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Tags: soquili, horses, breedable pets, pet horses, familiars 

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[PRP] Tears like Stardust [Marika & Jagger]

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Ririka
Crew

High-functioning Hellraiser

PostPosted: Thu Sep 18, 2025 5:06 am


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The sound of the crashing waves just barely overpowered the calls of the seagulls who flocked the beach in search of their early morning breakfast. The distant horizon still sat dark, however lighter blues and bright oranges were starting to fight for dominance as the early morning crept into existence. Until then, Marika stood just outside the reach of the waves, dark eyes searching for answers that the depths of the ocean were not yet ready to release. For now, she still took comfort in the ocean breeze while there was still some coolness in the hair. Usually, she was not once to wake so early, but with summer still holding an ironclad grasp on the world the early mornings seemed to be her only escape from the hell-like heat.

Sighing, she took a slow step back as she allowed her mind to creep back into the present. Marika knew she should continue her journey back to her new mate, her new love, Astro. She wanted to be back by his side and drown in the comfort he had brought into her life, however, it seemed that the heat wasn't the only thing slowing down her journey. Her past was creeping up on her and she had found herself skirting around the edge of the Ghost territory that she used to call her home.

Once she had a multitude of friends she used to call her family. Once, she had promised herself to her greatest friend in an attempt to assist them in starting a family. Once, she felt she had a purpose and an endless supply of love and support. But what did she really know about life back then? What did she have to show for her efforts?

"I wonder," Marika thought as her gaze turned towards the few stars that still shown in spite of the coming sunrise, "I wonder if my children think of me as I think of them. Am I even a passing thought in their minds? Do they even consider me a mother to them as they continue to grow?"

When was the last time she had even seem her children? They had come and gone so fast, scattering out into the world like stardust .

[372]
PostPosted: Thu Sep 18, 2025 5:33 am


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Submission was a feeling that was foreign to Jagger. In his younger days the stallion was a force to be reckoned with both physically and with his personality. Those that knew him would insist that he moved through the world with an air of arrogance; that his mere presence was suffocating with an air of pride and ego. Some within the family would say that the pride was deserved. After all, the blood that ran through his veins, though tainted with kalona blood, still deserved respect and acknowledgement. He was born from the direct lineage of a founding member. He was blessed. And yet...

'...And yet what do I have to show for it?'

Eyes that once glowed with massive energy looked on tiredly at the figure ahead of him. The smell of sea salt was a like a balm to his bruised soul. Calm. After so many years of fighting with himself, with his nature, he felt calm.

Growing up, Jagger would always hear the shadowed whispers, the stigma, that came with carrying kalona blood. He was a living threat. He was a tool that could be persuaded to protect the family, if nothing else. He held needs that were looked down upon due to his need to hunt, and yet, he needed their respected. He needed to be accepted. So Jagger repressed it all.

The voices could be ignored. The need to hunt could be overcome if he acted 'right'. The need to be 'pure' and accepted as one of the good ones was all that mattered to the point where Jagger could no longer shoulder the expectations he thrust upon himself.

So, he hid himself within his downward spiral. It would never be enough. He...would never be enough.

At least, he led himself to believe that until he crossed paths with his past once more.

When summer was in its infancy Jagger had decided to swallow his pride and make the journey to his father's territory in hopes of even the most miniscule amount of reconciliation with the old stallion. Even after the younger stallion's harsh words and spiral into self-hatred his father had never faltered in his love for him. So he knew, deep down where denial and realization mingled like water and oil, that Tynan would always support him and help him find his truth.

The emotional journey was like riding the waves of the ocean during a summer storm. Everything felt relentless. The waves continuous, each one crashing harder than the last. Still, he knew there would come a day that he would find the eye where peace waited.

The physical journey was a test of its own though. As the days rolled on it felt as if the sun itself was punishing every living being for some unspoken sin. Fall was supposed to bring comfort when he parted ways with his father until their next meeting, but then fall dropped its mask to reveal summer once again. The heat returned. His aggravation returned with it at the though of possibly having to double the time it takes to return home in order to find comfort in the limited shade he would find during the daylight hours.

But blessings were found when he ran into Marika. It was an awkward meeting, but a small amount of happiness blossomed when she invited him to journey home with her since they were both headed in the same direction. Company was nice. It helped time go by faster. It brought safety. It kept the voices at bay.

And luckily it also brought her idea of traveling along the coast during the night and early mornings where the breeze sometimes helped to cool their tired souls.

"Does it get easier?"

[622]

Ririka
Crew

High-functioning Hellraiser


Ririka
Crew

High-functioning Hellraiser

PostPosted: Thu Sep 18, 2025 6:06 am


Does it get easier?

