my job. He smiled widely, and stomped a hoof. The faint smell of her heat-scent drifted past him, and he snorted. Looking at her, he knew he had to at least control himself for now, even if she did seem irresistible. A flick of his own tail, and the stallion walked past her, toward where he had originally come from. Let's go home, dear. And you might want to stop teasing me, or else I'm going to have to act on my thoughts. He warned her, glancing over his shoulder at her, a small smirk drifting across his maw. Of course, he wouldn't hurt her, but if she kept swishing her tail about like she was, he might just be tempted to do something drastic. | revenant. | invincible [fall of the lich king], world of warcraft music. | four hundred ninety nine. | table [c] lizzeh 2011.

[~Snowy]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,false][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,450,true] Catalyst

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- the wonder of it all is you see me through

===

- Not too long ago, there was a time when catalyst would've never shown this kind of vulnerability to anyone, woman or man; she was suppose to be guarded, she was the one who was suppose to not need anyone or anything to help her stand on on her own, the one everyone ran to for support, not the one who needed it. yet as she stood there in front of the one she called lord, in front of her savior, she couldn't help but drop her guard just once. just this one time she couldn't force herself to raise her guard, to harden herself against the hielo who's warmth and gentle nature had slowly razed her well built walls. such a gentle song was woven in the air from his tongue, soft words telling her it was alright, that there was nothing she should be ashamed of and how there would always be stronger beings out there. azure gazers flicked upward to his features, following the movement of his dial as he sent a hard glare towards the shadows, seeking any sign that danger still lingered. he seemed on edge, as if at any moment another attack could strike from any place; that thought had icy tendrils crawling up the maiden's spine and encircling her heart. she didn't want to stay here, she wanted to go home, where it was safe, where she could hide in the trees and not have to worry about lust-sick men chasing her at every turn. it didn't help that she was, as she'd heard before again and again, quite pretty in masculine eyes, only made the target on her back bigger as far as she was concerned... too bad that even if she wasn't 'pretty' those sex-crazed stags would still be after her just because she was female.

when he'd returned his attention back to her and she mentioned her injury, revenant's gaze narrowed slightly, as if in thought. then before she knew it, his form closed the short distance between them, placed his maw close to her injury and breathed an icy cold breath upon the area. the feeling of ice crystals forming upon her robes and brushing against her sore flesh was enough to elicit a small gasp of surprise from her throat, her muscles tensing up again before relaxing almost immediately. the chill was a great relief for her injury, the pain seeping away as the cold crystals melted with the heat; she sighed softly in contentment, her bodice rejoicing in the disappearance of the painful sting. her attention was riveted back to the ghostly grey as he spoke up, telling her that she was to come to him if it started hurting at any time again so he could take it away again. catalyst merely nodded in response, a small smile of gratitude crossing her velvets; just how many times was she going to have to thank this man anyway? was he this way with everyone, or was it just her? these questions she had no answer to, and she wasn't sure if she wanted them anyway. a sudden pang that hit her hard in the heart erased all those thoughts of questions though, her smile dropping as quickly as it came as he spoke of smelling the other women in cycle all the way in felwood and how he would've came here himself. the pang was vicious, clawing at her with a fierce swipe, and for the life of her she couldn't understand why or identify what it was. thankfully as the temperature dropped around them though, she found the moment to shake it away. now wasn't the time for such things.

the sudden rush of colder air that settled around the two gave catalyst a boost of confidence. strange how she remembered detesting the cold before, yet now it was almost like home being in it. maybe it was because she had been born and raised in the cold that made it more familiar for her, or maybe it was just this stallion who had so kindly taken her into his home. her orbs softened towards him, her lord, when he was looking away from her for a moment, but then hardened when he mentioned it was his 'job' to protect her. job... if only he knew. "if that were true," she started, her tone more reminisced of her normal persona. "then why wasn't my mother saved? why were we, the mares and fillies, pushed out to freeze in the winter while the stallions huddled together in the warm springs? why wasn't my friend saved?" she didn't waver in her questions, spinning a tale of horror as she asked each one. how her mother froze, how her fellow mares were treated less than dirt. "why did my father look at me only once, then never again?" here, she paused for a moment, falling deep in thought as she chose her next words very carefully. "i left after my mother froze that winter, and everywhere i went, i found no one who was different... until that blizzard where i ran into you..." her lyrics softened in the last words, azure orbs losing some of their hardness as she stared at the grey king of felwood. "if it was the lead's job to care for his herd, then the leader of my birth herd failed in the worst ways..." it was the closest thing anyone could get to her past, and this was probably the only time she'd ever speak of it. all she wanted was to put those days behind her as far as she could. she never wanted to go through that again...

