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 Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 12:36 pm
[ This is a private rp between Tirokio and Huroggmeten. Please do not post without permission. ]  
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Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 4:10 pm
The winds were strong today, as a frantic little bird was flying towards the sea as fast as her wings could carry her. It was like she'd seen a ghost, or...the ghost of her mother.
Yet - there she was. She was talking with a stallion who looked like the devil himself, the little bird cried as she wanted to so badly fly over and embrace the mare she thought she'd lost so long ago...but she knew better. She knew who this stallion was....
It was the one who stole her, the one who tore up their little family. She'd listened as Meridah had relayed all of the information that had kept the knights impervious for so long. Her little beak was wide open with horror she could only think of why she would do such a thing...it was like she wasn't even her anymore.
"H....how..." She breathed, taking off before anything could be said as she could see the stallion take off....more or less to begin their attack. She had to hurry, and paid no time as she had to warn the others...had to warn Daddy.
She'd looked up, seeing the feathered creature fly off into the skies just after the lord had left; her pained eyes closing slightly. "You know who that is, don't you?" She spoke of course, to herself. It had been done, everything in her life had lead up to this moment. She was supposed to be running the charge, the spearhead to the invasion; but she would not be going. In fact, she'd already turned and began to make her way in the opposite direction.
Her heart ached and stirred.
Phoenix..
Meridah had made her way to a meadow, so open and calm; a silence washing over the area. Her body began to tremble as memories began to resurface, the mental anguish almost as painful as the physical had been. It was here...Knight as she had been dubbed; a name which was now her own; knew she needed to let go now. "I carried us this far, but now you need to stand on your own. For us....for him...for everything you wanted in life."
It had been something, this life. Yet her eyes were tired, and all Knight wanted to do was rest now. A bittersweet smile faded from her lips, as she released her grip from her host.
As it all came flooding back, a gentle flame flickering within her doe brown orbs, they looked around frantically; her heart starting to pound painfully. All the memories, all the pain...agony, stabbing her slowly as she mare's legs crumbled beneath her.
She let out a most heart wrenching scream, as if to say - what have I done?
"DADDY!" Phoenix swooped into the cove, her small body gliding gracefully at top speed just barely over the surface of the water. She'd been unaware of what was transpiring between Voda and 'Knight'; and as she made incredible twists and turns she fought with the winds.
'DADDY WHERE ARE YOU!" She screeched out, her powerful little wings holding her up as her eyes scanned the water for him.
A scream, she knew it anywhere - it was Mama....but not mama. More importantly...danger was at hoof; although it was too far for them to be of use for the main stage...they could face off with the Meridah look alike. Find out the meaning of this.
Little did she realize what was lingering up on the cliffs, also searching for the source of the agonizing scream.
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Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 5:15 pm
Vodadragan drifted gently just beneath the surface, waiting for the time when he would be... needed, again.
He had learned his lesson, that night spent upon the shore. If he dried out, he was no good to anyone.
So, now, he waited for his heart in the sea.
Eyes drifting to the sky above, he caught a flurry of movement and could hear the faint cries that caused him to jerk to attention in an instant. What's wrong? Bursting up from below, he sent a shower of spray high into the air, summoning his feathered daughter to him with all his instincts on high alert.
"Phoenix-" the scream shattered him.
Gathering the pieces within a beat of his frantic heart and molding them back together with sheer willpower, his eyes scanned for the little bird and he darted towards her, closing the distant between them as she surely flew back towards him.
"Where is she?" he called, "I'm here, Phoenix! Where?"
He was frantic.
But she needed him.
What was it? pain? Hurt? Agony? Sorrow? All of the above?
What was happening... why...
Meridah, i'm here. I'm coming.
Not this time. Not again.
He'd be there.
I'm here.
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Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 7:04 pm
Her little head snapped to the side as she could see the eruption of water from the surface of the sea; the head of her daddy popping up from under the water. Tilting her wings she spun in a swift circle in the air, her chest thrusting her wings to flap hard as they closed in on one another.