Marika's ears carefully switched at the question that carried itself over the ocean breeze. The crisp coolness that once hung between them was starting to taint with the inevitable continuous summer heat. The beach would no longer be their private escape from the false fall, so they would need to quickly find a place to hideaway until nightfall. It was true that the night was only a marginally cooler that the daytime, but when it comes to hellfire the heat of a volcano can still feel like a winter holiday in the right conditions.

With a soft hum, Marika showed a gentle smile towards Jagger and began to move towards the tree line behind them. It would not be the best escape with all the memories the surrounding areas held, but perhaps this journey would be one of closure for them as long as they could support each other until they parted ways once more.

As sand turned to dirt Marika allowed the previous question to each within her.

Does it get easier?

It was a question that she had asked herself day after day when she had originally chosen to walk away from everything. It was curse she placed on herself when she had chosen her freedom and happiness over past obligations.

"I suppose what is considered easy depends on the individual and the circumstances they are surrounded by," Marika allowed herself to hold her smile while Jagger followed behind her like a shadow. When the mare had walked away from the family she did not hold out any hope of seeing anyone ever again, least of all Jagger. Marika had very few interactions with the stallion to the point where he was a mere acquaintance to her. However, during their summer journey of escape she found herself seeing him as an adopted child of sorts. "Admitting that what you consider normal is wrong, and choosing to separate yourself from your pain is never easy, Jagger. But find strength and pride in the fact that you have chosen to end the cycle of your pain and build something positive for yourself, yeah?"

As the pair slowly made their way through the shadow of the trees Marika found calm in the sound of the world awakening.

"Tell me, Jagger, do you have times where you doubt yourself and feel regret? Do you have days where you feel as if you are undeserving of the happiness you have found because of who you had to leave behind?"

The mare silently watched Jagger out of the corner of her eye. Since finding him again she had seen first hand the guilt that he was allowing himself to drown in. It was hard for him to dismantle everything he was raised in, the beliefs he had been fed since birth. What he was was a contradiction to everything the family stood for, but why should that be something he was burdened with? He did not ask to be born as he was; what he was. His father, and bless Tynan, may not be the most stable being, but there was no doubt in the love he had for his children and the energy he had spent trying to show Jagger that he was deserving for a life built around his wants and needs.

"It will get easier, Jagger. You just have to give yourself the time to come to terms with every thing. You need to give yourself time to learn to love yourself. The feels may never go away, but...there will be a day when the positives shout louder than the negatives."

[604]
PostPosted: Thu Sep 18, 2025 6:25 am


Jagger silently considered the words. Could he learn to be gentle with his heart and understanding of him circumstances? He supposed he could learn to do so if given enough time. He knew that his father and Muata had been VERY patient with his past outbursts and slow progress when he started his journey towards healing. He could not thank them enough. But as the months passed he found himself silently hoping that this summer journey would not be a one time thing. He, in a way, now considered her a friend. Possibly even a second mother of sorts with the patience she had shown him. Plus, considering everything she had also gone through, she understood him better than most others. It was selfish, but he didn't want to lose that. He didn't want to lose their talks and silent moments of understanding.

"I want it to get better." Jagger whispered. "I want to BE better. I guess...I guess I just put so much focus on what I want everything to be and what I see that others have that I just...I want it so badly that I wish I could be better now. It hurts, you know?"

The stallion shook his head in an attempt to push past the thoughts and picked up his pace to move ahead of the mare. "That's a thought for another time though. Maybe after some rest. If I remember right, there should be a cave not too far from here that my siblings and I used to explore as kids. It was always pretty cool in there, so it would be better than resting out in the open, yeah? At least better than the shade of the trees."

Jagger's tail flicked as he allowed himself a moment to think of his siblings. He hoped they were doing well in life and had their own little pieces of peace and happiness.

"You said your mate is supposed to be waiting for you towards the mountains, yeah? Hopefully the night is cooler so we can continue on or else we will be trapped in the cave for a few days yet. Guess that's still better than cooking in the sun though. Either way, let's get moving before the sun reaches its peak."

With a silent agreement between them, Jagger took the lead as they carved their way through territory they both never believed they would return to. Alone, each may have chosen to avoid it or do their best to make it through as fast as possible. However, together they found tolerance and comfort in each other's support.

Sure, the journey back to their respective homes may take a bit longer now, especially with having to slow down thanks to the heat, but neither seemed to have any complaints. It was more time to think. More time to share. More time to learn. ...And more time to complain about fall not being here yet.

[490]

Ririka
Crew

High-functioning Hellraiser

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