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 Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 4:48 pm
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Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 4:50 pm
 It had been a week and a few days since the male had left on his 'adventure'. To figure out how he felt and become a bit less naive to how the world worked outside the flock. Crouched low..Mikasi'Nell watched his prey, trying to figure out how to kill the lumbering creature. What was it? So large, furry and strong smelling. It's pelt would make a magnificent treasure to take back. The creature was a bear, and when at last Mikasi rushed to attack he found himself very unprepared. Slashing out he fought valiantly but, the bear knocked him off balance and sent the stallion running with four large gashes across his shoulder. The pain was immense..Rains Song flittered about in a panicky manner, chirping her concern as blood stained his white body. "Shh..we need to leave it's territory. Fly ahead." Limping as fast as possible, his heart raced..it had been amazing but..frightening. He disliked the sensation. Thankfully Mikasi had herbs in his satchels but, after two days journey back to Astraea the wound had becoming angry. Red and swollen..painful to the touch. He feared infection but, could do nothing till he made it somewhere safe. Rains Song flew ahead, frantically chirping and calling out for the mare. The little bird spotted her at last among her herd. Trilling loudly she dove down, landing atop the mares head. The world was swimming before his eyes. Dots danced about but, still he pressed on..not noticing how far he had wandered into the herds territory.
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Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 5:16 pm
The young mare had been out looking for something she could give to her new friend. She wouldn't be able to give him a pelt, but she was sure she could find him something nice or at least something worth it. So after all that traveling the only she found was some herbs, a beautiful red feather, and a couple small golden hair pins. It wasn't too crazy or extravagant, but it was something. The only thing that frightened her was actually giving him the gifts. She wasn't good at it nor did she have prior experience of doing it. So she tried not to think about it and nudged the little bag around her neck. It was something else she found while traveling around when she was a foal and it really came in handy especially now.
Turning her head, she felt like something was wrong. There was a strange aroma in the air, but she couldn't make it out and she had a funny feeling like something was wrong. Very wrong. Feeling a little panicked, she hurried through the woods looking in every single direction that she could see. There was something out there and she knew it, but before she could continue further she heard the chirping of a bird. "Rain!" She called out knowing something was wrong from how the bird sounded and how frantically she was chirping. She followed the sound until she finally found the bird. "What is wrong? Where is Mikasi?" She asked the companion before her eyes soon fell on the staggering stallion following closely behind. Her eyes went wide and she fought back the tears. It was obvious he was injured, but the sight of him like this was something she didn't want to ever see again.
Trotting over to him as fast as she could, she eyed the wound and shook her head. "You need to lie down. Your going to agitate the wound even more." Her words were shaky and her breath was ragged. She had to remain strong or Mikasi could fall deathly ill from this. "I need to find something that I can use to cover the wound." She said to him eyeing her cloth bag. "I'm going to use this. Just get down on the ground and give me a moment..I.." She paused and lowered her head letting the bag drop to the ground. Turning it over, she dumped out the contents all over the ground and moved off to the side. She was happy there was a small hole filled with clean water because she couldn't afford to go searching at a time like this. Dunking the cloth bag into the water, she moved back over to him standing there still in a bit of shock and waiting for him to lie down.
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Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 5:40 pm
Such relief washed over the male when he heard her voice and, smelled Astraea drawing near. Rain trilled and puffed up, flitting to put the mares trinkets into a small pile. Mikasi smiled and did as he was told, grateful to lay down in the cool grass. "Shh..it will be okay. Now that you are here." Managing a tired, pained little chuckle the stallion forced himself to relax as she worked. "I tried to kill it..such a strange and giant creature. A truly formidable opponent." He felt like a child again..he could practically hear his sister's teasing him. Laughing as he stumbled around on mismatched feet. Rain flicked around, reappearing with herbs in her beak..trying to help as best she could. Every beat of his heart made the wound throb. Mikasi hated being weak before the one who had stolen his heart away. It was shameful. "It hurts..but, my pride hurts worse.." He felt like such a fool.
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Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 6:04 pm
The young mare still was worried even if the stallion was trying to reassure her. She wanted to yell at him for being careless, but she held back as much as she could. "What if it hurt you worse then this? What if you couldn't walk back here to safety!?" She raised her voice even though she didn't really mean to. She couldn't help what she was feeling and honestly it was probably something he needed to hear right now. He needed to be more careful and if she had to be a little harsher on him sometimes then she would be. She began to dab the wound with the cloth to get the excess blood off before dipping It into the water again. "Thank you Rain." She said softly to the bird before moving back over to Mikasi and placing the cloth bag over the wound for a moment. "I will dress it after I crush these herbs." She gave him a nod and right now she wished she was part unicorn. She grabbed the herbs Rain placed on the ground and began to crush them with her hoof. When she felt they were crushed good enough she removed the cloth from his shoulder seeing it almost fully red making her sigh.
