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 Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 6:52 pm
Deldragan awoke to the sound of arguing. It didn't take long to recognize Cedomir's strong, stubborn tone, but it took him a minute for him to realize that the quivering, almost desperate tone replying to him was Acacia's. His eyes took in the sight of the bodies around him as they focused. Naveen was still fast asleep; Reiko seemed to be attempting to rouse herself as well... And there was Acacia, struggling to keep her composure despite what looked to be a long and agonizing argument with Cedomir over something. Del laid there for a moment, listening to Cedomir and Acacia's voices. What were they arguing about? Cedomir had seemed a bit tense a day or two ago, but they hadn't been fighting at all to his knowledge... Just what was going on?
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 7:05 pm
  Brise had been awake for a few moments, his body lay very close to his mate, his head laying along the ground as if he was still asleep. He lightly picked up his head and looked directly at Deldragan, catching his eye and shaking his own head slightly. Do not get into this... He said in his mind hoping his youngest brother would catch the drift from his expression. Cedomir's eyes flashed around him. He hadn't meant for this conversation to get so loud or even turn into a hushed argument but his body had moved away from Acacia in the argument and he could find no way to stop this heartbreak from happening. "But South? Acacia,... you know how I feel. I would be dead if I stepped foot there... not to mention.. I don't want to. I would constantly be on edge... This has to be as far as I go." He strained back to her, trying to keep the whine and worry out of his voice. "Caci..." He strained before turning his face away from her.
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 7:36 pm
The distress was clear on Deldragan's face as he met Brise's gaze, but he ground his teeth together and stubbornly curled around himself and forced his eyes shut. Was there nothing he could do this time? Nothing at all?
Acacia winced as Cedomir's gaze flicked to the others, realizing the ruckus they'd made. "You would be fine," she insisted quietly. Her father's influence was nothing to sneeze at; Cedomir would be save with them. As he finished speaking and turned away, her eyes finally released the first drops in the reservoir of tears being held behind her snow white lenses. "Is there nothing I can do to change your mind?" she asked desperately. Did this really have to happen...? Did she really have to choose between traveling with her father and traveling with Cedomir? Between traveling south or staying with her beloved and never visiting those lands again? How could she possibly choose...?
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 7:46 pm
Brise lay his head back down and tucked it in closer to his mate, thankful he and Reiko had never had any fights or arguments to the scale that Cedomir had... Though it always seemed that his brother always brought the trouble onto himself... But perhaps he would learn this time.. It was Brise's only hope. No one could interfere this time. Cedo had to learn.
Cedomir grit his teeth together and kept his face averted. He couldn't face her, not when it felt like his heart was breaking and he could hear hers breaking in her voice. "I can't Acacia. My hooves belong in the north..." he then looked at her, his eyes burning bright with emotion. "And yours should too..." But knowing which she would choose he turned away. "You can come find me when you return..." he murmured softly, his voice sounding of giving up.
He sighed and lay his head down upon the sand, the visions that Mibu had showed him of his future in the south burning in his mind. If he went South only two things could possibly happen.. Either Acacia would return or he would... but one of them would not make it through the trip alive... and it had to be her... If he didn't go she would stay alive... it was his only hope... his only choice.
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 8:00 pm
Reiko nuzzled back against Brise, sighing quietly. "Hey Bry," she murmured, drowsiness still in her voice. "Have something to tell you..."
Acacia made a noise of agreement to his last comment, struggling to contain the torrent of emotions swirling inside her. She wanted to go with him, but... she just couldn't. The thought of being caged in the north when she'd traveled as often as her mother would allow since her mother first let her travel with her father... it was terrifying. Settling down didn't sound bad, but she knew Cedomir would try to keep her from the south. But there were places there she wanted to see, needed to visit...
She could only hope that this separation would be good for them both...
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 8:05 pm
Brise nuzzled his mate back. "Hrm/" he murmured as he began grooming her mane.
Cedomir nodded. "Okay then..." He said in a deep sigh as he settled back into the ground, away from her as much as possible without actually getting up and moving.
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 8:16 pm
"I'm pregnant," Reiko continued pleasantly in her deep, sleepy voice. She relaxed against Brise as he groomed her mane. "We should find a place to settle on this trip..." They still had time and they were both neutral, so traveling with Naveen until they found their home would be the best choice. Still, she wanted to let Brise know now so that they could at least start looking...
Acacia turned and walked away, trying not to give into her urge to race off to cry. She laid down beside her father, trembling with held-back tears. Almost instantly the pink head laid across her neck, Naveen's gentle voice soothingly murmuring comfort to her. She let the tears silently stream as she fought vocal sobs, huddling against her adoptive father like she has as a little filly. Why did this have to happen? Why...?
