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 Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 11:14 am
 Jezabelle's steps were labored as she slowly meandered her way through the trees, the underbrush tickling the underside of her large stomach as she passed, making her mouth twist and her crimson eyes flash with irritation. She was fairly positive she shouldn't have undertaken such a journey this far along in her condition but there was someone she wanted to see, to talk to before she brought these new lives into the world. Sangria, her sister, who had been through all of this before. She had delivered herself of two healthy foals without the father around, a feat that had left Belle staggered by her sister's strength of will and character. Her own pregnancy had also been a complete surprise, and although she and Laertes were happy and excited about the upcoming birth, Belle still wasn't sure she was cut out to be a mother, especially with the way things currently stood with her mate. She had no role model to look up to, Jessamine hadn't exactly been a star parent, and she had never been around foals much in her life. But perhaps Sangria could help her out there, Belle really needed to hear reassuring words and a soothing tone after the last few weeks, which was why she had crept away from Laertes in the middle of the night to undertake this crazy journey on her own when she was so round she felt she would be better off just laying on the ground and rolling through the forest. It had seemed like such a good idea at the time.... She winced as a few pairs of small legs jabbed at her insides.
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Posted: Sun Apr 07, 2013 8:56 pm
 Sangria wrinkled her nose at the scent that wafted from the day old carcass she'd come across. It wasn't one of her kills which alarmed the mare for a moment before she deliberately kicked the carcass with enough force to push it out of her way on the path. Sangria was restless. There was no better explanation for why she was pacing back and forth in a familiar clearing. It was one that held special meaning for her as it was here that she had discovered at long last one of her siblings. After reuniting the family Sangria had pulled back from the family in order to allow Relic time to reconnect with Jessamine. Who would want to stay around for the potential backlash of animosity or the rekindling of a possible romance?
So Sangria had taken her time during her travels. She'd checked in briefly with Naraku before once again taking off without notice. It was how she was. She needed her alone time. Sangria craved the moments that she had to herself in order to just be herself. Like right now. A rustling sound caught her attention and she dug a needle free from her wrap. Hunger clawed at her like a living thing and she gazed keenly into the surrounding foliage, watching for any sign of disturbance. A minute passed before a mouse darted into view. Sangria gave a sound of disgust. There was no way a mouse would satisfy her hunger tonight.
Letting herself relax Sangria tucked away the needle before casting a gaze towards the night sky. Heavy clouds covered part of the dark heavens. The moon fought to provide light for the ground below. Her pale coat glowed with a luminosity that she admired. Shaking her head Sangria returned to the clearing. Something had drawn her back to this place tonight. So for now she waited with a patience that was unusual ... even for her.Faithofthefallen Did I do this right? I think I've just turned on notifications for quotes.
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Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 10:48 am
Her sides heaving with exertion, Jezabelle finally broke through the trees and stepped out into the moonlit clearing, her large eyes squinting in the sudden glare as she turned to face Sangria. She had known her sister would be here tonight somehow, the knowledge had been visceral, it was what had driven her away from her lover's side so many nights ago and dictated the relentless pace necessary to reach this place at this time. She had stopped during the day to take shelter and hunted small game while on the move, her mouth and clothing were still streaked red with the blood she had not had time to wash off. "Sister." She stated simply with a bob of her head in greeting although her eyed were full of warm affection as she gazed at the first sibling she had managed to find after leaving her mother's home. "it has been far too long."
Belle had been saddened by the necessity of splitting up so soon after their small family had been reunited but she had agreed with Sangria that it would be best to leave their parents alone to get reacquainted... Whatever that meant, Relic and Jessamine had a relationship that often confused even their own children. The thought of her parents made Belle wince, she had not yet mustered the courage to tell them of her pregnancy, in fact, Sangria would be the first of her very immediate family to know. She had told Risti, their recently found grand niece the first time they met, she was so caught up in the magic of the news, and of course she had immediately found Laertes and told him of his imminent fatherhood... But they were quite stable. She knew it was alright to tell Sangria and perhaps her father and brother, but Jessamine.... The mare had a history of attacking her own baskets, Belle wasn't sure she could trust her mother alone around her children until they were old enough to defend themselves.