She cleaned it off again, seeing the water turn redder and redder the more she cleaned. When she was done, she placed it on the ground and ripped it a few different ways so that it would be easier to wrap around the stallion's shoulder. Once that was finished, she placed it over the crushed herb to pick it up on the cloth before walking back over to the stallion. She gently placed it on his shoulder knowing it would sting a good bit. She slowly began to tie it the best she could, which took a few tries. She wasn't really good at much and this was her first time dressing a wound.
"You shouldn't care about your pride. Coming out of there alive is more important even if you couldn't kill the animal." She told him finally finishing tying the makeshift bandage on his shoulder. "It should heal over time, but I will have to keep redressing the wound over the next couple days.." She told him with a firm nod and laid down beside him. She still felt upset about the whole ordeal, but she wasn't going to let it go to her head. "Are you feeling alright? Did you eat?" She asked still holding back tears that wanted to come out, but she pushed them aside for the time being.
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Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 6:20 pm
Despite her best efforts he could see the look in her eyes..that sparkling in the corner. He felt awful inside now for worrying her so much. Turning a bit Mikasi nuzzled against her neck, voice low and sad. "I'm sorry..I will be more careful from now on..I just..wanted to bring it....back for you." He'd almost said 'bring it home'. It startled the stallion and made him pause to think for a bit. The wound ached still and tingled from the herbs but, it also felt better. "Thank you. For worrying about me and, helping me. It means more than you know.." Chuckling quietly at her questions he peeked at the trinkets nearby. His 'harpy senses' were tingling at the sight of a shiny bauble. Oh yes he did enjoy decoration. "Whats that? Such pretty items..I'm sorry you had to drop them like that..I will make you a new pouch as soon as I heal. Rain.." Rain perked up at her name and puffed up but, disappeared..returning moments later with a small branch of berries. The bird ate one for her trouble before allowing Mikasi'Nell to devour the rest. "For now I will have to eat berries..hunting will only make my wound open again. I feel better with you by my side.." He spoke the truth..wanting so desperately to tell her..to say all the things he thought when watching her. When listening to her rare laughter or catching a glimpse of her beautiful smile. To tell her that he would never want to be 'friends' with another mare after having met her. Astraea had him utterly blinded with..love..it had to be love. In that instant, laying beside her he felt certain it was true. He'd fallen head over claws and paws in love with the mare.
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Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 6:53 pm
Astraea felt the soft nuzzle making her look at him briefly before she eyed the wound with a worried look. Even though it was bandaged up, she couldn't stop worrying about it. "I don't need something every single day. If it puts your life in danger then I would rather you worry about that then going off trying to hunt the biggest thing out there. Your only going to be hurting yourself and...and hurting me." She told him truthfully with her eyes dripping away towards the ground. What was wrong with her? Why did she feel such a pain stabbing her in the chest? "I am going to try to take care of you as best as I can. I'm not a uni or a kirin, but I will do my best." She reassured him before hearing him question the items on the ground making her feel nervous again. "They are? I tried picking things out that would look good on you or with you. I saw some herbs during my travels and never paid you back for them so I grabbed them for you." Even though the stallion only wanted company that day she still wanted to pay him back for the herbs she took. It was just how she was.
"I don't know if I will be much good as a bodyguard, but I will try. It's the least I can do." She gave him a nod before looking to the bird with a small smile. "If it wasn't for her I wouldn't have found you in time. She really is a good companion to have around. I don't know what I would do if I had found you in a worse state then this." She said softly looking over to Mikasi with sad eyes. "If you get hungry let me know. I can always go collecting berries with Rain." She nodded watching him calmly now that everything was over and done with for the moment.
"I wanted to ask you some things..Why do you keep getting me gifts and such? I don't really need them or am I deserving of them." She told him feeling a pain in her chest. She didn't mean to talk down about herself, but she always had since she was a young filly. It was time for her start to like herself a little more then she did already.
