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 Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 4:50 pm
Pace. Ten steps one way. Ten steps the other. Pace. The soft ground underneath Neve's hooves was getting churned up as she walked back and forth, the occasional slip causing her a moments consternation as the still healing wound to her shoulder was pulled by the motion.
Pace. Pace. She stopped, flexing her wings, unfurling them both, one at a time. The one that Izusa had injured was healing but she had yet to test it in flight; she felt it was too soon and she had no great hurry to fall from the sky like a stone if her wing did give out.
That day. Everything burned in her memory, branded there for as long as she would live she was sure. And the aftermath! Was that meant to happen? It couldnt have happened. It had happened. A faint smile touched her features. No! She shouldnt look on it with fondness, even if it had been a pleasurable way to end a day of pain and turmoil. How could she be pleased that she had coupled with a stallion who turned his nose up at the thought of romantic love?
And now..the curve to her belly told the tale. Consequences. There always were to every action, and she was carrying them. So she had to find him, and the place where the deed had been done was a good a place as any to start, even if it did make the remembering even easier.
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Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 9:15 am
He hadn't left his makeshift home in the tiny clearing hidden by the wllow trees. They proved to hide him and his little home well, and the canopt kept the grass dry. He had once thought of the ebach as his favorite place to visit, but that had changed. This was now the stallion's favorite place, for more than one reason. But he had a good feeling that it was primarily because this was where he had put a mare first. He had helped the mare after a brutal attack by her mother...
But then that was a reason why he despised the little clearing. He had comforted her, but not exactly as he had wanted too. He did not know what had come over him when it had happened. Marius knew however, that he did in a way lust towards the mare ever since they met, and it disgusted him. The civilized part of him, the gentleman had disappeared that day. And shortly afterwards, so was Neve.
He hadn't seen her since, and he wasn't quite sure how he would react to seeing her. He remembered that day very well, too well for his liking. He had wanted Neve close... he even told her that, that he found her to be interesing. But not that close! Or did he? He snorted into the grass as he rolled onto his belly from his side, contemplating the whole situation.
One thing was for sure though.
He did quite miss her presence. She was an alluring mare, a pretty one with a good mind.
But did he love her? It wasn't something he knew for sure, because healways said he didn't believe in it.
"Stupid mares..."
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Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 9:37 am
Nostrils flared as she drew closer to the little hideaway. Thoughts carried her away, back, back to that day. He might have thought that he had been all lust towards her, but she had found him pleasing, gentle.
'What is wrong with me?' she muttered, shaking her head. She was near enough to see the willow trees, the drooping branches, and his scent, still heavy on the ground, as it had been on her for days after she had left to recuperate on her own.
She found herself stopping, rustling her wings, tucking away the errant feathers, shaking her mane and tail so that they fell 'just so', checking her hooves and kicking away any excess mud that had gathered as she walked. Neve was determined to look her very best..after all, she had no idea in the world how Marius would take the news that she was about to deliver.
She pushed her way into the clearing, just in time to catch his words and she froze, one leg up in the air. Was he talking about her? It was too late to back away now, he had surely heard her moving the branches, and her hooves on the leaves on the ground.
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Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 4:35 pm
His senses had dulled over the past few days, too busy mulling over what had happened. He should hate himself. What had occured was everything he promised his mother when she asked him to be a gentleman. But he was a stallion first before that... No! He frowned as he tossed that thought away. There was no excuse for his weakness for the mare.
He however, heard the rustle of leaves, but didn't dar elook in the direction. He picked up on that alluring scent and knew exactly who it was. He swallowed hard, lifting his head off of the ground and slwoly looking to the mare. Izusa had really scarred the mare, but it didn't necessarily take from her beauty. At least her wounds were healing. He wanted to smile at that, but his expresson remained unreadable, though surprise flickered across his eyes. Wy would she want to come here of all places?
He didn't make a move to stand up, his muscles too tense. He had to swallow again to moisten his dry throat, his bi-colored eyes flcikering to the ground before back to Neve, "Neve," he said her name simply, but it took a lot of work. He just stared at her, unsure of what to say or do.
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Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2007 6:33 am
It wasn't as if she could just blurt it out; let the words fall out as if they were her asking what the weather was like or even how he was. She smiled unconsciously, the motion just happening when she saw him properly, his grace and looks softening her. Neve didnt want that. She needed her senses right now, needed a clear head.
'Marius,' she replied. She twitched her wings, a nervous movement and then spoke again.
'Would you..walk with me? There is...' she paused, uncertain for a moment.
'I need to speak with you about something.' she finally finished.