She made a motion to call out, but felt herself draw in a bit of shock at his words.
She...? He knew? Since when?
"She was back beyond the cliffs! She was with that monster!" Phoenix cried out, the hurt apparent in her voice. "I went to tell everyone, it's war!"
How could she have done that...?
But that wasn't the issue just yet. "She should still be close to there daddy, i'll go fly up and look!" Phoenix knew he'd head straight to shore, so with all her might she flew up, higher and higher on the current till she was sailing over the cliff. Looking down through the trees she could see Meridah in a field...she didn't look to be in harms way but she was a mess...shaking and sobbing. Fewf....at least she wasn't hurt. Soaring back around she dove down, landing on the cliff's edge to watch for her father. "She's not far!" She called down, fluttering along the edge.
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Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 7:28 pm
Phoenix... a flicker of guilt, covered up by paternal logic. She knew, now, there was no escaping it, and he could only hope that her Mama...
Everything else could wait.
He nodded quickly to confirm, seeing her begin to soar away and diving beneath to speed towards the shore.
'She was with that monster!' 'Cliffs' 'WAR!'
He burst from the shallows, galloping as soon as his hooves touched the sand.
Her war was internal, had it spilled out to consume them all?
Or had she... he bit his lip, peering anxiously at the skies. And Phoenix was back, carrying news of their beloved on each stroke of her wings.
"Thank you." he called, needing to say something to her before his mind focused wholly on Meridah again.
We're coming.
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Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 7:55 pm
She was waiting for this...it seemed something had been wounded from such a pained cry before; but Howl would not pass up having her supper delivered to her.
Phoenix was none the wiser, as she could see her daddy heading up to her as fast as his hooves could carry him. "This way!" She chirruped again, taking off and flying towards the trees...
she didn't even see the walker till it was too late.
With a screach she tried to flap backwards as quickly as she could but with one swipe of the bear's paw she'd been knocked from the sky and slapped against the ground. Howl was quick to move her beastly grizzly body to trap the small bird under her paw; not yet crushing the life from her as her eyes turned to the end of the path. Whatever she was talking to would arrive any second; and she would take it for herself...how glorious - her stomach was already growling with the pains of hunger.
Phoenix struggled under the massive paw, only her head and the tips of her wingspan able to be seen under the furry monstrosity. A walker, a bearwalker...no....."DADDY RUN! GET AWAY" She cried out, seeing through the brute's plan; she couldn't lose both her parents....she just couldn't.
Too much was unknown about Meridah....she couldn't have her father taken from her either.
The cry, however didn't go unheard....as instinct alone began to move the mare in question; slowly in a dazed numbness she headed towards the direction.
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Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 8:08 pm
Vodadragan blinked, drawing in great breaths to fuel his rush, holding his tail- so smooth beneath the waves, so awkward and bulky above- with muscles trained to move both in sea and on land, fueled by a mixture of adrenaline and hope seeped in love.
His ears twitched as he made it up and over the cliff, the irony of running along the path he had last seen Meridah retreat up lost on him now.
'DADDY RUN! GET AWAY'
He ran.
Ohh, yes, he ran.
But not in the direction Phoenix had hoped. Confusion pricking at him as he barreled closer, he moved on- Phoenix? What? Why?- and stopped dead to stare at the bear looming over the flailing limbs.
No.
No no no nonono.
He crept closer, fury gripping him. He wanted to rush, to dive, to charge, but he was afraid that if he did... she'd be gone.
And he would not lose her. "Phoenix." he said steadily, calmly. "It's okay. It's going to be okay." His voice was loud, ringing true, despite the calm tone that held a hint of panic that only those who knew him well would hear.
Torn between daughter and friend, worry for both gripping him and warring for his immediate attention, he let out a cry of frustration as he stalked closer to the bear who held a piece of his heart beneath her paws. "Meridah!"