"I have... News to share." She divulged hesitantly, moving closer slowly and deliberately, as was wise when one saw the hungry look dancing in any of her family's eyes but as the rest of her body emerged from the shadows her rounded stomach was a declaration on its own that required no verbalization.
kettyn Yep ^-^ worked! Are Zacharael and Ananel grown now or still foals ICly?
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Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 11:13 am
Sangria's gaze caught a flash of white and it almost seemed like deja vu at first. This clearing and this meeting seemed to resonate with memories of the past. The mare that emerged from the shadowed trees now reflected the same image as the one in the past. Sangria heard Jezabelle's soft greeting before wincing at the scent of blood that overlaid Jezabelle's familiar scent. When the moonlight finally washed over Jezabelle's form Sangria could discern why she could smell blood. It seemed as if her sister had hunted successfully before arriving at the clearing. Sangria's gaze followed the streaks of red color before she shook her head to clear her thoughts. She couldn't attack one of her own blood.
Closing her eyes and breathing in deeply helped Sangria to focus her thoughts and dispel the urge to do something she would later regret. At long last she had the control she wished to achieve. Her eyes opened and flashed red towards Belle's location. "I agree. It has been far too long."
Sangria winced with a imperceptive shudder as Belle moved closer to her location. The phrase she spoke sounded so innocent when compared to her appearance. The rounded stomach for spoke of Belle's possible news and Sangria watched Belle with a sudden understanding. The family it seemed was to grow again. Sangria commanded her legs to move and met Belle halfway. "How long have you known?"Faithofthefallen ~*claps*~ Yay. The self RP I have going I have Zach as a young adult male. So I think I'll keep him at that. As for Ananel I have no idea but we'll just say that he's the same. Haven't really plotted with Meepfur at all.
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Posted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 9:21 am
"A while now, they are due any day..." She peered off into the darkness over her sister's shoulder her expression drawn and weary "Mother doesn't know. Nobody does, except for Laertes and myself, and you now of course." Her eyes were darkened by an obscure sense of pain, "I wanted to bring my children into the world with a family around them, but Laertes and I, we're just too different. I couldn't see it before, wouldn't, but he is too honorable, too good, we just don't understand each other the way we used to." She gazed at the ground, looking very much like a broken hearted child. She didn't know if Sangria would understand, didn't know much about her sister's romantic affairs, but she needed to lance the wound that had been festering around her heart the last few weeks. If she couldn't talk about these things to her own sister, then who could she turn to?kettyn Alright! Was just wondering to figure out a bit of a timeline for whats been going on in the family, Spoof and I are trying to hammer out all the details to figure out where we are exactly xD. Curious- does Sangria have contact with Ananel ICly or just Zach?
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Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 6:01 pm
Risti peered from the shadows, ducking behind a tree when it seemed Belle was looking in her direction. The mare was larger now, growing plump with motherhood. It was much more obvious now. She had asked to come along, but Belle had left before she could. Risti knew she was stressed, she didn't blame her great-aunt for disappearing. She couldn't imagine being a future mother and losing a mate.
So she had simply followed her, tracking her footsteps and hoping she would find her again. Belle had been more of a mother to her than Risti's own mother. It wasn't to say her own mother was not adequate, but Belle had given Risti valuable advice that she hadn't gotten anywhere else. Belle was perfectly suited toward motherhood it seemed. Perhaps that was why Risti was so keen on following her and sticking with her. She wanted to help, wanted to be with her aunt more than others. Rinkini was usually too tormented by her visions to offer her daughter any help, or at least that's how it seemed to Risti.
