His throat hurt. They hadn't stopped, not for days now, and the pain in his ribs had grown into something that was borderline unbearable. The arrowhead was digging deeper each day, and without an experienced healer, he knew there was little hope of getting it out. Dal had tried, sweet little dove that she was, but she knew little of the healing magics, and with only less than half his horn, his own abilities were severely crippled. He could not count the days now. He had very little grasp on anything, lately. He didn't even know how far they had gone, nor did he remember anything. It was all... blurry. The loss of his magic had been a heavy blow, and he felt empty without it, now. And while Dalriada tried (oh, sweet little dove, caged for so long), he was jealous of her. Her magic, her pure white fur, and while blood seeped from the bands around her throat and her leg, she was still in tact and whole. Beautiful. A unicorn. He felt violated. Empty. He did not know how he had come to hate her, but he had, in the few days they had known each other. She frustrated him with her childlike whimsy, and infuriated him when she treated him like a cripple. "... Stop," he wheezed, planting all four hooves firmly on the ground and hanging his head, his shoulders quivering from the effort of keeping him up. He could not go any further, no matter the danger. If they were found, his torment would end, and they would be unimpeded for their escape. This much he took comfort in. "Water." His voice was hoarse and cracked. "We... We should rest." With a wracking cough, he looked at Dalriada, trying to hide the soft, pleading gaze with no success. "Please."
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Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2016 7:25 pm
Dalriadaxxxxx
Dalriada had felt oddly giddy since she was released from the garden. Being able to simply walk. To actually run was something she had never thought she would feel again. Her heart soared and though they were still being hunted the mare found it all too easy to simply put it in the back of her mind when she just focused on her long strides. The presence of the Venge brought her comfort she'd never expected. She felt safe. Safe in the presence of this monster that parents whispered about to their little foals. It was strange, but regardless it helped her dearly. At this moment with their company she could have continued walking, the constant movement soothing her pained body as she was reminded with each step that she was no longer trapped. She was safe. So wrapped up in her own mind, she didn't notice when the stallion beside her began to fall behind. Eyes glancing over to check his progress she frowned when her gaze didn't immediately fall on his form. '...stop' That simple word hit her ear, the sound spoken with such pain it brought their whole situation back to the front of her mind. Eyes filling with the worry she quickly turned to the male as she made her way to his side. They were still not safe, and who knew if they ever would be. Safe, what a silly thought indeed. "Oh..." She whispered, her eyes traveling his wounds as tears gathered. Dal felt such pity for the poor stallion, his body had been destroyed and pained so much in a matter of hours... Where as she had months to grow accustomed to the biting irons around her. No unicorn should have to go through what he had. Ears laying back she frowned softly hearing his plea. "Water... I-I'm not sure if there is any here..." Stepping away from his form she lifted her head, scenting the air for any fresh stream that may be nearby with little luck. "There has to be some... Just rest. I'll... I'll go look." The mare announced with a glance back. Ears raising next she walked a few steps away into the trees with as little noise her ringing chains allowed her while her eye studied the surrounding for anything. Though there were no magical streams nearby, and the most she could find was a small puddle in the rocks. Letting out a soft sigh she quickly turned to return to the group. It probably wasn't enough to fully quench his thirst, but maybe it could drive it off for a little. Forcing a small smile when she caught sight of them she relayed what she found. "I'm sorry, I couldn't find a lot... But there's a small gathering of water in the rocks a short way out." Looking over his wound she frowned at the nasty one in his side. Why wouldn't it heal? Dal cried in her mind as she summoned her magic to try again quickly.
Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2016 7:26 pm
Ciryatanxxxxx
He could see her, staring at him. Mocking him. Daring him. She did not want to stop. As far as he was concerned, there was no 'off' switch in her brain. She, by far, was worse than Dalriada. Her childishness was evident in the way she spoke, the way she kept him so close, and the way she herded, bumped and jostled him when he seemed to be slowing down. He was her toy, her plaything, and he loathed her for it. Despised her. This was the monster, the nightmare that every foal who had half a brain dreamed of. It was no secret that men sought to hurt them. It was no secret that the Venge had gone mad with the loss of her child, and her lover, though perhaps just rumors. He could not say to the nature of her insanity, but she was batshit insane, and he wanted absolutely nothing to do with her. And, while she, too, frustrated and upset him, he would not leave Dalriada with the beast, either. It still had not occurred to him that neither of them had spoken their names to one another, though in his state, he really couldn't be bothered to care. He was somewhat relieved when the mare stopped, turning to find him, and yet he was also ashamed, his eyes falling to the ground beneath his hooves when she attempted to meet his gaze. He was weak. He hardly heard her as she spoke, her voice so quiet and his thoughts so plagued by exhaustion and pain. When she was gone, he only noticed because the Venge began to giggle, and his lips curled in a snarl. "Oh, yes, I'm sure this is hilarious for you." The cynicism and hatred coated the words like venom, and yet, she did not seem to care. She simply turned, and giggled some more. "b***h," he spat, turning to look for Dalriada. He was surprised to see that she was gone, and for an instant, panic seized his heart. "... Girl?" Despite the pain, he staggered towards where she had been. Had she left him? She couldn't have. Her scent was still fresh. Would she? She hadn't. She came through the trees like a ghost, a figment of his fevered imagination, and relief flooded him. Oh, but he hated her smiles, how taunt and fake they were. They both knew that there was no reason to smile. He hated her tenacity, her stubbornness, and when she began to try once again to heal his wound, he lurched away from her, swaying unevenly on his feet. "Just... lead me. Bring me to it," he croaked. Without waiting, he began to move towards where she had come from, managing to keep his footing without too much trouble. Much longer of this walking, however, and he would not be getting back up the next time they laid to rest.