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Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 8:46 pm
"Daddy no..." Phoenix breathed out, slightly cut off as Howl shifted a miniscule amount of her weight onto the poor bird; watching it squirm with a satanic smirk. Why didn't he leave? She could have probably gotten out, flown away....but he was a bit of a proverbial duck out of water.
She listened as he tried to soothe her, closing her eyes with a whimper and a small nod.
Howl opened her jowls wide, drool seeping from between massive teeth as she stared with great intent at Voda. "Delicious....." She groaned out, seeing nothing but a large, delectable salmon before her. Not to mention it was coming closer to her.
Just a little more.
"Meridah!"
The mare stood some ways back, able to see what was going on through the trees. His voice had rocked her to her core, tears having been streaming down her face had stopped abruptly as her breath caught in her throat. All that was the pain of her betrayal, her life lived thus far faded at the scream; allowing what was left to bubble up like a volcanic inferno ready to burst.
Voda.
Phoenix.
Skinwalker.
This was her family, and although there was no knight in her story to save her from the monsters; she would not allow her family to fall into the same fate. Not when she still had a body that could move, breath in her lungs..
And the pounding rage in her heart.
The hellfires of her soul burst as she took off in a hard sprint, tearing through the foliage in a rampage. What was left of her tears flew off her face and glistened in the light; bursting through the trees directly at the walker.
"GET AWAY FROM THEM" The mare nearly roared, her movements as graceful as a dancer but as powerful as a kalona; stoming her front hooves down in her run and twisted her body to land a kick against the flank of the bear; sending her crashing against the ground. She could see in but a second the little bird on the ground; but she had no time to see if she was alright. Surging forth over Phoenix she continued on the attack, leaning back on her hind legs and lashing out at Howl with her hooves; trying to land them in her soft spots as she'd realized what was going on and began to lash back; claws and her own teeth lashing out and dodging at the same time.
"YOU WILL NOT HARM MY FAMILY!" Meridah seethed, landing a hoof on one of her paws still on the ground - the walker giving a painful cry.
Get her out of here! Meridah thought, sending but a glance back to Voda before her attention returned once more to the fight at hoof.
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Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 9:04 pm
Voda had continued to creep forwards, trying to get close enough to steal Phoenix away- or, at least... yes. The Skinwalker's gaze was fixed on him. To me.
His ears twitched, and his head jerked around as Meridah tore through the trees, her voice ringing out as she attacked the great bear looming over the little bird.
His heart was lodged fully in his throat now, as he had forgotten to breathe- No no no. He drew a great, hissing breath, watching with eyes wide as the monster was shoved off and crashed down away from Phoenix.
There! He twitched forward, his muscles quivering as his eyes leaped between family members, wanting to somehow attack with Meridah and whisk Phoenix fully away from harm simultaneously.
But, how?
'GET AWAY FROM THEM.
YOU WILL NOT HARM MY FAMILY.
Get her out of here.'
Barely a whisper, a sliver in a glance, but it was there.
Decision made for him, he rushed forward, thrusting himself between the battle and the bird. Get Phoenix away, come back for Meridah.
He glanced back, wincing even though it was the walker's cry that pierced his ears. Meridah... no more scars. He tore his eyes away and reached down to nose Phoenix gently, sniffing for blood and trying to urge her to climb onto his head. Loosing patience as Meridah- Meridah- fought behind him, he nudged a little more, still so very gentle, his tail whipping and lashing behind him- the first thing that would be hit if the females rolled back their way.
"Phoenix." he whispered, his eyes flicking around wildly for somewhere Safe to put her. "Come."
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Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 9:31 pm
"Ma...." Phoenix lifted a wing as soon as it was free to quickly cover her face as titans clashed above her; not wanting to move in case a hoof came down nearby where she was to roll to.
She was free.
Lifting her wing away as Meridah pushed the bear farther and father back from her location she winced only slightly in surprise as Voda had leaped into their stead, positioning himself between her and the mares.