not even an order from the gods themselves could've stopped the small, and highly amused smirk that crossed her maw as she watched revenant react to her scent; a most amusing and yet, strangely, highly satisfying sight. a sparkle of both great joy and mischief flashed in those wicked hues when he spoke of returning home, and warned her not to 'tease' him lest he be tempted to act out the fantasies running through his crown. she caught that smirk, and the tone of his vocals; he wouldn't hurt her, that much she knew, and if her scent was affecting him as he said... why not have a little fun? after all, he'd called it down on himself hadn't he? "hmm... your thoughts?" came those teasing first lyrics as she came to fall into step beside him, inwardly singing about the chance to finally get out of these lands. "and just what kind of thoughts would those be, my lord?" her tassel whipped lazily behind her, a thick plume of musky scent following the movement and sinking into the atmosphere for all to catch. her lithe figure pulled ahead of the grey brujo, slender pillars moving at a easy but tantalizing trot, meant to show off her bodice in a most pleasing way. rays of sun danced over her colors with tender fingers when she gave her crown a flick, flaxen banners splaying heavenward before settling over her eyes. her boa curved, each slender muscle becoming pronounced, sapphire orbs sending the grey a look that screamed all sorts of things no maiden should even be asking for, tassel raising in a high arabian fashion. the scene was only tempered by the mischievous smirk that was clearly seen on her kissers; what reaction would this gander she wondered...

ooc ;; oh, catalyst, you little vixen. xDDD um, should i put a rating on this?

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[big daddy lizzeh.]

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[bg=#000000] Grey legs paused the stallion for a moment, and he turned to look at Catalyst as she began questioning him. It was the lead's job to take care of his herd, but it didn't mean all stallions were up for the job. He knew of many who had tried and failed miserably at leading their herd, and usually death was the price. Either the mares died or the 'leader' died. In both cases, someone died in the end. No one is perfect, and most stallions are not fit to run herds. I have seen many of these stallions, and they usually perish because of their ignorance, his golden-green eyes narrowed at her as he spoke, something dancing within them as his words rolled off his tongue. As the last words dissipated into the air, he snorted, turning away from her. His hooves continued his movements onward, carefully placed upon the soft grass as he walked, ears twitching to each step he placed. Once more, Cata's delicate voice graced his ears, golden-green eyes drifting to her frame as she danced past. You really want to know, hm, he smirked, watching as the spring sunlight sparkled off her chestnut coat. The Hielo flicked his tail, trotting after her, nostrils quivering in excitement as he followed after her. Eyes glanced to his sides, wondering if his double was lurking, watching with fury as he chased after Catalyst. Revenant hesitated for a brief moment, watching the mare in all her glory, his nostrils flaring at her. He could decide to do things here, or back within Felwood where she would be safe. Catalyst, my dear, he called after her, his legs spurring him into movement again. He nipped playfully at her hindquarters as he drew level with her, and then stayed at an even pace once he was at her side. Looking to her, golden-green eyes darkened faintly. I told you to stop teasing me, he mused, reaching over and nipping at her neck playfully. He arched his neck as he pranced, muscles flexing underneath his gray coat. | revenant. | diablo tristram village (error37 remix), ephixa. | three hundred forty two. | table [c] lizzeh 2011.

