{PRP} Similar Differences {Xiuhcoatl & Arabella Nox}

[Regal Renegade]

Her legs were painful and wobbly as she made her way slowly toward the stream where her great great grandfather and great great grandmother had first met, starting the family line that she was now a part of. And with each painful step, and the sensation of her muscles pulling until they were about ready to snap, she visualized the red haired stallion who was the cause of it all. Her red eyes burned more brightly in the afternoon sun and her frustration allowed her to ignore the merciless rays sinking into her dark coat and heating her uncomfortably. She could see the stream in front of her but it seemed to blur and wash away as her mind flew from emotion to emotion.

Training had been particularly difficult these past few days, her grandfather had given her no margin for error. If she miss stepped or allowed her irritation to guide her movements he would be there, a swift kick to whatever part of her body was vulnerable at the time. She had numerous scars marking her otherwise flawless flesh to remind her that she was still a novice. When she was a foal it was all about building up strength and endurance, but when she had grown to be a mare her grandfather told her things would be getting more difficult. At the time she had no idea that meant going head to head in vicious combat with a seasoned knight. How she hated him. How she hated them all.

Her mother had dumped her with the Mactaíl line founder because she couldn’t handle her anymore. All because of her desire to have her legs burn with green fire like her mother’s did. She had always been taught that having goals and aspirations was wonderful, but apparently not in this case. Her mother was selfish. Wanting to hide away the beauty and power that she wielded with her hooves, fearful of it even. Rage began to build up in Arabella’s mind as she wallowed in her anger towards her family. Her own mother and father couldn’t deal with her, her handsome brother was out being amazing, and she was stuck here getting the crap kicked out of her and learning nothing. “What a waste.” Her delicate voice hissed.

The stream once again became visible and, rather than taking a long drink like she ought to have, she stepped into it and painfully lowered herself into it. Her large wings spread up toward the sky to keep from getting wet as she closed her eyes and let the rushing water of the stream cool her body and temper. It was like this every day, she would get angry after each session and come here to cool off, but today was different. Today she felt even more prominently that she was gaining nothing from her grandfather’s teachings, and she began to wonder why she returned to him day after day. She was wasting valuable time that could be spent getting the flames she wanted more than anything.
 

[Faithofthefallen]

It felt strange to be past the safety of his herd's sanctuary. Xiu glanced down at the lock of vibrant pink hair that hung shorter than the rest. He had cut it off to leave as an offering for safety on their largest totem. He wasn't sure he really believed in spirits at this point in his life but it was tradition, and tradition was part of what brought the many varied cultures within his herd together. He had been hesitant about leaving, having never been outside alone for any significant amount of time, but there was knowledge to be attained out here that he couldn't learn just by curling next to his great grandfather and listening to his stories.

The small stallion slowed his pace, the itching in his shoulders was beginning to distract him. The saplings rooted in his flesh had stopped growing once Xiu had reached adulthood. They were small and twisted, without leaves or flowers, but they let him know when his body was becoming dehydrated, their roots tickling him until he stopped for water. Sighing and muttering to himself about the self centeredness of plants, he adjusted his route to take him towards the nearest body of water.

Xiuhcoatl knelt down to drink, shaking his head irritably as he tried to prevent his long mane from getting wet in the process. This journey was turning out to be a thoroughly uncomfortable experience, when he left his parents had given him advice about finding himself, the thought was he would leave and come back a fully matured stallion with skills and experience to contribute to his family and herd's well being. But Xiu wasn't all that sure what use he could be, he wasn't particularly good at anything, except learning facts about the world, but that wasn't exactly a practical skill...

XBlind-DarknessX

 

[Regal Renegade]

Her eyelids grew heavy as the warm sun and the cool water worked together to make her drowsy. Though she was usually grumpy after training, she couldn’t deny that this was her favorite part. The muscle soreness gave way to utter relaxation as they finally took a moment to unclench as the lactic acid quit eating at them. Her head bowed, dropping a black curl into the stream. Every day she would come here, whine inwardly and plop down in this magnificent stream. It was her habit and at times she found herself hating it, it was so repetitive. Her release was interrupted by the sound of shifting blades of grass and she was soon on her feet again, the training she complained so much about taking over.

Moving quietly as her grandfather had taught her she stepped out of the stream and into the field, her ears perked and aware as she sought the source of the sound. Though it could be nothing more than a rabbit desiring a drink she knew not to be so oblivious to the possible dangers this world had to offer. There were Kalona and Skinwalkers out there who would love nothing more than to find a mare unaware and ripe for the taking. To simply dismiss it as something harmless was the most imbecilic thing one could do.