He didn't have to tell her twice.
Having a hard time getting up as she was splayed on the ground on her back; she took the opportunity to grab onto his nose as gently as she could to pull herself up. A flap or two later she was on a foot and hopped onto his head; quickly making her way to his mane to hold onto and nested down as quick as she was able to keep herself from falling off.
Meridah on the other hand was doing surprisingly well, her mind keeping a decent one or two moves ahead of the lumbering beast of a walker.
Leap in, bite, retreat, find new area, repeat, try to get leg, paw anything with her hooves.
It wasn't until Howl had noticed how close Voda was, and in an instance she broke free of her defenses and tried to lunge at him. "VODA!" Meridah cried in warning, lunging out to grab the bear by her fatty flesh along her spine and pulled back as hard as she could to drag the bear back to the edge. Of course, this only worked for a moment before Howl turned on her and bit down hard into the flesh of her leg. Meridah winced but didn't relinquish her hold; pulling the bear so her back would face the open sea.
This pain....she was so used to it; this beast would not win.
She had a plan; but their safety was priority because when she let go there was no telling if she would lunge or not as her psychotic eyes kept diverting to Voda.
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Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 9:44 pm
Monitoring the progress of the little bird, Voda kept looking at the trees, grumbling to himself no no no no- too high, branches too low, bush not tree, too close still-
He blinked and then kicked out reflexively at her warning, trying to keep his head and neck still to avoid dislodging Phoenix for all that he knew she was skilled at holding on.
But his hooves caught only air.
Turning now, the scent of blood wafted to his nose on the coiling serpent of air surrounding the cliff. His eyes flashed wide at the sight before him: Meridah, wrestling the bear towards the open ocean, the bear's maw sunk firm in the flesh of her leg.
The bear's eyes kept flashing towards him, and he would have used that to Her advantage if he had not had Phoenix clutching close. Get her out of here.
He couldn't leave Her.
But what she did- Meridah! He turned, his own gold eyes wild, and spotted a low-hanging branch that lead to a series of higher perches not too far away. Even shaken, he knew their strong little girl could make it to the top.
And, even if bears could climb, who would go after such a tiny feathered thing when there was... him, around?
"Not. Leaving!" he grunted out, nonetheless taking off at a canter with his head carefully level, heading straight for the perch.
Just. Hang on. Wait for me. I'm coming. Damn it, Meridah, you're supposed to live with your family, not die protecting them! Don't forget that!
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Posted: Mon Sep 08, 2014 10:05 pm
Meridah could feel the bear moving her tongue against her leg between both sets of teeth clamped firmly on her muscle. Her body gave a shiver as she imagined the demonic beast was savoring the taste of her flesh and blood. You savage beast... She inwardly cursed, her eyes darting over to Voda when he grunted in her direction; although it sounded weird she knew what it meant. It was similar for him to excuse himself like old times to take a dip in the sea.
If only it was as innocent as that.
I will do whatever it takes. She thought, her heart and resolve solid on this simple fact; after everything...everything she did...if she could die saving her loved ones instead of dying harming them.
Well, her soul could rest easy.
She could feel Howl pulling as Voda must have left, trying to give chase while still attached to her leg. It was now or never; she wouldn't have the opportunity if she messed this up. Tearing her leg from the mouth of the devil before her she turned quickly and kicked back at the bear, once, twice...there! She stood on her hind legs with claws ready to save her head from being kicked.
This was her moment!
Meridah needed to adjust herself to be just a little closer, enough for her hooves to make a connection with her body. Taking a quick step she kicked back her legs with all her might; connecting to ribs as what happened next seemed to slow time itself.
Upon her back legs touching back down the mare had only begun to turn her body to watch the walker teeter back on the edge; heading back to the sea below. It was here that her eyes widened; she'd made a grave error in judging the length of the mare's arms. She could see the furry arms reaching out and down...Meridah couldn't get away quick enough.