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Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2007 6:42 am
Marius's eyes lingered on her for a moment, and then turned to look at the grass. He nodded and silently stood up, flicking his long tail free of loose pieces of grass and shaking his mane. He suspected that this of all places was not a good place to talk... But what did she want to talk about? He didn't know what others did when they saw eachother after a certain event. Wa she supposed to be embarressed and flush whn he saw her? He wasn't, and though he often was uncomfortable with the mare for "stallion" reasons, he thought he could be at ease with her if it never had happened.
He cleared his troat as he started towards her, his eyes never leaving hers. He kept his expression free of emotion, unsure of how to express his confusion. He walked ahead and around her, pushing past the long vines of leaves. Marius looked behind him slightly, pausing in step, "What did you wish to talk about?"
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Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2007 6:52 am
With a flick of her tail Neve was free of the tightly packed foliage, and the shook her mane, walking onwards as she worked out how to frame an answer. It wasnt as if she was showing enough for it to obvious; besides, he might very well think that it wasnt their dalliance that had led to her current condition.
She let out a long breath, walking steps ahead of him and turning to face Marius.
'Us..' she started. No, that was no good. He might be thinking that she was suggesting a fully committed relationship because of what they had done. One thing at a time, as she didnt even know yet of how she felt about him.
'You remember. I remember. What happened. After.' she gave a half smile.
'There isnt really any other way of saying what I have to say. I'm - I'm pregnant.'
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Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2007 7:32 am
Marius stopped in step when she walked ahead of him and faced him. This wasn't much of a walk, he reasoned as he watched her carefully, his brows knitting together in slight confusion. At the word, he simply swallowed, not wanting to interrupt her... Though he thought she knew he did not believe in love. Love was such a fickle thing, and he wanted no part of those feelings. They were confusing and troublesome.
He eyed her carefully, and at her little smile he was taken back. She wasn't upset over that? He almost wanted to grin himself, as he had beaten himself with the thought that he may have taken advantage of her. But what she said next he did not expect. His mouth fell open and he gaped at her, blinking hard. He tried to focus on the amre before him, his eyes flickering from her face (to which he usually focused on; he did not look his female companions up and down) to her growing belly.
He opened his mouth to close it again, and it happened a few more times as he tried to find something coherent to say. His ears perked towards her and he took a step around her, looking at her belly with a confused and surprised gaze. "P-Pregnant? You? Wh--" He stopped himself, knowing very well who the father was. Though she spoke in a teasing tone and had flirty movements, she spoke of romantic love like she desired it, and he knew Neve was better than to have a random fling.
So it was obvious he was the father.
He sighed and looked back to her, his eyes soft, "Pregnant. And... How long have you known?" Marius asked carefully.
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Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2007 7:50 am
Neve watched, the flitting emotions passing across Marius easy to read. What had he expected her to say? Clearly not that; after all, she still scarce believed it herself but a growing appetite along with a feeling that she couldnt explain made it quite apparent that she was pregnant, no ifs, no buts.
'Yes..' she replied simply to his stuttering words, patiently allowing the stallion time to digest what she had told him. Her heart beat in her chest however as she waited for a reaction that wasnt born of shock.
When he spoke again, she looked at him steadily, pale into mismatched eyes and nodded.
'Yes. And only a few days really. It couldnt be anything else.' she chewed on her lip before speaking, turning away a little and walking out of a sheer need to be doing something.
'I don't..I don't expect anything of you. I just thought. I mean, if I were you. I'd want to know.' she stopped, rustling her wings again before she looked at Marius once more.
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Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2007 8:37 am
Marius's shocked expression turned to one of contemplationm as she turned to walk a bit. He grit his teeth a bit, before looking over at her, making sure to keep eye contact. He frowned a little at her, disappointed in her answer. "Expecting nothing from me is where you're quite wrong," he started, taking a few steps towards her, his tail flicking, "You should expect a good shelter for the kids and for yourself. You should be expecting that I'll be there for you and the little ones." He said, looking in a different direction for a moment before returning his attention back to her.
He swallowed hard, still trying to comprehend that he was going to be a father. He was so young! His mother wasn't going to be happy... Well, she'd get over it, he thought sourly. He reached to nuzzle her belly lightly, his heart racing. "You'll be staying here. At least I'm hoping you do." He said quietly, aiming the qiestion to Neve.
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Posted: Sun Dec 02, 2007 9:03 am
She flicked an ear, a little nettled by his expression;
'I don't know you, beyond what we've experience together. I didn't know you enough to determine whether fatherhood - children, was something you wanted. I mean, it wasn't as if I could ask you.' she said a little tartly.
Neve had always supposed that once she met a stallion that captured her heart, that they would have a family. Everything she had supposed was falling into little pieces however.