That's another reason she needed to find out more about the family, to help her mother. So she had followed Belle, hoping she would lead her to others. This was the first time she had seen her in a while, after a few days of tracking her. She wanted to run to her and tell her that she was here...but she hadn't met the other mare, she assumed it was Sangria but she was unsure of what the outcome would be if she came bursting in on their conversation. Drawing closer, she could hear the pain in her aunt's voice. She hoped she would not be angry that Risti was listening in on all of this personal business. She couldn't help looking at Sangria, trying to take in her personality from the shadows.Faithofthefallen Hope it's still ok if I join you two. :3 Sorry for replying so late, school has been a little hectic. Hehe.
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Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 11:04 am
Sangria could hear the pain in Jezabelle's words as she talked about Laertes. It was a noble idea to try and raise children with a stable family around them but Sangria had the feeling that nothing would come easy with their family lineage working against them. The pale mare also took in the fact that the foals were due any day and the fact that hardly anyone else knew of Belle's condition. Sangria felt the need to bolster Belle's mood. In a way Belle's situation was worse than her own had been. She didn't even know who the father was of her own sons. Belle had had a relationship with the father of her children and now was feeling the familiar sensation of heartbreak.
"I can't lie and tell you that I know how it feels sister, but things will eventually turn for the better. I've not experienced the heartbreak that you are caught in as I never knew Zacharael's father," here Sangria paused. This was actually the first time that she had spoken of her own experience to a member of her family. "I don't think I'd change being a mother for anything but I sometimes wish I hadn't gone through with a rash decision."
Sangria sighed softly before scenting the air. Something else was nearby and it was much larger than a random rodent of the forest. Her eyes flashed briefly before she took a couple steps past Belle's location. The mare wrestled free her weapon from the lace holding it fixed to her leg before scenting the air again. "Hmm...something rather large is nearby. Are you expecting company Belle?"Baby Pandah It's okay Pandah. Welcome.
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Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 8:22 pm
Belle hung her head, for a moment overwhelmed with sadness as hot tears traced paths through the blood on her face to water the ground. Her sides heaved with silent sobs, she had loved Laertes, still did. But she was what she was, and could neither be more nor less, regardless of how she may wish she could change for him. It was this that had driven her from his side, she would not take his children from him, but this pairing would bring them nothing but heartache and despair should they continue. She would have to end it, before the children were born, which meant one of them must leave with him when he departed. She doubled over again as the pain of this realization wracked her body, her heart already aching for the foal that slumbered within her body and would all too soon be taken away from her. She didn't know how their mother had done it, it seemed her family was doomed to be broken every generation, wasn't the bloodlust that condemned them in the eyes of other regular's enough?
She stepped closer to her sister, taking deep calming breaths of her familiar scent and sniffling as she banished her tears. She had lived through worse, perhaps she and Laertes could work something out so they could both know their children, it would hurt to see him and not be able to have him, but it would hurt less than watching him walk out of her life forever with one of their foals.
At Sangria's pronouncement, Jezabelle wheeled around to face the forest, her ears laid back against her skull and an animal like growl ripping from her throat as her eyes registered a flash of color in the darkness. "No, I came here alone." Ferociously protective of the lives growing within her, she reached over her shoulder to tear free the cleaver tucked within her saddlebag, it's keen edge rippling in the moonlight as she placed it between her and the threat. It had been freshly coated with a paralyzing agent only the previous night and only a small slice would render at attacker immobile for a short period of time, long enough. Her burning red eyes pierced the darkness beyond the trees, "Show yourself!" she called.
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Posted: Fri Apr 19, 2013 9:56 pm
She couldn't easily hear what they were saying, but she could see the tears on Belle's lovely face. She had drawn closer in worry, perhaps a little too close. She saw the glint of a knife and instinctively went for her own, but she stopped herself. This was family. If she revealed herself to Sangria weilding a knife herself it would not do much to build up trust between them. So she left her own knife where it was, hanging limply from her beads.