Crying out as claws sunk deep into her hips she felt the weight pull her back; hooves skidding along the ground before her hind legs no longer had ground to stand on.
Phoenix had been watching as Voda quickly headed to a safe place for her, her little breath catching in her throat. "MAMA!" She cried, jumping off Voda's head to try and fly but the wind was still knocked out of her and she tumbled to the ground in gliding circles. "NO!" She knew her father would act, but it did not stop her from hopping towards the falling mare.
Meridah felt the world vanish from her hooves, the weightlessness of falling allowing the claws to lift out of her flesh as she did the only thing she could think of; use the skinwalker as a board and kicked off her mid air; gaining a little more distance out into the sea to avoid the rocks below. Plunging into the sea with a mighty splash she sunk down so quickly so fast; not able to get even a gulp of air before she was pulled down. She'd tried to kick, try to swim....but it was little use. As much as she'd gotten herself back....the seizing fears of the ocean crippled her; her face twisting to a painful expression from the lack of oxygen before she felt her body give in; passing out as she slowly sunk deeper.
Voda...
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Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2014 7:23 pm
The stallion paused in his frantic search for the Perfect Perch, a safe haven for the little one, and turned around... slowly. Though his movements were quick, his brain seemed to lag a step behind, refusing to believe and thus playing everything back in slow motion to his conscious mind.
He barely felt the little bird hop onto the ground, her cries muffled by his far-away state.
Meridah, kicking out with all her strength after a quick back-step, her eyes- those arms reaching up and up and up, grabbing her, pulling- NO!!!!
The world snapped back into place, and he'd already begun to spun before Phoenix could finish her little hops.
"Stay. Safe." he growled, eyes fixed on where the pair had fallen from sight.
Meridah would land in the water. He knew it; she could do no less, trained fighter that she was. Her reflexes were good, quick...
but even she...
Even she had one little... weak spot. A childhood fear, justified, preventing her from one little skill- something that came so naturally to him.
He was already moving, his mind wavering around even though his body was acutely focused at the task at hand.
He wanted to follow them off the cliff, but he couldn't risk landing on top of her- not from that height.
She would be wounded, dazed perhaps.
He'd never galloped this fast in his life, tearing across the land as he sought a spot with easier access- still close to the cliffs, but far enough away that he could enter at a safe-enough distance.
His own safety was not on his mind, only so much as he must ensure that he would still be of use to her once beneath the waves; it was her, only her, that spurned him onwards.
As it had been her, through all this time.
He dove from a spot perhaps midway down, nostrils pinched around a great breath and eyes already scanning the ocean for her form.
Crashing into the water, Voda's tail lashed and spiraled, propelling him forwards as he tucked his hooves to allow for greater hydrodynamic form.
There would be a bear.
And there would be Her.
His eyes keenly adjusted to the salty sea, he spotted Meridah- his Meridah- sinking, her red mane coiling and lifting up in an eerie weightless dance as she free-fell into the deep.
This time, he knew what the land-dweller was doing underwater. She'd fallen, sacrificing herself that her family might live- and it had been a mistake.
She didn't belong there, for all that he might wish she did. She didn't have the lungs for it.
He closed the remaining distance between them in what must have been mere seconds and yet felt like an eternity, watching her fall.
Meridah... His form coiled beneath her, spreading out as he positioned himself to lift her back to the surface, his focus narrowed to the task at hand. I'm here.
She felt so fragile. So tiny, pressed against his broad shoulders.
His tail oscillated beneath them, the power in his strokes sky-rocketing them to the surface.
Stay with me.
They broke through the surface with a showering spray, as he shifted and re-arranged beneath her to direct them towards the shore.
Even as an 'unconscious' weight (he couldn't use... that word, even in his head; his mind blocked it out), with all her muscle and the scar tissue that marred her physical body, this was.. easy.
And yet he wished the need had never been there at all.
His beautiful Meridah, shining from the inside once more, for all that the tears and blood and memories haunted her, fighting, falling, sinking... rising.