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 8:21 pm
Brise's head jolted up. "What?!" He exclaimed before reminding himself that the sun was just starting to barely peek over the horizon and people were trying to doze as long as they could. "When did you find out?" He asked, barely able to contain his happiness.
Cedomir curled tighter, stifling his own sobs as he tucked his nose under his leg, as if trying to hide.
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 10:00 pm
Reiko's only reaction was a sleepy smile. "Hm... I dunno, a little while ago I had a feeling... and then that feeling was confirmed?" Her blue eyes sparkled as she opened them to look up at her mate, radiating the happiness that he was trying to contain.
Deldragan got up after a while, mumbling some excuse before trotting off. It was hard to be in the middle of this, one couple in tatters and another glowing with happiness. He hated the feeling of frustration and resentment swirling in his chest. He felt useless on the one hand and envious on the other and he hated both feelings equally. He didn't want to be jealous of his half-brother's happiness... and even more so, he didn't want to be jealous of his brother's heartbreak. Sometimes he felt like he would never get the chance to be that close to another being, to be so... vulnerable around them. He paused to watch the sunrise, smiling bitterly. "A beautiful sight and I'll never have someone to share it with," he mumbled and turned to head back...
...and tripped over his own feet. Deldragan grunted, hauling himself upright again. Another step forward, and the same thing happened. That was weird. He wasn't fast or strong or smart, but he definitely wasn't clumsy. But every step he tried to take towards the others nearly broke his ankles. What was going on? Frowning, he turned the other way and experimentally put a hoof forward. This time, nothing happened. So he resumed walking away. Well, maybe it was better this way. Even with the group splitting in two, Del would've been uncomfortable. He wouldn't want to be around the happy couple and damper their mood, nor either of the shattered couple to just watch them fall apart. It was time for him to separate from them. Maybe whatever god or spirit was watching over him would take him somewhere that he could belong. While he would always be welcomed home at Aila's farm, he wanted to find his own place... even if he couldn't find someone to share it with.
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 4:26 pm
Brise grinned and nuzzled his sleepy mate. "I'm gonna be a dad." He had a foolish grin on his face and he just sat there in wonder. After a few moments a goofy giggle escaped his chest as he leaned down to nuzzle Reiko again. "We should find a place to settle until they are old enough to travel then." He said warmly.
Cedomir turned before standing up, unable to stand it. He looked around, his gaze lingering on Acacia longingly before he finally forced his body to turn towards the northwest. He didn't know where he was going but he couldn't stay here.
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 4:42 pm
Reiko chuckled at her mate's expression and giggle. "I believe I said that already," she teased. "But it's true. We do need to find a place." Waking up a little more, she looked around them. "Maybe after they're old enough, we'll be able to look for your vagabond brothers too," she added. Deldragan and Cedomir weren't around them... she knew Cedomir hadn't wanted to go south, but Del... she wondered what had caused him to leave?
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:11 pm
Brise looked up and around before he focused his eyes on Acacia. He motioned to his mate to wait before he picked his way to her easily, and lay down in front of her. "Miss Acacia... Find me when you return to the north..." he looked at Naveen, sorrow and regret upon his face. "And please do not let sorrow clog your heart." he waited a few more moments to let his words sink in before he got back up and returned to his mate.
[[timeskip time?]]
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:41 pm
[[ Okies! ]]
Reiko's eyes shone as she looked up at her beloved mate, four little blankets nestled around her frame. Their children were beautiful little things, all of the purples and browns and creams... One of them almost seemed to be humming. She couldn't help chuckling, tired as she was. "He's a little musician," she commented. "Maybe he'll be a traveling bard when he grows up."
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 5:51 pm
Brise chuckled and nuzzled his babies. "Maybe... and the little girl... will be so much like her mother.. I can tell already." he chuckled and ran his nose over his mate's neck. "What names did you decide?" He asked warmly.
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Posted: Mon Sep 15, 2014 7:33 pm
Reiko smiled. "Let's hope she's as lucky in love as I was," she replied, nudging him lightly. "Her name is Bellona 'Rowan' Valko." She gave him a sheepish grin. "I think I may have been thinking of Acacia..." Hopefully their daughter would have Acacia's demeanor but Reiko's love life. Her gaze went to the little purple nose covered in an almost yellow blanket. "That one's Bryston," she replied. "Bryston Valko." She looked at the other two, nudging the cream and purple blanket, then the humming, striped blanket with a smile. "I haven't gotten ideas for these two yet."
The humming stopped when the foal was nudged, his little head swiveling along the ground as if trying to find the source of the nudge. He let out a squeaky sound, then another, as if trying to see if the noise would draw the nudging thing out.
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