She observed as Belle drew her cleaver, the anger in her eyes catching Risti by surprise. She hadn't seen her this way before. She knew the mare was simply being protective of her family, knew that under the circumstances the cleaver was needed. Had it been anyone else, Risti would probably have backed off. But she knew Belle, and she knew that she was not a monster.
"It's me!" she peeped, slowly emerging from the shadows, her tail between her legs in an instinctive manner. Her eyes went to Sangria first, knowing that she was a pitiful sight to behold and that her aunt would surely want nothing to do with a sniveling stalker. She looked at Belle next, hoping she would be the mare Risti thought she was. She had promised what little protection she could give, she had told Risti she could come. But Belle seemed broken right now, she seemed stressed. She didn't want to put anymore pressure on her aunt, so straightening and relaxing a little she looked at Sangria. "My name is Risti. I am your kin," she said to her other aunt, forgetting any hopes of being accepted.
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Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 11:46 am
She knew that her sister was trying to hold it all together but Sangria let her sister have a small moment to herself to try and contain the emotions that were wreaking havoc on Belle's well being. Sangria instead took the chance to properly take in Belle's changed appearance. The roundness to her stomach was all too familiar and for a moment Sangria was transported back in time to a moment when she too had lives depending on her to protect them. Unlike Belle she had had no one to turn to and even after reuniting with her family she had kept the news of her sons hidden deep inside of her until both had become able to protect themselves.
At the sound of the growl ripped from Belle's throat Sangria felt a familiar surge of blood lust over take her. Until a moment ago she was happy to have let her sister call the shots on this encounter but the mare began to experience a different sort of emotion flood over her. She had a duty to protect the foals that would one day be her possible nieces or nephews. Sangria's grip on her blade slackened and the weapon dropped to the forest floor. Her needles where far more accurate in a time like this. Lowering her head she found purchase on the top of one of her needles and yanked sharply. The motion freed the needle from the wrap around her neck. Sangria's eyes swept the surrounding foliage as Belle's command rung out clearly.
The emergence of a yellow Soquili almost had Sangria flinging her needle in that direction. However she paused for a moment. The stranger's comment seemed to indicate that she knew Belle. As the mare came fully into view Sangria sneered at the image that was presented to her. Tail tucked between the legs and a skittish air about her, it was not an impressive first sight. As the stranger's eyes flickered to Belle Sangria placed herself in front of her sister. Her gaze narrowed dangerously as the mare spoke her piece. Sangria's words, when she spoke, belied the dangerous situation Risti now found herself in.
"How exactly are you kin to me Risti?"
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Posted: Fri Apr 26, 2013 12:44 pm
"Risti" Jezabelle sighed in relief, the burning red rage fading from her eyes as they beheld the familiar visage of her niece, recently met but already well loved. She felt her body relax as her thoughts began to order themselves once more into a coherent whole. It wasn't the madness of the bloodlust that had gripped her, but something much more feral and primal. It had to be the pregnancy, she had never felt anything like that, and she remembered her mother telling her about how she had savaged a male when gripped by that confusing torrent of hormones. Belle had written it off as one of her mother's violent quirks, it certainty hadn't seemed out of character for Jessamine when in one of her moods, but perhaps it really had been something deeper and darker that had driven her mother's actions. She had felt something like that unfurl within her moments before, something other. It had left her feeling drained and shaken.
Glancing to the fore, however, she could clearly see that Sangria had not let her guard down in the slightest and had now positioned herself between Belle and Risti. She had promised to protect Risti when she introduced the young mare to the rest of her family, she had done her niece a disservice, fleeing in the middle of the night like that. Belle hadn't been thinking clearly, of course Ri would have followed her, she must have been worried. But the situation could still be salvaged. "It's alright, dear sister, she speaks the truth." Belle spoke softly through the cleaver clenched between her teeth as she stepped foreword to gently nuzzle Sangria's silky fall of hair. Jezabelle absolutely adored her sister and although the sheer animosity radiating from her sibling's body left her feeling breathless with awe and a a little unease, she had and would never hesitate before expressing that affection. She knew how much that could hurt, she had seen it too many times in Laertes' eyes as of late.