The sound of her hooves was muffled by the spongy earth, and she was careful not to whip the grass around so as to make a lot of noise. Of course, there was no way she was completely silent, but she could come surprisingly close. Her wings were folded tightly to her sides but they were ready to become skybound if the need arose. Her red eyes scanned the area and she stopped a moment to listen for the path the intruder was taking. A moment more of dancing blades of grass and all was silent aside from the waters gently whispering beside her. Ducking behind a bush she slowly lifted her head above the shrub line just in time to catch a glimpse of…. Pink hair?

Her head cocked ever so slightly as she observed what she thought was a foal drinking from the stream. Why on earth would a foal, who stood out so obviously from the surroundings, wander off by itself to get a drink? Taking her eyes off of it for a moment she searched the area for a sire or dam, but when none were to be found she turned her attention back to it. It was obvious that she couldn’t just leave it out here to fend for itself against the dangers of the wild. Stepping out from behind her cover she slowly approached. She hadn’t yet taken herself out of silent running so she still moved quietly, wary that this may be a trap that her grandfather had set up to test her wits. In the most delicate and maternal voice she could manage she called out to it.

“Are you lost little one? Have you no parents with you? It is not safe to wander alone you know.”

Faithofthefallen

 

[Faithofthefallen]

Xiuh hearing a faint rustle, paused in his drinking, heart hammering, wondering whether he had time to bolt or hide. The opportunity to run passed in an eye blink before a soft feminine voice rang out behind him. The stallion heaved a sigh of relief, people didn't generally speak in that tone of voice to someone they intended to maim of kill. Shaking his head and spraying a few droplets, Xiuhcoatl turned slowly to face the stranger before his brain finished processing her words. Parents? the mare thought he was some lost foal gallivanting about the countryside unescorted. Xiuh knew that it was a fairly common mistake for those who had never met one of the mini breeds before but having been raised in a very diverse herd and unused to such innocent frankness, he found this new naivety somewhat offensive.

"I'm afraid you are mistaken, miss." He responded somewhat stiffly, being somewhat unversed in making new acquaintances. His rich tenor voice, while much lighter than a regular sized stallion, still had more body and depth than a foals and while his limbs were shorter in length, they were well developed with lean muscle and possessed none of the lanky clumsiness of a young colt. "My name is Xiuhcoatl" he divulged, "Although most of my kin call me Xiuh instead." he pronounced it 'Shee-wah' emphasizing the syllables as he had noticed many outsiders found his name difficult to pronounce. "I am a stallion, full grown, although perhaps smaller than you are used to." He amended, his voice adopting a rumbling surliness at the last. He was probably older than this female, for heavens sake.

XBlind-DarknessX

Sorry! I had 4 tests in two weeks at the end of my biochem class and was having serious muse/stress issues IRL. I'm on break now for a bit so I'll be able to respond much more regularly!

 

[Regal Renegade]

She took a step back and raised her armored hoof defensively as he slowly turned to face her and began to address the mistake she had so clearly made. Her nostrils flared and her ears slid back as his tone grated against her eardrums, but she decided silence was probably the best way to go in this situation. After all, she had made a mistake. Once he finished his introduction she righted herself and eyed him warily, her wings rustling and settling by her sides. “You are quite small.” She retorted, copying his surliness and lifting her head to draw attention to her own height. “From behind you look like a foal.”

She did not acknowledge the name he had provided and instead walked slowly by him in order to take a drink from the stream. She had always been told that her stubbornness was one of her greatest weaknesses, but she was not about to apologize. After refreshing her gullet she lifted her head and studied him from the corner of her eye, her attention hovering on the strange tree-like structure growing out from under his flesh. Though she found herself intrigued she did not let her eyes or her countenance betray that, for she wished to seem as disinterested as possible. “So Sheesaw,” she intentionally butchered the careful pronunciation of his name, “mind telling me why you are trespassing on my granda’s turf?” Her German-Irish accent punctuated the final word as a mischievous smile parted her lips.

Faithofthefallen

I am sorry that took me so long Faith, my muse has been kind of blah as well. I hope life is treating you well and take your time replying, there is no need to rush. ^^

 

[Faithofthefallen]

Xi stared at her a few moments, blinking as he sized up the mare before him with his pale pink eyes. Her attitude was off putting to say the least but he supposed they may have simply gotten off on the wrong hoof. He was bone tired and perhaps feeling more sensitive than normal about his small stature while out in the world where stallions of his size weren't nearly as common as in his own herd. He considered her words in stony silence before a small smile cracked his stern features and then softened into a wide grin. He laughed and shook his head at his own foolish pride as she passed him to take a drink. He was small, and the mistake wasn't really all that surprising, hardly something to make a fuss about. "You're right of course." He admitted, relaxing, "Honest mistake."