[~Snowy]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,false][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,450,true] Catalyst

[/color]

- i'm in this world alone unless i see your face

===

- The words her lord had stated in answer to her questions held strong in her mind, how many stallions had attempted to lead only to perish shortly afterwards. how no one was perfect; it was all harsh life lessons she had learned the hard way, with no one to brace her when it the punch hit but the unforgiving earth she stood on. and through all of it she'd come to a grisly understanding that she was worthless there, not wanted, and that it would be better for everyone if she had never been born to her birth herd at all. such things as this were hard for a young filly to realize, but somehow she persevered nonetheless, finding the courage to escape the life she had grown up in and carve out another for herself, one where she would be worth something to someone one day, instead of just 'another useless filly'. for three long, hard and lonely years, she carved out this life, seeking out a place she could belong instead of just exist, and now at long last she was getting a taste of what that kind of life was like. perhaps one day, she may once more open up that sealed chapter of her life and go over it in detail, instead of using these vague rhetorical questions that skimmed the issue. but for now, she was too caught up in something much more demanding of attention, something more important that pushed all her woes and worries into the back of her mind to be lost until she came back up for air. when she pranced away from her savior and king, a feeling of excitement electrified the atmosphere as the grey's handsome form gave chase, the feeling of his gaze watching her setting a burn to every nerve in her bodice. blue hues sparkled in complete satisfaction as she held her dial downward, doe-like pillars moving into an extended, easy going trot that showed off every delicate curve and muscle that lined her form to the stag's sight. her heart pounded hard against her breastbone, her audits growing hot with embarrassment at her own actions; just what was she trying to do? oh, that's right - she was teasing him, nothing more, nothing less.

...then those rich lyrics called out to her as he caught up to her side, asking her if she really wanted to know just what thoughts she was conjuring up in his head, and she lost her reasoning again in a sudden wave of heat. to her credit, she managed enough control to stop herself from letting out what would've been an embarrassing squeak when his ivories connected with her flesh in a playful nip, but couldn't force down the tendrils that crawled underneath her silks as he mentioned that he'd asked her to stop teasing him. ocean hued orbs widened slightly as they met darkening golden greens, audits flicking back slightly as he nipped her again before prancing off. now it was her turn to pause and stare, her gaze following each flex of his powerful form as sun rays danced and bounced off his shimmering grey robes. an appreciative smile crossed her kissers while her hues took a darker turn themselves; she tossed her dial side to side slowly before dancing off after him, snorting out hot carbon from her lungs... had it gotten hotter out here or was it just her? "i know what you said." she nickered as she came up to his side, slinking her delicate figure next to his, stretching her dial up towards his audit. "but where's the fun in that?" her vocals dropped to a seductive whisper before she nipped at his wither and pulled away, trotting away from the handsome brute with her dial held high, tassel flicking behind her purposefully. 'and i really do want to know what things are going through that mind of yours.' that thought nearly had her pausing in shock, but she kept up her trot, curving her direction around so that she stayed just out of reach. but while the thought itself was surprising, what was even more surprising was that she meant it. she really did want to know what he was thinking... and quite frankly if he would act on them. a shudder rippled through her spine, a stifled moan nearly escaping through her maw at the mere thought of what he might be thinking of. her heartbeat quickened as more heat spread out over her figure, every nerve sudden energized to the point of discomforted, crying out to be touched again by the handsome, strong, and kind male not ten feet away.

the beautiful maiden came a halt, her mind turning into nothing more than a cloudy haze of heat and lust as her bodice became very uncomfortable, a talon raising up to paw at the terra in an attempt to release some of the tension she was beginning to feel all throughout her figure. she had never felt like this before; needy, hot, and tense. sure, she'd felt the discomfort of heat before, but it was nothing like this. a low nicker escaped the female's vocals as she tossed her dial back again, slender figure quivering with the movement as she attempted to reign in her thoughts and figure out what was going on. the feeling itself was scary and yet exciting all the same, but what was more frightening and enthralling was that she didn't want to be touched by anyone but the perfect ice lord she had been teasing only moments earlier. everything seemed to be fading into the background, the future, past and present melding away into a single moment; the here and now. and right now, the teasing was turning into something so much more inciting.... and the more she thought about it, the more uncomfortable she was becoming.

ooc ;; wow, lotsa muse there. 83

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[big daddy lizzeh.]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,392,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true]