"She's Lucian's granddaughter. I told her I would bring her to meet you, but in all of this, after speaking with him... I lost track." She hoped Sangria would understand what she meant, she had no idea if her sister had ever experienced these episodes.
A sudden pained gasp escaped her body as a particularly strong kick from one of the foals made her insides convulse and contract with searing agony. She doubled over, panting in distress as she waited for the familiar twinge of discomfort to pass and was alarmed when it seemed to only intensify. "Oh no.. Oh no, no, no" she moaned over and over, the long journey had definitely been a bad decision she scolded herself as her knife fell to the forest floor.
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Posted: Sat Apr 27, 2013 12:53 pm
The point of Sangria's needles stared Risti in the face accusingly, warningly. She stood steady as Belle explained, abandoning the pitiful creature she had been before. "It's nice to meet you," she said simply despite the situation, her eyes falling upon the needles in hopes that Sangria would lower them. She didn't want to cause trouble. If Belle told her to leave, she would do so.
The look in her other aunt's eyes was one of disgust, and it made Risti's fears a little more real. Even among her own blood she was something to be sneered at, something to hate. She had been so eager to meet Sangria that perhaps she had forgotten Belle's warnings. But no matter what Sangria thought of her, there were still questions that needed answering. Risti was still on her own mission. She would find out more about Sangria and be on her way, if that was how it had to be.
The clink of metal upon the ground sent Risti flying towards her aunt, despite the dangerous Sangria and her needles. She was no midwife, she had no experience with foals or pregnancy, but she knew this was not good. "Come lay down, you need rest," she said. It was the only advice she could possibly give, and she looked up at Sangria for help. For now, they had to put aside their meeting and any discontent that might have been forming between them to help Belle. She was sure Sangria understood this, and she waited for her to take over. She had children, she would be far more helpful in this situation. Risti came to Belle's side, offering support if she needed it.
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Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2013 6:47 pm
It seemed at first like it would have been a battle between herself and Risti. Sangria knew that despite her threatening posture that Belle would have been in no condition to either interfere or fight alongside herself or this stranger. It was why, at the moment, she continued to point her needle at the yellow mare. The sight of a knife dangling off of a cord around Risti's neck drew a pause from Sangria's feral stance. A minute twitch of the muscles around her legs indicated just how tensely she was wound. The soft touch against her hair from Belle almost had Sangria jumping into the air. However she managed to keep that action from happening. The moonlight played down on her sister as she spoke softly, gently, almost as if to soothe a savage beast. Sangria cocked her head to the side to observe Belle and mull over her words.
Lucian's granddaughter? Sangria took in the sight of Risti again before letting the point of the needle fall to the ground. The tension in the air dropped as she gave her mane a gentle shake to lose the sensation of insects crawling that Belle had unwittingly brought to the fore. Sangria used the motion to also remove the wrap from her neck. Once the garment was on the ground the mare stashed the needle back into the empty pouch. "Risti ... so it looks like I wasn't the only one to expand our line it seems."
Sangria would have continued to muse over this new knowledge and possible tidbit she could use to tease Lucian about if it wasn't for the pained gasp that Belle emitted before she doubled over. Sangria's eyes widened in shock before she recognized what this could possibly mean. Although she was standing nearer to Belle than Risti had been, it was the yellow-pelted mare that raced to Belle's side first. Sangria watched the scene, as almost like an outsider before pulling herself together. The mare closed her eyes before centering her thoughts. She had to help Belle get through this. If this was what she thought it was ... then there would be a need for baskets. "Risti, I know you probably don't trust me at the moment but I need you to do something very important. If what is happening what I think is happening ... we are in dire need of baskets. The foals won't survive without them. I will stay with Belle and watch over her ... but don't dawdle."
