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 Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 2:19 pm
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Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 3:18 pm
She'd never been much of a runner. If anyone had ever asked her how fast she could run she would have laughed at the thought. Sure she'd run occasionally, of course, but she wasn't and would never be known for her speed or endurance. In that fashion at least, she was well aware of her limitations. When he'd asked her to run for help she had been terrified, not only had he been injured, but it seemed extremely likely that his attacker would return at any moment. She was sure she wouldn't make it time. She would be too slow, she would need to stop for a break, or maybe she would wind up getting lost in the woods between him and the mare he needed so badly and wind up making the whole trip for naught. This was what she'd worried about to begin with. Now she'd been running for a while, and there was no room in her oxygen starved brain for worry.
Her hooves tore up the forest floor as she ran. Every now and again she thought she might falter but she forced herself forward saying, "If you're going to feint you can do it when you get there!" Her legs and lungs burned but she pushed on, and on, further and faster than she'd ever dreamed she'd be able to achieve.
Finally, she saw two figures in the distance, nearly hidden by the trees. Did one have wings? Maybe. It was difficult to tell. She stumbled, then shook her head. It didn't matter. If that wasn't the mare, maybe one of the two would be able to continue forward and pass on the message to the right person. Sasika could barely take another step.
"Help!" she called out the moment she was within range, "Help! Miroqi! Walker!"
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Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 4:29 pm
Aurianna had been enjoying a lovely, relaxing chat with Chane. It was a peaceful day, her friends were around, doing their own thing, and she got to visit. It was a lovely fall day, not too cold, not hot... Just the temperature she liked best for sunning and relaxing.
She tilted her head, suddenly. Did she hear some one running hard? She turned her head, trying to find the sound... She did. Some one was running hard and towards her. What on earth was wrong?
She began to stand, thinking it might be best if she was mobile, if only to avoid being trampled. It was then that the newcomer's words hit her ears and she practically jumped to her feet, her wings suddenly fluffing up. "Miro... Miro and a walker? Where? Oh gods, where?" Her face had gone from happy to distraught and freaked out in moments, her eyes huge, a little wild, and her body trembling with the need to act.
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Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 5:14 pm
Chane was slow to react. The stranger's words had been garbled by her desperate need for breath. Carefully, he pulled himself to his feet and took a few tentative steps following after Aurianna.
"Walker?" he asked once he was caught up with the pair. "Did she say walker? Isn't that the thing you were telling me about when we first met?"
Auri seemed to be rather distracted though and didn't even spare him a glance. Frowning, he looked over at the panting and sweaty orange girl before them. She was heavy, both from muscle and fat. it couldn't have been an easy run and she must have run a fair distance to find them there. If Auri decided to leave now and find this pony she was speaking about it would be entirely impossible for him to keep up.
"Hey," he said, voice soft. "Calm down, catch your breath. What's going on? Where do we need to go?"
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Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 5:19 pm
With a great sigh she flopped down onto the ground, her legs cried out for a rest and she was all to eager to oblige. It took her a few minutes longer to catch her breath well enough to speak in full sentances, and when she did she was still stumbling over half the words in her rush to get them out.
"I'm not sure what happened! I was going to visit my friend and found him laying there in his own blood! He told me he'd been attacked by a walker, I don't think she saw me, and asked that I run and find an angeni named Aurianna! Oh please tell me that's you. I don't know if I could run another step."
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Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 5:21 pm
Chane looked back and forth between the two mares.
"Auri, I even if you couldn't fly I wouldn't be able to keep up with you, but I can help heal him once he's safe."
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Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 5:36 pm
Aurianna pawed the ground some, trying to get herself back together, listening to the two talk. She was distressed, obviously, and didn't know what to focus on. Should she fly up, and find Miro now? She didn't know where he was, and he might not be visible from the air! Should she run in the direction that this mare had? She had no idea if the orange mare had run in a straight line.