[bg=#000000] Casual smirk crossed the stallion's muzzle, as her seductive whisper filled his ear. A flick of it, and he turned his head, watching her zag off after giving him a quick nip. A nicker escaped the off-white brute, as his body stopped it's movements, ears dancing forward as he watched her move away from him. Muscles twitched underneath his coat, hesitating to follow after her and make a move. Was it too soon to do this? His mind began it's turmoil, the smirk fading, a frown tugging at his lips, as his mind began fighting with itself. An inch toward her, and he shook his head violently, a sharp snort escaping his flared nostrils. There was the want to touch her slender form, to feel her body with his maw, but there was that part of him that believed it was too soon, to not rush things. Golden-green eyes narrowed, and he swore under his breath, moving forward once again. However, the flirty nature that had once taken hold of him was no more, the stallion instead moving to Catalyst's side, nipping at her shoulder in an effort to encourage her to head back to Felwood. As soon as his muzzle had touched her, heat washed over the stallion, causing him to pause. Ears swiveled, and eyes wandered to Cata's own blue toned ones. His body became unusually tense, muscles quivering underneath his off-white coat. What was the next move? What was he supposed to do from here? A soft snort against her skin, and he turned away from the mare, hooves moving him slowly away from her. Perhaps there was a method to his madness? As he headed away from her, that sly smirk crossed his maw, his head pulled toward his chest and forelock hiding the golden-green eyes that danced mysteriously. If she could tease, then he would do it right back, until neither one of them could handle the anticipation and the want any longer. Head lifted from it's current position, turning to look at the chestnut femora, an ear tilted much like a raised eyebrow, quite curious as to if she would follow. Nickering in her direciton, Revenant flicked his tail playfully at her, hooves causing his light body to prance in place. Coming, darling? His gentle words danced upon the spring air, small snowflakes whisking around his body, then drifting toward her to caress her cheek gently. | revenant. | rise of the warriors, audiomachine. | three hundred ninety nine. | table [c] lizzeh 2011.

[~Snowy]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,false][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,450,true] Catalyst

[/color]

- my light in darkness, my breathing hope

===

- She didn't notice when the off-white knight had made his approach, nor that the distance had even been closed off between them at all, having been far too focused in trying to find a way out of the intensity she found herself immersed in. only when he was beside her, ivories nipping her intently, was she finally able to find a way to bring herself back down to earth and out of whatever spell she had been caught up in. blue orbs, still somewhat hazy but rapidly clearing, snapped up to stare at the other's golden-green hues, but immediately wished she hadn't. the tension in the air between them had her frozen, her muscles quivering underneath sorrel threads, her audits flicked upwards and breath stilling as she was left both anticipating and dreading the next move, and who would make it. what was to happen? where had the playful banter that they'd been trading only moments earlier gone off to so fast? when had such a seriousness crept into their game and what had it been changed into? and why? so many questions were running through her mind as she stared into the deep gaze of the one she had come to put so much faith and trust in, so many things she wanted to voice but had not the courage to, both longing and fearful of what answers might be awaiting her. never in her life had she felt such intensity, and never before had she not known what to expect. true, she knew what terras it was that they stood on, and why she had come here in the first place... and what could possibly come next, but the real question was was it right? did she really want this? did he for that matter? or was it just instinct, the hardwired mindset that came with this change of the seasons, that was causing all of this? did either of them even know what the hell they were doing? so many questions, and regrettably she had no answers for any of them.

his breath tickled against her flesh in a soft snort, the contrasting natural chill a welcome relief to her still overheated figure and pulling a soft, almost silent squeak of surprise escaped past her velveteen kissers. then, he turned away, his pistons moving him farther from her position than she truthfully would've liked. ruby audits flicked erect as she stared after him, curiosity and not a little bit of dread and some disappointment filling her mind with each step. although while her questions still had no answers as of yet, there was a twinge of hurt that he was walking away without an explanation or single word. then he turned to look back at her, orbs dancing, and realization hit her slowly defogging mind. the tables had turned it seemed, the playful nature was returning to their movements, but now there was more purpose in each stride. a wily smirk crossed her maw, azure optics shimmering with mischief as his soft lyrics echoed into her audits. he wanted to play that way, hmm? alright then, she'd play his game, and she'd play until one of them finally broke, whether it be him or herself. she sighed softly when she felt the caress of snow against her face, orbs closing and figure shivering in an inciting matter. her pale tassel whipped out mirthfully behind her as she set her figure into motion at an slow extended walk, seeking his orbs out again as she came up to his side. "of course." her lyrics were soft, gentle and intimate, laced with a secret promise and only hampered by the playful laugh and buck she gave afterward. the sorrel angel bounded ahead of her gray savior, stopping only to shoot a 'come hither' look over her wither. "come and get me." she nickered before prancing off another few feet away, halting to await his approach.