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Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 7:00 pm
Again he felt it was a matter of his pride getting the best of him. "I'd just..never seen so much fur! I wonder what it was.." Trailing off he listened to her, again feeling the pang of guilt at making the mare worry. "She is a helpful friend..birds are amazing companions." Rain chirped and turned her little head to show off a bit at the praise. "Don't get a big head you silly little thing." Smiling, his tail swished to lightly brush against Astraea..mind stalling at her question. He couldn't just blurt everything he felt out! It would be..improper. No no..he had to do it right and, find out how she felt. "They are for me? I love baubles..and the herbs will come in handy for our current situation." Yes Mikasi knew he had sort of danced around her question. It would be a bit much to say 'I love you, thats why'. Instead the stallion drew a calming breath to ease his fluttering heart and, spoke. "You..have made this place feel like home for me. I care deeply for you and, when I'm out..my minds filled with ideas. Of things I could bring back to make you smile..to make you laugh. You deserve it. You work hard for your herd and in my opinion have given up a lot to follow their wishes for you. If my gifts can bring a spark of joy to you then it in turn brings joy to me. Everyone needs a nice warm pelt to warm their cave or nest..feathers for decoration or gifts to others. Berries and herbs for wounds or a snack.." Smiling he nosed her again, wishing to let it all out but, unable to do so..not yet. Soon. "You are the most beautiful mare I have ever met. It is my honor to shower you with gifts and anything you might ever need." It was because he cared. Mikasi had never wanted to just give like this, not that the stallion was overly selfish but, he'd never had such a strong desire to bestow such gifts upon a mare.
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Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 7:37 pm
Astraea huffed at the stallion's words before giving him a hard nudge in the side with her muzzle. This was the first time she felt the need to ever use some kind of physical violence even it it wouldn't hurt the other too much. "Your life is more important." She told him softly before looking up at Rain once more wondering if she herself could get a bird companion. It would be a little amusing for them both to have one. "She really is and you take very good care of her." She felt better knowing he accepted her gifts and even then she didn't feel like it would be enough. He had given her so much more and there was so much more she had to give back to him.
Then the mare heard his words and she felt speechless. She didn't know what to say or what she could do to suffocate the feeling of butterflies in her stomach. Her heart was pounding so hard it could pop out of her chest at any moment and her eyes began to fill up with tears. The things he said were nice and she knew he cared for her, but it still confused her. Was it more then just a friendship now? She didn't want to be bold and ask nor would she tell him how she was feeling. She would have to wait fort he right opportunity to present itself. "Is this how mare's were treated in the flock?" It wasn't the best things to say after a speech like that, but she simply had to ask. Then she felt her throat begin to dry as she thought about what she should say to him. She had to thank him or at least show she was thankful. Once her eyes met his, tears began to fall.
"I am thankful for all the things you have given me as well as the things you say about me. I try to be the best I can for my family as well as the people around me. You are my first friend and I will always treasure that and maybe we weren't meant to have a lot of friends or get along with a lot of others. Even though you left your family behind...I know you would be able to find a family withint my own. It might take some time and I know it won't be the same, but you will always be welcome once everything is said and done." She paused and looked away into the forest. "I will fight for you if I have to and if need me I will sacrifice myself." She looked to him once more still with small tears running down her cheeks. "Beautiful? I don't know what I am, but I trust you word and I thank you for it. I know I am pretty and maybe one day I will see myself as this beautiful mare you honor so much." She told him giving a light nuzzle into his side.
"I like being close to you...I feel..lost when I'm not." She said in almost a whisper not sure if he heard her, but didn't care either way. It wasn't like she admitted anything other then missing her friend. But it was beginning to become a fine line between friendship and love.
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Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 8:48 pm
The tears made him move despite the small throb of pain. It concerned him but, left his heart wildly beating..left his mouth dry like he had eaten dust. "Mares in the flock..my mother always smiled when father brought a new pelt for the nest. Other mares I know little of..I just learned from father. To treat mares kindly and treasure them." Smiling he nosed at her teary face..smoothing the damp area. "Now now..you are beautiful and should it come to that I would surely end my own life if it meant going onward with you..if it meant being together forever as spirits." Mikasi did not enjoy imagining his life without her. Without this sweet, precious mare by his side he would be so lonely. "You are my family..one day I hope your herd can accept me as you an your father have." After leaving the flock the stallion had never dreamed of joining another herd but, for Astraea he'd gladly join. "Just stay with me..please." Shifting he rested his tail across the mares back..tenderly tapping his nose to hers. "You are becoming...my everything.."
