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 Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2014 2:07 pm
  The stallion picked his way through the aspen grove, looking a bit worse for wear. The lesser's within the area were getting bolder, and seemingly grouping in larger numbers. Keeping them out and driving them of was beginning to take a toll -- and the more he defended the lands, the more upset the group became! Though Arianwyn and he were not instigating the fights, the outsiders claimed every wound or scar left in self-defense was proof of their aggression. The lands were restless, and the large stallion knew it would soon come down to neither of them making it back alive. The lesser's of this land wished to rid themselves of the kalona pair, and would stop at nothing until it was done.
Oh, how he cursed himself for his foolishness. He had not thought far enough ahead, had not considered the consequence his arrival might bring the petite mare. He was the source of these attacks, and even if he left before the crowd, he could not ensure Arianwyn's continued safety. She was just as much a threat as he, for if he did leave, it would only be a matter of time until another stallion arrived. No, the only way they might thrive was if they found those in GhostClaw, or other kalona willing to join up -- which looked bleak given the area they were in -- or to leave themselves. The latter was what he intended. . . if he could only convince the mare to leave.
So it was, the bleeding stallion attempted to trail the mare, following her scent to its source. He was not concerned of his wounds -- not really. They would heal up until the next battle, in which the might very well be torn open. And the next battle could happen anytime. . . He hated to leave the borders unpatrolled, but he had to talk to her. He might not have long, but perhaps he could give her something to think about while he returned to his self-appointed duties. He never tried to leave the mare for long, not after her first attack; but he also didn't dare leave the small grove unguarded, either. Who knew what they might do to tr to trap them?
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Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2014 3:09 pm
In the pervasively violent atmosphere, Arianwyn had taken more and more to hiding in her aspen grove. When the lessers caught her, as they inevitably did from time to time, she fought them like a wild cat, as fierce as a tiny mare of such diminutive stature could hope to do. ... Sometimes she took to coating her hooves with mild poisons that would make them sick, just to keep them away from her. It was all for naught, however, as it had become clear to the Kalona mare that her hiding place had at last been discovered. They hadn't wrecked it, not yet. But they had circled around it, awaiting an opportunity to attack. However, that opportunity did not come, as Keiran's scent grew all the stronger, signalling his return.
"That's right, you had better run!" she hissed after them, stamping her dainty hoof in anger and disdain. Oh, they were a wretched lot. She thoroughly hated them, and wanted nothing at all to do with their kind. The mares never attacked, of course. Only the stallions, who felt it their business to wipe out the Kalona taint that sullied their lands. "If my grandsire were here, you'd never dare attack me," she said to their retreating backs. But her grandsire wasn't there, and likely never would be. Arianwyn's like simply wasn't that good. She huffed, letting out a hot puff of air that blew her forelock above her head before it settled back down into place, concealing one of her sullenly glowing violet eyes.
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Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2014 5:54 pm
Keiran's hackles raised as he heard the sound of Arianwyn telling off intruders -- lessers, no doubt. The stallion's wings flared and he hastened his approach, all but roaring in rage at the backs of the fleeing beasts. They were getting damn bolt to be so close to the heart of Arinwyn's lands. Much, much, too bold. So it was, the stallion made sure that the lesser's had indeed been driven off and away, hoping they might think twice before so quickly returning. Perhaps, he decided, it was time to call the lands a loss. He needed to be here, to keep Arianwyn safe -- two were better than one. "Are you all right?" He asked once the immediate threat was assuredly away. He turned back to the mare to make sure she suffered no wounds or attack at the hooves of the lesser.
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Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2014 6:03 pm
Those rude lessers had tromped all over her lands! They were going to hurt her plants if they kept that up-- something which Arianwyn would not have forgiven. She spread her wings to appear larger, dancing back on her hind legs. "I'm fine. I didn't get hurt. They were awful, and they're going to hurt my plants if they keep doing that." Not to mention her. The young mare, in true Kalona fashion, was far too proud to admit that they could easily hurt her, too. She was a fierce little mare, for all that her ability to fight off a herd of lessers was... less than his. Whose could be more? He was enormous, and that was cheating. Surely Arian couldn't be blamed if she wasn't as big and strong as Keiran!
"I hate them. My grandsire would've never let them come so near. I wish he would come back." She didn't want to be alone to face off this threat, even if having Keiran there didn't really mean that she was alone. It wasn't the same, though, to have a foreign stallion, even one so seemingly friendly, rather than to have her family there to protect her. She missed all of them, and it was really rotten of them to abandon her in her time of need. Arianwyn huffed, stamped her foot, and lashed her tentacled tail. "Horrible, horrible lessers. What do they think they're about." The dramatic little mare gave a toss of her head, blatantly pouting. "And where were you, anyway? When you came back they ran away. ... Cowards."