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Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2016 12:47 pm
Dalriadaxxxxx
Focused fully on building the steady stream of healing magic, Dalraida hadn't anticipated how fiercely he'd react to her aid. The loss of contact her magic had with his skin left her stunned. He'd jerked away from her with such revolution that she felt a brief moment of insult followed by frustration. Ears folding back she felt tears build in her ghostly blue before quickly blinking them away with a sigh. She was only trying to help him. "Y-yes. Follow me." She murmured quietly under her breath as she quickly moved after him to lead the way. Dalraida was worried for the stallion, from his posture to his eyes She could see and almost feel the deep aching pain he was in. Quietly moving through the brush, the mare paused when they arrived at the rocky slope her eyes searching for the small puddle with another quiet sigh. "It's not much.." Lowering her head she motioned to the water with her nose before moving to stand around the side of it, placing her body between the puddle and the slight slope. Last thing she didn't want him to stumble down the cliff. Lifting her gaze to watch her blood stained savior, Dalraida was still comforted at her presence. The mare has seen the harsh tone Cir took with her, but she watched out for them. Deep in her heart she wanted to ignore the crazed actions the unicorn took. She just wanted to imagine the Venge was normal and just wanted their protection. Sighing softly she lifted her ears for the first time to listen to the woods around them. "Ah... Maybe we can rest here for the night?" Dropping her gaze to the stallion she shifted on her hooves, the urge to keep moving filling her as echo of ghostly boots filled her mind making her skin crawl. "It seems quiet... for now at least..." The mare muttered under her breath as she shook the haunting sound from her ears.
Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2016 12:48 pm
Ciryatanxxxxx
Truthfully, he had no reason to hate her. She was nothing more than an innocent bystander, however tangled in the web of fate she may be. She had been a slave, a captive of strange, six-limbed monsters with instruments of torture. He had helped to free her, after all. He had almost sacrificed himself for her. For the both of them. Were he asked, he could not have honestly answered, because he did not know why. The heat of pursuit, the fear of death, the pain; he was not sure how it had not all just been a very, very bad dream. Nightmares of his mother's not-so-foolish stories, told to him by moonlight as a colt. He had never imagined that the Venge might be real, nor the hunts so true. How could anything, any creature, be so cruel? Whatever they were, those six-limbed beasts, they hunted them, still, and he was not so foolish as to believe that they were in any way 'safe'. Ciryatan did not feel her pain when he pulled away, so detached from his own self and so numbed with pain. It was only when he was shown the water, the sweet scent of is making him salivate, that he seemed to remember where he was, and he fell upon it greedily, nudging stones and pebbles out of the way in an attempt to get it all. It wasn't enough. He needed more. He pulled back and began to paw at the spot, trying to dig it out, hoping that there would be more water - more water! - but to no avail. Nothing came. And, eventually, he began to slow, exhaustion taking him once more. His hooves fell out from beneath him, and he lay on his side, staring into the fading light peeking through the trees. It took all he had not to break into sobs. "Y... Yes. Let me... Let us rest. Sleep..." His voice faded into a soft murmur, and quietly, he prayed he might wake to find that it had all, in fact, been a nightmare. How cruel of his mind, to play tricks on him this way.
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Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2016 12:49 pm
Dalriadaxxxxx
(Response lost, will rewrite... :c)
Posted: Sun Feb 07, 2016 12:50 pm
Ciryatanxxxxx
He didn't remember when he lost consciousness; he didn't remember the fever dreams that caused him to thrash about in his sleep, nor cry out, however weakly. He didn't remember when the girl came to lay at his side, or how her warmth had quieted him. He only remembered waking to the same horrible, burning thirst, and a stronger ache in his shoulder. It throbbed, and he winced almost immediately after he regained his senses; before he even opened his eyes. He could feel the soft breathing of another against his ribs, and with a gentle, sad sigh, he knew it to be the girl. Right then, in a moment of sleep deprivation, he realized that he did not know her name. With a heavy grunt, he leaned up and away from her warmth, and instantly, he regretted it. The night chill had settled deep into his bones, and had yet to leave. A violent shiver overcame him, and he sat for a moment more with his teeth chattering as he waited for it to pass. When it did, he turned to look at the girl, once again admiring [and at the same time hating] her innocence, and her beauty. For a time, he simply gazed, watching her as she slept, and wished that they had met on different terms - better terms. Her optimisim would have been appreciated, rather than scorned. Gently, he leaned her way and pressed his nose against her shoulder, exhaling. "Wake up," he urged, taking a moment to peer around for the Venge. She was not present, at the moment, and he hoped that if they got up and about soon that they might evade her. Though, as he attempted to stand, he nearly fell over again, and only caught himself with a soft snarl of pain and frustration. "We should get moving."