[PRP] Not as Pure as the Driven Snow (Ahriman and Nemain)

[cyhorse]

Silence. How peaceful... or perhaps a bit haunting. This silence allowed a lone soquili to delve deep into their thoughts, to memories long since forgotten and some forgotten for good reason. Crimson tainted thoughts lingered and stirred restlessly like a creature trapped in a cage, hoping to one day be able to claw its way out. To one stallion, these blood tainted memories were beginning to reemerge. His heart began to race, pupils dilated and his pace quickened as a snarl formed on the stallion's face. Dark eyes seemed to become darker as he was grabbed by the creature in his mind. Now, the stallion seemed to be losing control of his own mind. With a clenched jaw, he looked around. Fearful eyes stared back at him for a split second...

The same crimson color that tainted his memories now infected the once white snow around him. A buck's limp carcass now laid in the crimson and white snow. Ahriman's dark eyes formed into slits as he ripped and pulled at the flesh of the creature as if it were the very thing that brought him pain after all these years. When he was finished, Ahriman felt a smirk slither across his maw as he admired his work. It was all such a blur, but something about it felt right.

With flaring nostrils, the large stallion noted a few vultures in the sky waiting for him to decide when they would be allowed to feast. His stomach was only slightly filled to allow him to easily capture more prey or fight if needed. It was a good feeling to have a fresh kill, but the stallion snorted before deciding he needed to move on. After one last glare at the buck, Ahriman's heavy hooves plunged into the fetlock high snow as he contemplated where he would rest.

A husky grunt escaped the stallion as the snow crunched underneath large hooves. The bulky stallion was built for weather like this, but it didn't mean he enjoyed the snow. Steam bellowed from his nostrils with each breath the stallion exhaled as he trudged on through the ice and snow. Perhaps he would find a warm place to rest sooner rather than later.
 

[-Diamond-Elephant-]

Ghostly plumes of warm breath escaped the mare as her chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm, nostrils flaring as the scent of fresh blood, of death, filled her senses. It was faint, cloaked by the smells of winter, but she could smell it nonetheless. Cloven hooves sunk into the chilling snow as the mare set off towards the source of the smell, leathery wings flexing and stretching, shaking snowflakes free from her wings. Nemain knew not what she would find at the source, but she would keep her wits about her. After all, often where there was death, there was also it's cause.

Earlier in the day the kalona mare had ventured from the slight warmth of her temporary lodgings in search of a meal, the reserves she had gathered over the past few weeks having run out the night before. She wasn't hungry, not yet, but it was key to keep one's strength up, especially in the harshest of seasons and in a land one was a stranger in. It was now late in the afternoon, the sun already setting behind the horizon, the sky turning a wash of purples and blues, like a bad bruise. She had already caught a hare or two and was about to turn for home, but the smell had caught her attention. Raising her muzzle to the air, she gave another exploratory sniff. Yes. Coppery blood, deer's blood.

With deliberate steps Nemain continued on through the snowy landscape, tail flicking back and forth as she ducked her head beneath low branches and weaved deftly in and out amongst thick, snow covered bush. Bright eyes quickly caught sight of the circling vultures that soared overhead. She was close. Briefly her pace quickened, though she did not let her desire to find the source of the smell cloud her judgement, no, rather she remained ever aware and mindful of her surroundings. The first time you forgot to could always quite easily be your last.

She smelled the other horse before she saw it, green eyes narrowing as she came to an abrupt stop. At first she had not caught its scent, the blood and the cold masking it. She knew she was likely to come across the thing that had killed the deer, but she had assumed it'd likely be a wolf, or coyote. A rookie's error on her part, one she silently scolded herself for. Perhaps it was the one responsible for the scent of deer's blood on the air, perhaps not. Either way it was close, and she wasn't so sure she was in the mood for an encounter.

Just as she was about to take flight it came upon her, and she stopped in her tracks, turning her head to face it. What she saw before her appeared to be a stallion, a kalona. An unintelligible look was fixed upon her features as she stared at him, her gaze unwavering. Although he was kalona she recognized him not, definitely not one of her old herd, but instead one of this land. It was difficult to judge what would come of this unexpected meeting, but she prepared herself for whatever. ''Evening.'' She said mildly, penetrating gaze eying the stallion from hoof to horn.  