Sangria winced at another groan from Belle before she leaned over and nuzzled her sister. "It'll be alright. Just take deep, even breaths for now Belle. If this is labor ... we might be here for a while."
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Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 11:14 am
Belle only caught buts and pieces of the conversation going on around her as she sank to the ground obediently, eyes squeezed shut as she concentrated on the mad struggle going on within her body, her face tight with pain. Jezabelle had heard the part about breathing so she concentrated on changing her quick panicked breaths into long steady ones.
Her heart was racing, despite their recent differences she wished more than anything that Laertes was here with her right now, his deep voice had a calming effect on her when it wasn't charged with frustration. But she was glad to have Sangria and Risti, the pain was not unbearable, but it was frightening in its unfamiliarity, she would not want to go through it alone.
Baskets, she heard her sister give the command. There had been some back at home but she had felt so unstrung it hadn't occurred to her how dangerous it was for her to wander to far from them when she was this close to her time. She knew the foals wouldn't survive long if they couldn't find any in a hurry. Because this was it. Thankfully there were often stashes of baskets to be found near crossroads and well traveled areas. This area was secluded but it was not so far from civilization there was no hope of finding any. She only hoped they could find some in time, everything was happening so quickly...
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Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 2:40 pm
Baskets. Her heart jumped at the word. Was it time for them already? As she looked at the swell of her aunt's belly she knew it was. Her heart thumped heavily, urging her to go. Don't dawdle?! As if such a thing was a consideration for her. With a flick of her tail and one last glance towards Belle, she was off. She couldn't say she wasn't thankful for the opportunity to do something. She would have been no use standing by as Belle gave birth. There was no better job for her at this time. But as the adrenaline began to fade, her sense of urgency began to heighten. She told herself not to panic, but she could not get the idea that lives depended on her out of her mind.
She had never really thought about baskets and their importance. She had seen them on her travels, but rarely had she considered what they meant. Life, protection...death without them. Don't dawdle. Her aunt's command echoed in her mind as she pushed through trees, hoping to find the nearest sign of civilization and baskets. She had seen roadways while tracking Belle, but how far were they from this area? Instinct told her to press onward. The cracks in her skin accelerated as she grew more and more worried that she would find them in time. And then a familiar feeling caused her pace to slow. She knew what this meant. The breaking fluctuated alarmingly, cracking and reforming all too quickly. Now was no time for one of her visions. She knew one was coming, and she struggled against its power as she walked. Blinking away the fuzziness, she pushed forward against its call. But the consuming daze was too strong, stronger than ever before, and she saw spots in her vision as the real world faded away and she fell into the comforts of a trance...
To the right, up ahead through the trees, past the stream and along a worn dirt road, take a left turn on the fork in the path, keep going straight until the baskets can be seen. One, two, three...plenty of baskets for a needy passerby to claim. But be careful. The fastest way back is thicker with trees, there are more rocks, but shorter in distance. The way to get there is too long to take back. Lives at stake, make the right choice, be careful, don't dawdle, don't dawdle, don't dawdle, don't....
She pulled herself out of the vision that seemed to be directing her somewhere but that had taken a chaotic turn. She wasn't sure how long she had been in her own mind, no idea how much time she had left before it was too late. But she knew what she had to do now and she had to do it quickly. The vision she had fought to resist had turned out to be a gift. She did not focus on the fact that she hadn't had a vision like it before. Never before had her visions been helpful, or so detailed. If she had the time to think about it, she might have been impressed, or perhaps frightened. But now the only thing to be frightened of was the little lives that awaited her. She shook the resonating "don't dawdle" out of her mind and ran full force towards the baskets, hoping with all her heart that her vision was right.
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