She held her breath as Marius approached, closing her eyes at the touch to her swollen belly. She found herself trembling. What was that? She knew, in a burst of knowledge. She was terrified. Terrified of following the path of her..of Izusa. Having children with someone and never having their affection, their love.
'If you want me to,' she replied in a soft voice, letting herself look at Marius.
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Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 1:37 pm
He nodded, not very fond of her words but knowing where she was coming from on the topic. "I will say that fatherhood is something I wanted... But not this soon. Not that we can change that, however," he said blatantly, not wanting to sugar her up and say he was enthusiatsic about impregnating her. Marius paused and pulled away at her temble, looking at her with an apologetic gaze.
He knew she wanted something along the lines of love and a loving family. Something he wasn't positive he could give her. He didn't want to believe in love, but now he did not want to deny his attraction to Neve, which was more than just physical. He pressed his lips into a thin line, scrutinizing her for a moment before walking around her, looking at the ground.
"I know I'm not the ideal father, Neve. And you know my views on 'love' and I know your views." He sighe deeply and continued to walk around her, shaking his head. He had a very good feeling she didn't think he'd be a good father. What her own father did to her mother probably made her judge him. He turned lightly to look at her, his expression desperate> He wasn't going to leave her and the kids. He had wanted to keep her close, and this certainly was the way to do it!
"We may not know much about eachother, but maybe this is fate's way of letting us do exactly that?" He spilled, walking around to stand infront of her, hsi tail ficking, "You don't have to stay if you don't want too... But I'd rather it if you did." He perked his ears towards her. He wouldn't make her stay if she would rather run off to her mother, but he was sure she was the last person she wanted to see.
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Posted: Thu Dec 06, 2007 11:51 am
Neve's ears flattened a little at his words. It took a great deal of self control not to pick an argument, especially given what she had overheard him saying when she had first found him, but also realised that for her it was an emotional time, and her hormones were controlling her a little. It would do her good to be as silent as possible. But she had to speak eventually;
'I never said that, I never would!' she shook her head, a petal from the fading flower adorning her mane falling, an echo of the time they had first met.
'I know, I remember. I remember very clearly what you said.' her voice took a slightly brittle tone, as though she was holding back more then words. She gave a short laugh;
'Fate? Is that what you would call getting beaten up and then comforting me in such a way that lead to this..'
She had often thought that if she had not gotten attacked by her mother than what had followed would not have happened. But did she want their relationship to be based on what was possibly pity?
Neve looked at him, tugging at her lower lip with her teeth before addressing his last words.
'I have nowhere else to go.' she replied plaintively.
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Posted: Sat Dec 08, 2007 6:28 pm
Marius was stunned at her reaction, but kept his expressioned reserved and guarded as he watched the petal fall. He kpet his eyes on the fallen petal, and he licked his dry lips quietly. She didn't think he wasn't an ideal father? He almost wanted to smile at that, but her brittle tone kept his face somber. Was she going to cry? He took a few steps towards her instinctively, woncing a bit at her tone. His voice came out rougher than he would have liked, his bi-colored eyes narrowed at the pregnant mare, "Yes, that is what I call fate. And dn't act like it's all my doing Neve! It takes two to tango." His ears flattened against his head as he pulled away from her, walking back towards the long vines that hid his small clearing.
"God Neve," he sighed, shaking his head. Mares were such a waste of time... And he just had to be drawn to much to this one. He kept his sharp gaze ahead, taking a second to compose himself. "And what I did - we did - was not out of lust dammit. At least... At least not on my part." He confessed gruffly. He wanted to add 'I think' to the end, but decided against it. He was not a horny stallion, so he did not act out of such petty feelings.
But what did he act on then?
'Not love,' he inwardly growled. There was no such thing. It had to be some kind of fondness for her company or something, he mused.
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Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 6:10 am
If she were about to cry, that stopped at Marius's tone. Wounded, she replied in a tart voice;
'I never said it was just you did I? I never stopped you because I like you..'
At the moment though she couldnt fathom exactly why she liked him. Why was he acting in such a spiteful manner? Hadn't she just told him that he was to be a father? He seemed to have liked the news in the start...she kept listening to him though, a firm, despairing belief that she wasn't to end up as her mother did keeping her there.
'What do want me to say? I can't let myself like you..' she followed him as he walked back to the entrance of the clearing she had found him in.
'Beyond friendship because you told me you don't believe in love.'
Neve knew that she had affection for Marius, beyond friendship, but what was the use if he would never admit his own feelings? The trouble was, despite Marius not believing in the emotion, he would still feel it. And not understand or recognise it for what it was..
'We are having children..' she said finally.
'I don't want us to fight.'
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