[cyhorse]

Heavy hooves continued to stomp through the snow. Perhaps the stallion would walk with a bit more finesse if he felt he had something to lose. His mind wandered once more. Everything in his life was gone and he was now left alone in the soquili lands. The mother he once revered now gone... lost in her own mind. He hissed at the thoughts as if to drive them away, but they only fought back. Spaded tail lashed wildly as the creature clawed at Ahriman's mind. It was determined to haunt him this day, but he would continue to fight back more than ever. He refused to succumb to the monster in his mind like his mother had.

The thoughts quickly faded when a voice spoke out to Ahriman that he had not ever heard before. His pitch black eyes pierced the mare who dared to attempt a conversation with the tainted soul. He had been caught off guard. His thoughts clouded his vision, the blood masked his senses and the cold simply made everything difficult. Where had this mare come from and why would she wish to speak with Ahriman? Although he questioned her presence, the kalona would never pass a chance to converse with another kalona.

After a quick double check to ensure that she was of pure blood, Ahriman couldn't help but allow himself to smirk at the mare now. Pitch black eyes gazed over her features for a moment before the smirk faded and a serious expression overcame his features. "Evening..." A simple greeting that held no tone or context. He wondered where the conversation would lead. Now turning to face the mare, he took a few steps closer then came to a halt just out of her reach. She was a small mare compared to Ahriman, but not quite as tiny as his mother. The stallion noted the feather in her mane then her piercing green eyes. Perhaps this mare would be good company.

After debating what to say, Ahriman simply stood in silence for a moment. Steam rising after each breath as black orbs focused on the emerald ones that stared at him. "Why is such a small mare out here alone?" A grin tugged at his maw as he watched the kalona's movements. He knew very little about their race, but what he did know was that it was rare to find another pure kalona around the soquili lands. Perhaps now was the best time to have a little fun with a fellow kalona.
 

[-Diamond-Elephant-]

It seemed he too had been caught off guard. Good. They were on an even footing, for now. Eyes the colour of pitch stared back at her, yet she remained steadfast and unwavering. It was almost a silent battle of wills. Who would be the one to turn their gaze first? Who knew, either way you never wished it to be you. Lest you show some form of weakness.

Her chest rose and fell with steady breaths, cloven hoofs digging into the soft snow as she turned to face him fully, wings stretching before folding at her sides. He smirked at her for a time, her answer a quirk of a dark brow. She knew not what to make of the smirk, but it soon shifted to a far more serious expression as he finally returned her greeting. There was one thing certain about the stallion, and it was that he possessed a rather imposing, if not intimidating, appearance. With his inky black eyes, the deer's blood splattered upon his contrasting pale coat, the sharp thorns he wore about his neck, and the size of him. She'd be a fool to drop her guard around him. Then again, she rarely dropped her guard around anyone.

As he advanced towards her, she ever slightly tilted her head upward, an instinctive and proud gesture, yet her eyes remained trained upon his. From what she gathered he appeared intrigued by her, at least partly. Either way she'd take mild interest over outright hostility, she wasn't in the mood for it. For a time there was a lengthy silence held between them. Nemain was used to such silences and did not find them awkward in the slightest, but the same couldn't be said for everyone. She would not speak, not yet. For she had initiated the conversation in the first place. Let him continue it. And continue it he did.

Dark ears swivelled forward as the words left parted lips in a wispy plume of warm breath, the mare's nose wrinkling faintly at his words and the grin that accompanied them. After careful thought Nemain spoke, deciding on what to share with the fellow kalona and what to keep to herself. ''For reasons that would likely be of little interest to you.'' She answered with a faint smile of her own, one that did not reach her eyes. ''Whether I am alone or not remains to be seen. For all you are aware I could have the rest of my herd hiding just past those trees over there. Laying in wait.'' She said simply with an easy shrug of the shoulders. In truth it was... good to see another kalona in this unfamiliar land. It had been some time since she'd last been with her kin.

With a tilt of the head she inquired ''Why is such a large stallion out here all alone?''