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Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2015 11:28 pm
The stallion felt a pang of guilt tug at his heart as the mare groused over their lot. He didn't know who this grandsire of hers might be, but he could not help but feel like some sort of smaller, lesser, stallion. He was young, but he hadn't thought himself that inexperienced -- his own father, dead though he might be, had been a legend in the Kawani! Keiran had thought he'd done his mother Maeryn proud, had thought he might have made her proud with his growth and experience. He tried to be strong, tough, and a great fighter, defender, protector. He wanted to make sure that he did, not just Black Skull, but the kalona race proud! Unfortunately, though, with how he was handling these lessers, he . . . he was beginning to doubt, just a little. Had he the rest of Black Skull with him they would have been more than safe, but unfortunately, Keiran was not intimidating on his own.
No, that wasn't true. He was quite the force to reckon with, he just didn't have numbers. He couldn't take on all of them, though Kalona knew he tried! The wounds on his body, the new scars, the bruises, the aches that he felt, those were all from trying to defend the little aspen grove and the ghost of a mare within. He . . . was simply losing, and he knew he'd have to confront her with it, pride be damned. If they both wanted to survive, they'd have to make changes sooner than later. So it was, glowing red eyes stared at the mare, trying to figure out what to say, or how to explain. His wings gave a small flare, and he pawed at the ground, almost like a nervous habit. "I had left only so I might check the borders surrounding us. I hadn't meant to leave you for long, only so I might see where the lesser's were moving, where they might be camping out. I'm afraid your aspen grove is compromised, and . . . we're outnumbered. It won't be long before they make their move, before they surround us and attack." They were getting bolder, and must have figured out there were only two of them. Thankfully, kalona were fierce and not to be taken lightly. Even two could do damage but. . . Keiran knew they were out of time.
"They won't be happy until we're dead, or gone." He heaved a small breath, giving a small shake of his head. "We need to leave this place, Arianwyn, and quite possibly leave it for good." There was no need to beat around the bush, not when it was very clear that the lessers were trying to be rid of them. They were out of options. Unless the missing Ghost Claw showed up -which he mightily doubted- there was no way they would keep this land. They'd have to retreat. They had to either part ways or, if he could convince her, bring her back to Black Skull.
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Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2015 9:01 pm
Arianwyn balked. Leave her lands? Leave her lands, quite possibly for good? "But... what if my grandsire returns?" she asked, shying away almost immediately from Keiran's suggestion. ... Well, it hadn't so much been a suggestion as a declaration, had it? It had been something just shy of an order. Still, she didn't like it. The Ghost Claw had lived in these lands for many years. They had roamed through the aspen forest for as long as she had been alive. Undoubtedly longer, truth be told. Arianwyn was still young yet. She had no doubt that they had been a part of these lands for many, many more years beyond what she herself reckoned.
It seemed, however, that she was the only remaining Ghost Claw in the area. Oh, she'd known that her grandsire had been searching for her parents. Parents that had been seeking out better lands in which to raise their children. She'd known that all along, and yet... and yet... somehow, it seemed wrong to leave her childhood home behind. "We don't really have to leave, do we? You could convince them, couldn't you? Frighten them away?" she turned beseeching eyes upon Keiran, trying to be as convincing as she possibly could.
He was large. No doubt they'd be intimidated. No doubt. ... Wouldn't they? Oh, Arianwyn hoped that they might be. She... she didn't want to give up her home. She didn't want to be without the one thing that had served as a tie between herself and the kin who had left her behind so long ago. Ah, it wounded her to think of leaving. She watched Keiran, the tips of her tail twitching, trying to read those glowing red eyes. It alarmed and unnerved her to hear him say that they were outnumbered. That... her safe haven had been compromised.
That was readily apparent... and yet... Arianwyn did not want to believe it. She wanted to stay in the protective safety of the grove, even if that safety were an illusion. ... Even if... if she needed to leave. "Do... we have to leave?" she asked, and it was clear that she was unhappy with that notion. Oh, it didn't sit well with the little mare that they might have to leave. It didn't sit well with her at all.
Fidgeting, she watched him, shifting uneasily from hoof to hoof. "... How many were there?" she asked him at last, after the silence had grown beyond bearing. That silence was alarming. It... spoke of answers that she did not want to hear. She took note of his nervous pawing and her heart sank. So, he truly meant it, didn't he? She didn't really need to hear it from him to know. She mulled over his words, entirely upset. Everything she'd done... had been for nothing. She'd worked so hard, tried so hard, and it didn't matter. No matter what she did, she'd never be able to keep her forest safe the way her grandsire had.
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