however, while on the outside she was literally glowing with mischief, within she was struggling to find those elusive answers to those all important questions, and why she was even entertaining such thoughts when she'd never done so before. had it been any other, she would've not given a second thought to leaving them in the dust, not even attempting to string them along. revenant should not have been any different, yet here she was, flirting with and teasing him, and having him reciprocate such actions. at the rate they were going, when and if they did get back to felwood, innocent play would be the last thing on their minds. hell, it was already past that point - the innocence in the game had long since left; these movements and words were now meant to drive each other insane until they couldn't take it anymore... and she strangely had no problem with that if it did get to that point. but it still didn't mean that it should get to that point. revenant was her herd leader, she was merely just a member of their small herd. in her birth-lands, the herd leader had first claim to all women in his herd, no matter who they were. stags didn't spend time with their lowly wenches, and it wasn't unheard of for one of those careless beasts to claim one who shared his blood... they just didn't know who was who, and somewhere along the line, the femoras had lost that knowledge as well. she'd seen some males out in these lands claim many mares as well, making harems that, while smaller than the harems she'd seen, reminded her of those desolate lands. the same adoring faces as the herd leader walked by, the same glow as they delivered the children of a male who's love they'd never have. such an existence was one she never wished to live... so why was she doing this with a lead who's heart she'd never have either...?

ooc ;; catalyst getting thoughtful. x3 finally got this up, sorry for the long wait.

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[big daddy lizzeh.]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,392,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true]

[bg=#000000] Her movements enthralled him, his gaze never leaving her chestnut frame as she moved away from him. She was nothing but a temptress, he tried to reason with the war that raged in his over-heating body, but he just wouldn't believe that. There had to be something other than pure instinct between the two, that drove him into motion to follow after her. Ears danced on top of his head, little radars trying to pick up any other sounds, perhaps of stallions who had caught onto Catalyst's heat scent, who had wandered over to see if there was an easy female to pick up. This thought caused Revenant's nostrils to flare, and he sent out a violent snort into the spring air, a plume of steam rising before his face. Each flick of her tail had sent the Felwood lead into a little tizzy, the stallion's heart racing as the blood pumped violently through his bulky body. His body paused next to hers once more, reaching over and nipping her neck gently. His tail blanketed over the chestnut's hindquarters, the silvery cords dancing over her tail briefly. Nostrils flared against her neck, breathing out gently against Cata's soft skin. He could feel something was bothering her, and as he withdrew from under her mane, he tilted his ears toward her. Everything alright, dear? A concerned look crossed his face, golden-green eyes darkened slightly. | revenant. | dark ages, two steps from hell. | two hundred thirty two. | table [c] lizzeh 2011.

[~Snowy]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,false][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,450,true] Catalyst

[/color]

- you still have all of me...

===

- So lost in her questions was she that she didn't notice when he appeared at her side again, almost like the spirits he was named after. and just like only moments before, the game seemed to be gone from the atmosphere, but this time it didn't seem likely it would return. the questions swarming in the maiden's mind were too daunting for her to even make a half hearted attempted at humor, and revenant didn't seem like he was playing anymore either. her still racing heart both leaped into her throat and fell into the pits of her stomach at the realization, part of her marveling over how this magnificent king could have any sort of interested in her, another part screaming at her to stop this before it got any more serious than it already was, and yet another part whispering for her to just stop thinking and enjoy his attentions. his muzzle pushed itself underneath her flaxen locks then, ivories scraping against her over-sensitized flesh in a gentle manner that sent more shivers along her bodice, stained glass orbs closing behind satin curtains in pleasure as she stretched her boa out further in an attempt to entice him to continue the actions, deciding for now to listen to the whispers if only for a moment. the natural chill that stretched from his own figure tickled at her flesh, a testament to how close he really was. her overheated figure moved with what seemed like a will of its own towards the cold, pressing up closely against his side. the cold should've given her some relief from the heat, but instead it only served to intensify it in this case, the skin beneath her ruby silks both trembling and relaxing at the contact made with the handsome male.