He gave her a steely gaze when she mangled his name, sensing that she was being in dishonest the mangled pronunciation of his name but not sure enough to call her out on it. "Shee-wah" he repeated in clipped tones for her benefit, his tail swishing. "Its Aztec," he provided with a sigh. He liked to think of himself as a patient stallion, but something about this mare's attitude was tugging at his temper, although he found her more irritating than enraging. He breathed deeply a few times, closing his eyes to recenter himself. The fact that she had not offered her name in return had not escaped him but he chose not to pursue the matter, perhaps she was simply shy, or nervous. Meeting strangers on the road could certainly prove dangerous these days although he hardly thought of himself as threatening. The strange burr in her voice drew his attention, it was intriguing, but he couldn't seem to place it. Although he worried that blatantly asking would be considered rude, as always, lack of knowledge irked him. "Are you from around here?" Xiuh questioned casually, "I haven't met many soquili outside of my family so its not entirely unexpected, but I've never heard an accent like that before."

XBlind-DarknessX

;3

 

[Regal Renegade]

His acceptance of her admittedly rude behavior threw her off guard but she was able to catch herself before quirking a brow curiously. At first she thought him a foal, and then figured she would scare him off, but he remained standing where she had first chanced upon him. Perhaps there was more to him than she thought. Though she could tell he was not amused by her intended mispronunciation of his name he, though with evident irritation, pronounced it once more. She found herself to be a bit impressed with his fortitude, an ounce of regret creeping through her coarse mood. Shaking out her mane and lifting her head she remained firm but monitored herself a bit better. “Aztec huh? Never heard of it.” Peering at him from the corner of her red eyes she continued to observe his demeanor. All in all, for a little guy, he held himself in a pretty proud manner.

He hadn’t taken notice of her threatening inquiry and she could only imagine he had done so intentionally. He seemed interested in hearing about her more so than continuing to argue with her and she found herself at a loss for snide comments of any sort. With a sigh she lowered her chin and made eye contact. “My granda lives in a thicket not far from this spot.” She admitted, making sure her voice didn’t seem too warm or inviting. Her ears perked as he admitted he hadn’t met any outside of his family and she couldn’t help but to feel a connection to him. She had spent all of her time among family, yet she hadn’t even thought of this as an opportunity to meet someone new. Once again her stubborn pride that was damaged when he told her she was wrong had caused her to overlook things, something Callan often tried to break her of. “Nor have I,” pausing she thought a moment about her accent, “my granda speaks with one accent and my father another. I suppose I just picked it up and now I’m stuck with it.” Taking a few steps closer she narrowed her eyes. “Why are you so small?”

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Faithofthefallen

Finally got to it!! Sorry for the wait dearie!

 

[Faithofthefallen]

He shrugged smoothly, "I know its a very old culture, and in my family, many of us are given names in the Aztec language. My Great Grandfather seems to have started the tradition. I wish I knew more, but I never really thought to ask. Our names and culture didn't seem out of the ordinary enough to pike my interest until I left home, now that I think about it, it seems silly to venture out on my own to learn about the outside world before learning all there is to know about myself." He shook his head, smiling a bit shyly, he had gone off on a tangent again of course, it was not an uncommon occurrence when he followed a thread of thought, Xi had a tendency to think out loud.

He paused a few moments, pondering her words before responding, "Well, I think it sounds nice, Its always been fascinating to me, how people can speak one language in all manner of ways, I knew the theory of course, but hearing it for myself is much better."

Xiuh looked down at himself, blushing a little at her forwardness, but not really minding, it was sort of refreshing to address it bluntly like this. "I'm an Usdia," he explained evenly, "So its in my blood, we don't grow to be nearly as tall as most of the other breeds. I'm actually a smidge taller than average, truth be told." He glanced slightly down at her foreleg, which was bare of flesh and winced slightly in sympathy. It looked like a most grievous injury, although she didn't seem to be in pain, he tilted his head slightly as he looked at her, although that could be part of the reason her face was so pinched up when she looked at him. "Are you hurt?" He asked worriedly. He didn't know much about medicine, but he was prepared to help however he could.

XBlind-DarknessX