Soon, Meridah... his hooves touched the sandy incline of the shore, and he hauled her up into the shallows.
You're free.
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Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2014 8:18 pm
Phoenix let out a cry, her wings moving up to her beak as she reached the cliff's daunting edge to the sea, arriving just in time to see Voda splash into the waves and submerging. Frantically she hopped along the edge, waiting for any kind of reassurance that everything was going to be okay, that there wasn't some battle between he and the walker.
"Be okay....be okay..." She fretted, tears brimming her eyes as she remembered all of the painful loss she'd had as a hatchling...unable to fathom having to live something like that all over again.
Mama had come back to save them...even after....
What was that?
She'd betrayed her family...her parents and siblings; so why did she come and save them?
Suddenly - bubbles.
"Mom, Dad?" She tweeted out, but felt herself go rigid and step back as Howl broke the surface; letting out a roar before swimming back towards the shores away from their cove. Watching intently she made sure to keep an eye on her till she reached land and headed off her own way - not to head back to their direction. Which lead the question of where they were. Looking back out to sea she was relieved when they finally broke the surface and was quick to fly out and meet them as they approached the shoreline.
Landing on Meridah she pressed her little face against her back; listening intently.
"Not breathing..." She panicked, remembering something one of other birds had taught her who was rather into medical treatments. Flapping to her head the little bird pried open Meridah's mouth and without haste and some awkward flapping later stuck her leg into her mouth to grab at the back of her tongue and trigger a faint gag reflex; pulling her leg out as she coughed up water and began to regain consciousness. "Mama..." She flew up to Voda's head and smiled. "I think she'll be okay. I'll fly and get some herbs for her injuries - i'll be right back!" She nuzzled his cheek and flew towards the forest, knowing without the threat of the skinwalker they would be alright now.
Voda would make sure of it.
Meridah gasped as she sucked in air, her eyes blurry but slowly coming around as she could feel something rocking her....something warm.
Everything hurt....but her heart hurt most of all.
"W.....what's going on..." She croaked out; blinking a number of times to will her body to wake back up with post haste; shifting her head slightly to see a blurry mess of brown and greens.
......."........Voda...?"
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Posted: Thu Sep 11, 2014 8:37 pm
Vodadragan stood near the shore, craning his neck around to see what Phoenix was doing. He wanted to place Meridah ever-so-gently on the shore, and see... but...
Not breathing. Panic. He couldn't do so with Phoenix there, so he stood, waiting, as the little bird...
He watched, puzzled, then his eyes popped open wide with shock and his jaw went a little slack as she maneuvered her way into Meridah's mouth. What...?
He'd just recovered enough of his wits to open his mouth again to ask a question when the Meridah began to gag and spew ocean-water out all over him (he didn't mind; it was warmer than usual, but he'd much rather have it all over him than in her lungs- his skin would have welcomed it if he hadn't just been in the water, and her lungs would never be right with water inside) ... She breathed, and everything was right in the world again.
... and Phoenix was flying by his head, and smiling, and reassuring him, and acting so grown up and .... and... their little egg had hatched a Healer.
His heart soaring with pride, he watched her fly towards the brush, then quickly glanced around... no sign of the bear.
His lips pulled back in a bit of a snarl, but within a heartbeat his full attention was fixed back on the mare slung across his back.
He smiled, crossing over onto land and lowering himself to his knees, slipping her gently onto the dry sand- guided by his fins and gentle movements.
"I'm here, Meridah." reaching forwards, he rested his head against hers, breathing slowly and steadily even now.
She was here. She was.... whole... if a little worn around the edges.
And she was his.
His eyes twinkled slightly, the adrenaline mixing with happiness with every breath she took.
His best friend, here again, at last, on this beach.... and she was soaking wet.
"You don't have to, because i'll always be here for you, but... you might.... need a few swimming lessons."
He grinned, hanging his head a little as if expecting to be reprimanded, but he couldn't help it; she was back.
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