his silver tassel suddenly covered her rear, causing her own contrasting tassel to flick in the instinctive response to the feeling of something being behind her. hers briefly tangled with his own, the dull flaxen gold mixing with the shimmering silver. his breath against her serpentine was more than the woman could handle, and a soft pleasured gasp escaped through her maw unhindered, followed closely by a gentle moan only a second later. her heart fluttered and hammered against her chest, her stomach tying itself in knots as that little whispering voice made itself known once more. how bad would it be to just give in, let nature lead for once? here was a very healthy and powerful brujo who was clearly interested in her, and who she herself was interested in as well. what would be so bad about just one time, she was after all in love with- she froze up at that thought, orbs snapping open and she swore her heart skipped at least three beats too many. she couldn't believe what had just run through her mind, and what was worse, she couldn't find the fight in her to deny it. somewhere along the line, since the day in winter she had met him to now, the grey lord of felwood had managed to steal her heart from her without her knowing. the realization almost made her rear up in surprise, but the shock kept her talons firmly on the ground while her mind slowly caught up. love? yes, she'd admit that much to herself; what was the use in denying it now? but what should she do next? the stallion of her affections was standing right beside her, clearly enthralled with her, and she was in the grip of her heat... chances were that was the only reason too.

his muzzle suddenly lifted up from beneath her locks, those darkening yet still enchanting golden shaded hues locking with her own sapphires as gentle concerned tones echoed from his vocals. was something wrong? yes, something was very, very wrong with this picture, and at the same time very, very right. she couldn't decide which at the moment was more pressing. it was true she longed to be courted by revenant in this way, to be pursued with such intents, but... what was the use when she didn't hold his heart the way he held hers? she never wanted to be a broodmare to some stallion, even for revenant - especially for him. it was harder when the chambermaid was in love with the lord she belonged to, she was certain of that, because surely another woman will come along who steals his heart away and the lovestruck chambermaid would have to suffer watching as her heart broke into pieces. as much as catalyst loved him - how did these feelings escape her notice before? - she'd rather not disillusion herself. a shake of her dial was given, straightening out her tussled banner from where he'd been. the evening sun - had they really been out here so long? - was beginning to set over the horizon, night would be upon the lands soon. if they wanted to get back to felwood before then, she had to stop this now. "is everything alright... i'm afraid not..." she nickered softly in response, her gaze and dial lowering to the earth. "i've let my heart go, and someone who i can never have seems to have stolen it away... i'm sorry..." it was as close to an outright confession as she could bring herself to. now all she had to do was wait until he brought the crushing blow down. it would be better to suffer that heartbreak now than suffer it over and over again in silence for years afterwards...

ooc ;; *sniffles* catty! *huggles catalyst* my poor girly!

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[big daddy lizzeh.]

[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,392,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,true][atrb=cellSpacing,0,true]

[bg=#000000] Small movements made by her caused the Felwood lead to shift slightly, so that she could better lean against his body and he would be able to support it. He could feel the heat radiating off her body, and the pressure of the heated air around him, against the coldness that came with his race. Ears danced forward, as he watched her reaction to his movements, quite amused when he heard the gentle moan escape from her voice box. Chuckling under his breath, he tugged gently on her tresses, the playful demeanor of moments before still lingering despite the tense air between them yet again. If it was going to be like this, the small bouts of tension, with the occasional playfulness, Revenant didn't know if he could handle it. Mood swings weren't one of the ivory stallion's favorites. For now, however, he'd let it slide, especially since it was with Catalyst. The mare just did something to him that made him want to throw everything to the wind. As he felt Catalyst's tail fall back into place, he smirked at her, flicking his own tail at her once more, the strands gently caressing her hindquarters, before falling once more behind his bulky body. As the silence after his question grew, it was then that the grey lord realized the time of day, golden-green eyes watching the golden streaks across the gentle blue skies above the breeding grounds. Night. In these lands, it was a risk to be here at night, especially when the darks usually lurked the shadows. And from where the pair stood now, Catalyst wasn't as safe as she would be back in Felwood. Shimmering orbs went from the fading sky to the mare beside him, his perked ears picking up on the gentle tones escaping from her. A concerned look washed over his face, as his nostrils quivered. Something was bothering her? Why couldn't she tell him before now? As he listened, it felt like an icy hand gripped around his heart, and squeezed it tight. Everything wasn't alright... he didn't understand what exactly was getting her so upset, but as he sat there pondering, he found out soon enough. Ears twitched uncomfortably, as she explained that someone stole her heart, someone who she couldn't have. He side-stepped away from her, head drawn to the side, eyes narrowing at her. Confusion plagued his mind, his ears dancing again, as if reflecting the confusion that had set into his beautiful two-toned eyes. Blinking at the chestnut mare, the lead tried to figure out exactly what she was trying to say. A mere moment passed between them, and realization dawned on the once oblivious stallion. Corners of his mouth tugged upward in a serene smile, and he reached out for her with his muzzle, a gentle touch placed upon her right cheek, a wuffle escaping the ivory toned one. There is no need to be sorry, m'dear. Perhaps the person who stole your heart did it because they felt the same way? His smile still tugged at his lips, as his muzzle reached from her cheek to under her mane once more, nuzzling the sensitive skin gently. Of course, he probably wouldn't have admitted that she was, in fact, the one who stole the grey brujo's heart in the first place. | revenant. | dark ages, two steps from hell. | five hundred fifty. | oh muse! why must you come at the weirdest times?! | table [c] lizzeh 2011.