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Posted: Fri Jun 28, 2013 12:25 pm
The young mare listened and wondered what it would be like to be part of the flock. She didn't think she would have enjoyed it, but it would have been interesting to be part of suck a group of people. She wasn't aggressive though, so she would have been easily used unless she found true love like Mikasi spoke so highly of. She felt her heart flutter once more when the stallion told her they would be together forever as spirits. It was an amazing thought and one she could picture as reality, but she would prefer it if they were alive. "I guess we are meant to live on. I would prefer to stay live anyway even if life is hard sometimes." She nodded to the other before hearing his plead. She looked over to him and paused not sure how she should take his words. They sounded so needy, yet she couldn't stop herself from wanting to hear more of it. She wanted him to ay them again to make her believe she wasn't just imagining it, but deep down she knew it was real. He was beginning to care for her and she knew she was beginning to feel that way about him. Her eyes lowered and she slowly closed them, she tried to find something she could say to him or something that let him know she was beginning t feel the same way about him.
Nothing came to mind, and for a long moment she was blank. "You are too..." She mumbled loud enough for the stallion to hear. She needed him to know that something beyond a friendship was happening to her as well. It might not be fully there yet, but with some more time...it was bound to happen.
"You should rest. We have a long next few days ahead of us and we need your strength since I want to be able to walk you back to my little grove." She nodded to him and what scared her the most is not knowing what the future held for the both of them.
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Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 6:53 am
With a rather happy nod the male allowed himself to rest..however a few hours later his stomach gave an angry growl. Rousing him from sleep and, making him grimace. "Apparently my stomach need more than those few berries.." Sighing he tried to stand and not bother the mare but, his wound made it impossible to get up. Too weak from blood loss and the journey back 'home'. "Astraea..will you be alright to get me some berries? Rain will go with you.." Rain perked up, happily flitting to sit upon the mares head..gently preening her mane. "I can fend for myself..just be safe." It would be a stretch..the male knew his chances of surviving should someone attack were slim.
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Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 7:05 am
The young mare opened her eyes from the small nap she managed to sneak in and smiled. She heard his request and didn't have a problem with going out foraging for him as long as he would be safe from any harm. Giving a nod, she got up from the ground and stretched the best she could looking for Rain for a moment then peered back to Mikasi. "Alright I will be back shortly. I will make sure I grab enough for the both of us so I won't have to make two trips." She smiled giving him a small nuzzle in the side of his neck before wandering off with Rain as her guide. As much as she hated leaving him there alone, she would hate it even more if she let him starve. She wouldn't be able to live with that fact.
The large stallion walked slowly through the towering forest, feeling like something was wrong. Maybe it was his son getting into trouble again or another family member having issues right now. He didn't know and he wasn't telepathic so he really couldn't find out who it was. All he could do was wait and see if someone managed to bring up the issue to Hania. So today was a slow day with nothing to do other then travel and make his rounds. Then he smelt it. It was faint, but he always knew what blood smelled like after being battered and bruised so often. Snorting, he followed it the best he could even though it took him forever to find the source. "Mikasi?" He asked before standing over the smaller stallion with a disgruntled look on his face. "Injured I see? I would try to heal you, but my uni powers aren't very developed. I'm guessing Astraea has been taking care of you?" he asked eyeing the spot beside Mikasi. He knew she was there because the grass was flat. He only hoped the mare was alright.
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Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 7:20 am
He'd just started to doze when the other stallion got close, sniffing quietly to identify the other. His eyes remained closed..too weary to bother opening them right now. "Yes. She found me when I returned from my journey..Rains Song sought her out. I will live..no need to try healing me." As long as he had Astraea everything would be okay. He could and would face any danger without hesitation. Though Gabriel's presence had him on edge, Mikasi tried to relax and not show it. "What brings you here?" Perhaps the stallion had come to try and end his life..or to talk like Hania had suggested. Whatever it was the weary male hoped he was not one ho 'beat around the bush'. The longer Gabriel took the more sleepy and, edgy Mikasi became. "She just went to get some food..since I cannot hunt in such a condition."
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Posted: Sat Jun 29, 2013 8:07 am
Gabriel listened to him and could see the other needed as much rest as he possible could. Though he wasn't about to give him any. He needed to get a few things off his chest and this was probably the only time he would get the opportunity to. "So what is it you want to do with Astraea?" He asked narrowing his eyes on the stallion and sighing deeply. "Do you love her or are you just messing around with her feelings? You know she had a couple possibilities before you, but they failed to stay with her. She began to think she was the problem and her self-esteem suffered because of it. So if your just going to do the same then I suggest you stop now." He told him harshly and shook his head.
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