When Chane said the question about healing, her head snapped around to look at him. She stared, long and hard, then gave a sharp nod. "All right then... Here's what I think is the best plan... Miss, we'll get you some water. Then, you give me directions and I'll go ahead." Her face became a mask of determination. "If the 'Walker is still around, then I'll do everything in my power to defend Miroqi. And yes, Chane, these are what I told you about... I didn't know there was one nearby, and active. It is good, and horrible, all at once, to know. Now... While I do that, miss, perhaps you could guide Chane to where we need to meet? It'll give you a chance at a breather, make sure neither of you are alone at any one time, and gives me time to fight if I have to... I... does that make sense?" She paused, then realized that she hadn't answered the mare's question. "And yes. I am Aurianna."
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Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 5:51 pm
He shook his head, "No. Let's figure out where he is now, then I will escort her to the stream. If these things are as terrible as you have said there's no reason to waste time making sure we're all comfortable. I will make sure she gets back to your cave, then I'll pack up my things and head out. Frankly, if one of these creatures finds me it won't matter if I am with her or not, and either way, her best choice will be to just run and hope the walker is too tired or too busy to pursue."
He sighed and looked back to the newcomer, "Sorry, I my name is Chane. I don't think I caught yours?"
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Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 5:57 pm
"It's Saskia," she said. "Miroqi collapsed near his home. If you know where that is you should be able to find him."
She pulled herself to her feet. Each leg still burned but laying there made her feel vulnerable, "And don't be silly, we'd fight it together. I wouldn't run away and leave you there to face her all on your own!"
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Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 6:03 pm
"An uncomfortable truth, but I would not be able to either run nor would I be able to fight. This leg of mine gives me more trouble than it's worth, really. My best strategy would be to find a shady spot where I can lay and hide for a while. If you were with me in that situation you would give us both away. I know splitting up doesn't seem safer, but Auri can take care of herself, and we need to be able to play to our individual strengths without worrying about what's happening to the other."
He was doing his best to sound confidant, "Besides. Even if I can't make it all the way I will be able close the gap, and who knows. Maybe this friend of yours won't be able to walk the even a fraction of the way. We have no idea what's happened since Saskia left or how bad the injuries were to begin with."
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Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 6:45 pm
Aurianna's face twisted with worry when he said no. When they talked and discussed this plan, she pranced back and forth with worry, and concern. When Saskia identified the area Miro was in, she had to literally stomp her feet in place to keep herself from running, running NOW, to get to him. "All right, yes I do know where that is... I can get there easily."
She prances a little, again, and turns to Chane. "All right, if you truly feel it is best for us to do this the way you suggest, I can not argue. Anyway it goes, I must be first, after all... And..." She paused, then gave Chane the basic directions on where Miro's home was, from here, then turned her head to Saskia. "Thank you... Thank you for coming, for helping him. It is an honor to meet you... I wish it were under better circumstances." She turned her head back to Chane. "Is there anything else you want of me, for this, or should I go?"
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Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 7:21 pm
She gave Auri a tired smile, "I am only thankful there was something I could do." Then she backed off, making room for the angeni mare to take off.
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Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 7:26 pm
He shook his head a, "No, go. Fly fast, and return safe. I will be along just as soon as Saskia's safe and settled. My bag of herbs is back at your cave anyhow. I will need it if I'm going to be of any help what so ever."
He moved over to help Saskia toward the stream, then paused, "If I don't meet you on the way... and I'm not here..." he gave her the smallest of smiles and shook his head before turning back to Saskia and helping her away.
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Posted: Sun Jun 30, 2013 7:59 pm
Aurianna nodded at Saskia, and flashed her a grateful smile when the exhausted mare moved. She turned to look back at Chane, and nodded. "Be careful, be wise, and be safe as well... I go, and I will do what I must. Please hurry, but do not risk your own self in your speed."
She gave him a gentle brush of her wing, then took off, her eyes wide with concern.
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Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2013 8:05 pm
Chane gave the stranger a gentle nudge, then turned to lead her toward the spring. He didn’t look back at Auri, he had to trust that she would be okay on her own. After all, the only thing he could do was keep a steady pace and hope she would be able to handle herself. The orange girl seemed to be standing out of sheer will power. It was a lucky break that she’d found them at all. They were near Auri’s home but far enough out that if she’d been on course she would have easily overshot and never found them at all.
Soon he could hear the trickle of the stream, “Take a small drink and get your legs wet. Don’t give in to the temptation to drink too much right now. Wait until you’ve cooled off. You can always come back for more later.”
He bent his head to drink as well. It was likely going to be a long night.
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