[~Snowy]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=cellPadding,0,false][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=width,450,true] Catalyst

[/color]

- your voice chased away all the sanity in me

===

- Love. that emotion was so foreign to catalyst, and yet it was so eerily familiar at the same time. she had known the love that a mare felt for her foal, her mother had adored her from the first moment she breathed her first breath, and she loved her mother. she knew the adoration other mares had for foals, something she felt time and time again whenever she was in the presence of one. but not once could catalyst remember the love a male should have for his offspring, and until now she had not known the love a mare could have for a stallion, or how easy it was to fall and not notice or acknowledge. her heart was no longer hers to keep; her walls had been shattered over the short season that she had come to know the ghostly grey lead, slowly chipped away and knocked down into rubble that could never be pushed back up in time now. his kindness and selflessness had been her undoing, the first stallion she met who was like this, and now the one who would wound her so deeply she was certain she'd never recover. with others, it had been so much simpler, she knew what to expect and prepared, but with him she'd been in such a state of utter confusion. now it was so clear, so crystal clear it was almost blinding... she would never have him and it hurt deeply, like a sharp stone being jabbed into her heart and being twisted ever so slowly. as he sidestepped away from her she closed her eyes tighter, keeping her crown dipped low and audits back, as if she didn't wish to hear those words she was so certain he would speak. the air around her grew warmer again, too warm; desperately she wished he would move back to her side, banish this far too-warm feeling... she hoped he would get it over with quickly, so then they could both just go on with their lives...

mere seconds felt like hours after the sudden confession, each moment of silence spent preparing for that blow. then, his muzzle made contact with her face. the single touch, unexpected but certainly not unwelcome, sent her heart pounding hard enough against her ribcage to leave a bruise. even now when she tried to will herself for rejection, build up those walls as far as she could before it came and protect her breaking heart, his touch could still topple her hard work like dominoes. his breath against her flesh sent goosebumps over her, the cold chasing away the heat once more. and at last that voice she had come to adore so much echoed on the wind. but... wait, what? where were the lyrics of dismissal, the gentle letdown she had been preparing for? azure orbs fluttered open from behind heavy eyelashes, turning the question over and over in her crown. that... did not sound like rejection... it sounded like... her orbs widened as her breath stilled, her heartbeat so hard and loud she was sure everyone within range could hear it. he... he felt the same way she did? his muzzle was suddenly back underneath her banner again, nuzzling her gently, drawing another soft moan from her kissers. oh god that felt so good.

the evening was coming to a close now, the sky now decorated in splashes of brilliant purple and pink as the moon began to come into view. hardly a soul seemed to be around, except for them. the dark hearted beasts would be out soon enough, if not already, but for once catalyst couldn't care less. with revenant, fear and concern just didn't exist anymore. before, she wouldn't have ever been caught out at this hour... but right now all she wanted was this moment in time to last forever. "revenant... you..." she had to hear it, had to make it tangible, make herself see this wasn't a trick of her mind and that yes, this was happening... still though, what kind of woman was she if she couldn't even tell him herself of how she felt for him? her brave streak steeled itself, and she turned her dial to his closest audit. "...i love you." she whispered, a soft intimate song echoing just around them, only for his ears to hear.

ooc ;; finally got this done. sorry for the wait. x3

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